Excursion to Eisenhower State Park at Lake Texoma

After two camping trips to Eisenhower State Park, which is by Lake Texoma, a big man made lake near Dallas,  I decided that it is a good alternate to our default short trip destination Lake Ray Roberts State Park. Eisenhower SP is a smaller park, and a little bit further away from Metroplex. It is 60 miles away, only an hour drive. The trails at ESP is hilly, instead of flat, the lake shore is rocky instead of plain, and the sky at night is darker since it is  further away from Metroplex.

There are four main activities there: hiking, kayaking/boating, Star gazing and trail running

Here is a sample trip itinerary for a one night camping trip

0. Book camping site at least two weeks ahead of time

1. Leave DFW around 10 am or earlier

2. Arrive at Campsite, and take a  quick hike on Ike's trail - hilly, lake view, beautiful
          we camped at Deer field screened shelter area during a trip this month, we took the Ike's trail north to Lover's Leap and back (~ 2 mile round trip in 1 hour due to frequent stops to take pictures)

Cook lunch, set up tent and rest a bit before water sports

Ike's trail has a good portion along the lake shore

Matching T-shirts

3. Kayaking in early afternoon (before 3pm - the dock close at 5pm - need 1 ~ 2 hours to enjoy the rocky shorelines

    Rent kayak or motor boat at Eisenhower Yacht club
    Two routes - 1) turn left out of the dock to Love's leap direction - we took this route; 2) turn right out of the dock to water spill way. Both routes have a few coves along the shore.

the water can be choppy even light breeze on the land 

Water in the coves are calm

 4. Night activities
      BBQ/Roast Yam or Marshmallow
      Watch sunset
      Reading book or listening music
      Star gazing before go to sleep - need to go to open area  - can see Milky Way - not as Milky as you would see at Big Bend though!

cooking by the tent

roasted yam

dusk viewed from campsite

reading in the screened, lighted shelter

5. Early morning trail run (round trip 4 miles)

listening to sound of insects and bird chirping
start from middle of Ike's trail - trail marker 8 - ruining south to the trail head of armadillo hill trail and return

6. Return ~ 11 am, back to metroplex at noon

The tent at Dawn

Sun rise at camp site

running on Ike's trail 

matching long sleeve running cloth - "too cold to hold"

the trail