Day Trips: Eisenhower State Park, Denison

Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma outside of Denison is a fine example of why we need state parks. The park's 463 acres are some of the precious few public lands offering access to 590 miles of scalloped shoreline.

Since 1954, the park has been an island of green surrounded by residential and commercial property. The good news is that the thick hardwood forest remains largely intact in the park. Bald eagles find this an ideal place to spend their winters.

Named for the president who was born five miles away in the former railroad town, the park has 4 miles of hike-and-bike trails and 3 miles of ATV trails accessible from the 200 campsites crammed under the forest canopy. Holidays and weekends can get pretty busy; it's an hour and a half from Dallas, but on weekdays the place is nearly deserted.

With the lake level below normal, a bathtub ring of white limestone lines the shoreline like palisades. Lake Texoma is the 10th largest man-made reservoir in the U.S., and is known for its striped bass and catfish. A 116-pound blue catfish was caught in the waters between Texas and Oklahoma.

Eisenhower State Park is two miles from Denison Dam outside of town. Fishermen have access to the water from a boat ramp, marina, and two lighted piers. The rest of us can use the swimming beach in a protected cove. For more information, call 903/465-1956 or go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/eisenhower.

1,217th in a series. Collect them all. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of "Day Trips," is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.