Big Thicket National Preserve, Pitcher Plant Trail — Attraction in Ivanhoe

Free parking in a National Preserve is something of which I had never heard, at least until I went here. We arrived and got great advice from the rangers at the station. We drove to a multitude of different trails and hiked around all day. It was absolutely amazing to walk through one completely unique biome to the next. The place was breathtakingly magical and beautiful. We only ran into one other group as we walked the trails which was really appreciated however, in full disclosure, we were there on a Thursday morning. There were bugs, so bring bug spray and sunscreen. Also, if you're unaccustomed to being outside, bring plenty of water. This is a great place for young and old. This was a pristine outdoor experience which I wont...

Though it might be difficult to locate this area within the vast expanse covered by the aptly named Big Thicket National Preserve, the Pitcher Plant Trail is definitely worth all the trouble looking for it. We almost got lost looking for it ourselves but managed to find it with a lot of assistance from a local resident. The wooden walkway built to provide access to the area where the pitcher plants thrive works really well in letting you get close enough to appreciate the plants while minimizing the impact to the ecosystem and totally eliminating the need to possibly get muddy and wet in the moist, boggy area that the plants have a...

I absolutely LOVED pitcher plant trail! The sweet aromas of the pitcher plant filled the air as we got closer to bog. The trail is short and quick! It was perfect for someone like me who only likes short hikes. There is a part of the trail that lines up with Turkey Creek trail and if you want a bit of a longer journey you could add that on as well. Didnt run into anyone on the trail even though there was another car parked nearby in the parking area. Very peaceful and quiet, pine cones are some of the LARGEST i've seen in Texas. The long leaf pines are also a beautiful site to see as well as there are mostly short leaf pines...