Hunter Camp 217A Dispersed Camping

Sam Houston National Forest doesn’t disappoint! We stayed here early February 2021; and there was only one other 5th wheel staying there in the area. There were plenty of wide open spaces for our 31 foot class c rig. The tall trees that surrounded the sites were beautiful and magnificent!
The area was clean (except for some human feces- yuck!).
The weather was so beautiful except for wind that crept in the night before we left. The trails go on for miles into breathtaking scenery!
We will definitely stay here again!

When I first arrived around 2PM on a Saturday during hunting season, I thought it might be full. There were 2 rigs and 2 cars that I saw. But within two hours the rigs had left and there were just some car campers in the back area. So I had my choice of spots. I tow an 18' cargo trailer without great ground clearance, and the dirt road in had some ruts and bumps, but nothing too bad. Clearance wasnt an issue when you go slow.

Some spots had full sun, others were shady. I picked a sunny spot for my solar panels to sunbathe. I was able to swing through a big spot with no reversing or issues. The grass wasn't mowed but wasnt too high. There was some horse poop around because the spot is popular with horse owners. JUst avoided that.

I didnt hear any voices or noise, no screaming kids. By Sunday afternoon I had the entire place to myself, but only for a few hours, when another car camper showed up and parked well away. There's plenty of room for everyone to spread out.

The entrance to the turnoff road is marked with some plastic streamers tied to a tree branch. It may not still be there but it helped me not to pass it. There is one porta potty near the camp entrance but a little past the entrance. I didnt see anyone bother to visit it, but nice that it's there.

I was looking for trees having spent the past few weeks on Texas beaches. A camp neighbor I met suggested the Sam Houston NF. I found this site on Campendium and decided to check it out. It is easy access off either FM2025 north out of Cleveland or US-59 east out of Shepherd. Turn onto FM2666 off either.

This is a popular gathering point with the local horseback riders, so I was told by some, however they left way before dark both days I was there. I did see a hunters camp nearby as well but they were far enough away so as not to be intrusive.

This turned out to be a very peaceful setting and just what I was looking for. There are no amenities of any kind... this is not a campground, but the area is flat and semi grassy. The road in off FM2666 (FS217A) is hard packed dirt and could get muddy after a hard rain, but still easily negotiable IMO. I'm in a 21ft RV, but the horseback riders drove in with full size pickups towing 20 - 25ft horse trailers no problem. There was some very slight traffic noise from nearby FM2025 but not so much as to be annoying. I would camp here again.