Lake Loop
Photo: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 14.0 mi
- round trip
- 1,568 ft
- climb
- 635 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Oct–May
- best months
Is Lake Loop open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in National Forests in Texas. It doesn't name Lake Loop, so check the source for the area it covers.
Know Before You Go, Davy Crockett and Sam Houston National Forests Road Work
Agency closure covering National Forests in Texas · USFS · National Forests in Texas
National Forests and Grasslands Burn Ban Information
Agency alert covering National Forests in Texas · USFS · National Forests in Texas
Sabine National Forest-Trail Between the Lakes
Agency alert covering National Forests in Texas · USFS · National Forests in Texas
Davy Crockett National Forest
Agency alert covering National Forests in Texas · USFS · National Forests in Texas
As of · Source: USFS · National Forests in Texas. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Lake Loop is a 14-mile out-and-back hike in the Sam Houston Ranger District of the National Forests in Texas, managed by the Forest Service. The route is rated hard, with a total elevation gain of 540 feet, and it is a long, steady climb rather than a short, easy outing. The trail starts at about 409 feet and reaches a high point of 635 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 10.7 miles, where the grade reaches 21 percent. The round trip is about 28 miles, so plan on a full day. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Huntsville show April highs around 77°F and October highs around 79°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail. Cagle Recreation Area is about 2 miles away, and the SAM HOUSTON (Houston/Conroe/Huntsville Area) lake fishing is also about 2 miles off. Stubblefield Lake and Kelly's Pond are both within about 6 miles.
CagleHikingPhoto: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.2 mi- Cagle NorthHikingPhoto: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.2 mi
- John's PointHikingPhoto: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.4 mi
- FernHiking1.7 mi
Cagle Recreation AreaCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain2 mi- SAM HOUSTON (Houston/Conroe/Huntsville Area)Lake fishing2 mi
Stubblefield LakeCampingPhoto: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)4.9 mi- Kelly's PondCamping5.6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Cagle NorthHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Triple C TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Lone StarHiking · ~18 min drivePhoto: William L. Farr, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Iron Horse LoopHiking · ~19 min drive
- CagleHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- ZebraHiking · ~3 min drive
- Little Lake CreekHiking · ~16 min drive
- John's PointHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: epicanis, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- WoodpeckerHiking · ~7 min drive
- Triple C CutoffHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Lake Loop
Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
58° / 39°
9 wet
Feb
62° / 43°
9 wet
Mar
69° / 49°
8 wet
Apr
77° / 56°
7 wet
May
83° / 64°
7 wet
Jun
89° / 70°
8 wet
Jul
92° / 73°
7 wet
Aug
93° / 72°
7 wet
Sep
87° / 67°
7 wet
Oct
79° / 58°
7 wet
Nov
68° / 48°
7 wet
Dec
60° / 41°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntsville, TX, 12.8 mi away at 494 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
