4 C National Recreation Trail

Beautiful trail to walk along and there are flying squirrels!!! I will definitely return to hike/explore again. Also, the bathrooms are are very clean.

Nice, respectable hiking, and well kept area. Great fir groups and family campouts.

A beautiful trail to hike. I only did a part of the trail, but I didn't encounter anyone the entire time I was on it. There's a lot of downed trees along with a warning to be careful of falling trees. It's very scenic and I got a lot of great photos.

Davy Crockett National Forest / 4C Trull / Lufkin / February 2020nnSuffering from cabin fever in NE Texas (Daingerfield shoutout) and missing my BFF/GF of all time from “The Heights” section (rolling-eyes emoji) of H-town, I asked her if she wanted to meet me in Lufkin to go on a day hike to which she replied with an emphatic “YESSSSSS!!” (love her)nnIt was early Feb, total sun-front and the temps were in the 50s. Great day to make hay.nWe met in Lufkin and mugged out in her mini-cooper w/racing stripes. We then jumped into my Toyota Tunktra and, after a quick bite, we were on our way. Not sure how far it is from Lufkin to the entrance to Ratcliffe SP, it seems like it took us about 15-20 minutes but we also once drove from Ft.Worth to New Mexico talking the entire way without stopping to take a breath. Time goes by fast when we're together so It could be longer. Check your maps!nnThe drive there is nice and farrested. Upon entrance there is a self-pay station. Just fill out the envelope (in case you never make it back to your car they can notify your next-of-kin) and put the money IN IT. My girlfriend filled out said on-vul-lope, put it in the slot, then took 5 singles and pushed them in by themselves like she was feeding a slot machine. Once again, she’s from “The Heights”. (love her). This was on a friday, park was very clean and extremely quiet just the way we like it.nWe were the only ones on the trull that day. At the trullhead there is an overview map and a poster with some indigenous animals you might see. My girlfriend thought the pictures of the animals were an indicator of what we would see around each bend like a petting zoo, which was not the case. She’s from “the Heights”. (love her)nnA large portion of the trail was closed that day and had been for a long time, so be sure and call the Park Office if you are wanting to hike the whole or even halve of the trull. We wound up doing about 4.5 in and back out for 9 total. Take plenty of water as there are no trusted water sources on the 4C.. The trail is a joy to walk on and is padded with years of pine needles underfoot. It was very clean with no litter. The footbridges are a nice addition and there is a really long one that is perfect for sitting and dangling your feet while eating trail mix. We soon found a creekside bluff and pulled out the Tyvek(™) that I stuffed in my pack-pack and laid on it while listening to woodpeckers and the wind blowing through the needles of the loblolly pines. My girlfriend thought the singing wind was the sound of cars from a nearby FM road. Not much wind in “the Heights” I reckon. (love her) We layed in the dappled sunlight soaking it all in while simultaneously making future plans and reliving old memories. The time on the trull, and the entire day for that matter, went by much too fast. We still talk about our time on the 4C almost daily. This trull is an ETX hidden gem and holds a special place in my heart.. Don’t hesitate to go, you will love. I go back there in my mind all the time.nnTemp 50’s and 60’snTrail partially closed - 9 mile round tripnn$5.00 fee - NOTE for beards and Houstonians! Payment goes inside the on-vull-ope THEN inside the drop box. Total dull for the money.nnPadded pine strawsnnCrosses highway at one pointnnOld growth, timbernnFoot bridges - good shapennNo wildlife seen as advertised - only saw what appeared to be a dead frog, a confirmed armadullo carcass. Heard some deer in the distance.nnTotal darts for guides.nnGreat off trull Tyvek mugout spots.nnETX hidden gem.

Perfect amount of hiking depending on which one of the three routes you chose. Each one is an experience of nature in it's best. Some routes as of this posting are under construction but it's looking good. I'm sure they're repairing walkways and bridge areas. I love it!