Bonham State Park
in the Northern Section
of the Texas Lake Country

Bonham State Park is a 261-acre park located in Fannin County in the Texas Lake Country near the City of Bonham. It includes Lake Bonham, 65-acre lake, rolling prairies, and woodlands. Constructed in early 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the land was acquired in 1933 from the City of Bonham and was opened in 1936.

Activities:
There is (unsupervised) swimming; fishing; camping; picnicking; mountain biking; and boating (5 mph speed limit).

Facilities:
Facilities include restrooms with and without showers; picnic sites (including one group picnic area); campsites with water and electricity; campsites with water; a group camp with barracks and a dining hall, which accommodates approximately 96 people (the facility is only rented as a single unit, not separately); an 11-mile trail for mountain biking and hiking; vending machines; a playground; a launching ramp; a boat dock; and a lighted fishing pier.

Natural Features:
Park terrain is dominated by grassland interspersed by woodlands. More luxuriant woodlands occur along water courses and the lake's shoreline. Although the park's grasslands are no longer pristine, they are recovering nicely and have small areas dominated by little bluestem and bushy bluestem. The woodlands are composed of Texas Oak, eastern red cedar, bois d'arc, and eve's necklace, with sugarberry, cottonwood, black willow, and green ash becoming more common along the creeks and lake shore. Numerous wildflowers and flowering shrubs cover the gently rolling prairie in the spring, and stands of cedar and mixed hardwoods provide a panorama of multicolored leaves in the fall.

Wildlife is limited because of the relatively small size of the park. However, the lake shoreline provides habitats for beaver, raccoon, opossum, and a number of visiting songbirds. Although a few woodland birds are permanent residents, visitor and migrant species outnumber the residents.

Directions:
To reach the park, go 1.5 miles southeast of Bonham on State Highway 78 to FM 271, then two miles southeast on FM 271; enter on Park Road 24.

Elevation, Weather, and Schedule Information:
Elevation: 568 Average rainfall: 41.6 Temperature: January minimum 31 degrees and maximum in July is 95 degrees. Open: Headquarter hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The park is open 7 days a week year-round. There is no gate. An honor box is located at headquarters for after-hours collection.

Camping fees vary; entrance fee.
For reservations, call 512/389-8900.
Current conditions including fire bans and water levels can vary from day to day. For more details, call the park or Park Information at 1-800-792-1112.

Bonham State Park
RR 1 Box 337
Bonham TX 75418
903/583-5022

For more information go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife web page.