Big Slough Wilderness
Logging operations that began in the late 1800s left only scrub hardwoods and a few isolated "islands" of young pines on the land now known as Big Slough, the smallest Wilderness in Texas. You'll still...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Texas |
| Size | 3,521 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.4848, -95.1118 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 2 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Trinity 8273
36 mi from the center point · 149 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedRx Trinity 8321
36 mi from the center point · 121 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedRx Trinity 8374
36 mi from the center point · 48 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedRx Polk 8325
47 mi from the center point · 20 acres · 0% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Big Slough Wilderness?
3,521 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Big Slough Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Big Slough Wilderness in?
Texas.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Big Slough Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Big Slough Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Neches Bluff Overlook, 4.6 miles out. 2 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Big Slough Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.485, -95.112. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Big Slough Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Rx Trinity 8273 at 36 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Big Slough Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 10 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.