Cooper Lake State Park

Doctors Creek Unit
1664 FR 1529 South
Cooper TX 75432
903/395-3100

South Sulphur Unit
1690 FM 3505
Sulphur Springs TX 75482
903/945-5256
Park locator map

History: Cooper Lake State Park, 3,026 acres, is situated in northeast Texas. The park consists of two units, Doctors Creek Unit, 715.5 acres, located in Delta County, and South Sulphur Unit, 2,310.5 acres, located in northern Hopkins County. Cooper Lake, 19,300 acres, is a young lake; embankment construction on the South Sulphur River began in 1986. Lake construction was completed in the fall of 1991 and impoundment began on September 28, 1991. The park property was acquired in January 1991 and opened for boat access in November 1992. Doctors Creek Unit opened January 3, 1996; South Sulphur Unit opened April 27, 1996. Both park units are leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 25 years.

The rolling hills of Cooper Lake State Park offer spectacular views of Cooper Lake, from the steeper hills of South Sulphur Unit to the more gradual slopes of the Doctor's Creek Unit. The park is centrally located to surrounding communities, including Paris, Cooper, Greenville, Sulphur Springs and Commerce as well as the urban centers of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Texarkana

Situated in northeastern Texas, Cooper Lake State Park is located in Delta and Hopkins Counties. Cooper Lake State Park occupies land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is operated through a lease agreement. The park property was acquired in January 1991 and both parks opened in 1996. Located on land that is now beneath the waters of Cooper Lake are the traces of ancient people such as the Caddo Indians who came there thousands of years ago as well as those of more recent settlers and farmers who lived there in the 1800,s. Immigrants from Tennessee, Kentucky, the Carolinas and Virginia altered the landscape by introducing agriculture and livestock. By the 19th century, the area became known for its cotton and dairy production. Today a wide range of land and water based recreational opportunities have been established to provide resource-oriented outdoor experiences which are compatible with natural resource preservation.

Lake History: Situated in northeast Texas, The Cooper Lake Project was authorized in 1955 with embankment construction beginning in 1986. Located within the South Sulphur River watershed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the lake to help control flooding on the South Sulphur River, to serve as a water supply for towns in the area and to provide recreational opportunities such as fishing and boating. The lake covers about 19,000 acres and is surrounded by thousands of acres devoted to parks and wildlife management. The lake has evolved into one of the best all around fishing lakes in the region growing in popularity among weekend anglers and Pro Guides alike. Species likely to be caught are Blue and Channel Catfish, Blue Gill, Florida Largemouth Bass, Crappie and Hybrid Striped Bass.

Activities: Features include camping, fishing, water skiing, picnicking, boating, unsupervised swimming, bird watching, nature study, fun and educational nature programs and tours. The South Sulphur Unit offers equestrian camping and horseback riding trails.

Area Attractions: Cooper Wildlife Management Area. The Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site, Bonham State Park, and Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, Southwest Dairy Center in Sulphur Springs, and Texas A & M University in Commerce.

Facilities:

Doctors Creek: Located on the northeast side of Cooper Lake, this cozy unit offers a variety of outdoor opportunities. Facilities consist of campsites with electric & water hook-ups, limited use cabins, and screened shelters. The park also has restrooms, 6.2 miles of shoreline, a beautiful sandy beach and a 1 mile nature trail with one of 2 playgrounds nearby. There is an ADA approved 3-lane boat ramp, a fish cleaning table, a sand volleyball court and an outdoor amphitheater. To facilitate groups a picnic pavilion (capacity 50) is available for rent. A 2-mile hike/bike trail is also available. Note: An entrance fee is charged in order to use the Tira boat ramp.

Fees for the Doctors Creek unit.
Map of the Doctors Creek unit. (PDF 103.1 KB)

The following link leaves the TPWD web site. Check Availability/Make Reservations for Cooper Lake State Park - Doctors Creek Unit.
You can also make e-mail reservations, fax reservations or phone reservations.

South Sulphur: Located on the south side of Cooper Lake, this sprawling 2,560 acre unit offers a multitude of camping and recreational opportunities. Facilities include 14 fully furnished lakeside cabins, 4 limited use cabins, 17 screened shelters, 87 water/electric sites, 15 electric equestrian sites, 15 walk-in tent camping sites, two lighted fishing piers, two boat ramps, three picnic areas, a group pavilion (capacity 100), 7 shower/restroom facilities, a playground, a 5 mile hike/bike trail, a 10.5 mile equestrian trail, an outdoor amphitheater, a sand volleyball court, and a large sandy swimming beach. All RV and trailer sites have a minimum 55 foot concrete pad.

Fees for the South Sulphur Unit.
Map of the South Sulphur Unit. (PDF 123.1 KB)

The following link leaves the TPWD web site. Check availability/make reservations for Cooper Lake State Park - South Sulphur Unit.
You can also make e-mail reservations, fax reservations or phone reservations.

Natural Features: The park is nestled in a junction of the eastern extension of the Tall Grass Prairies and Post Oak Savannah. While the flora of the site has been altered by previous human land practices and some resultant soil depletion, some flora communities are relatively intact and others have shown remarkable recovery. A partial plant list includes Post Oak, Winged Elm, Bois d' Arc, Texas Honey Locust, Mesquite, Eastern Red Cedar, Toothache Tree, Eastern Persimmon, Mexican Wild Plum, and Hickory. A variety of mammals may be seen the parks including, Grey Fox, Bobcat, Opossum, Beaver, Raccoon, White-tail Deer, Nine-Banded Armadillo, and Eastern Cottontail.

More information on the wildlife mentioned here:

Texas Wildlife Factsheets.

Elevation: 450. Rainfall: Average 42.7 annually.
Weather: January average minimum 30; July average maximum 94.

Schedule: There is no gate that closes. Day use hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Both units are open 7 days a week, year-round. Office Hours: South Sulphur Unit
offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Directions:

To reach Doctors Creek Unit, travel east from Commerce on State Highway 24 to Cooper, then from Cooper, east for 1 mile on State Highway 154, then south for 2 miles on FM 1529 to the park entrance; or north from Interstate 30 at Exit 122 on the west side of Sulphur Springs for 14 miles on State Highway 19, then west on County Road 4795 for 2 miles to the Corps of Engineers office, cross the lake dam and drive 1/2 mile further to the park entrance.
To reach South Sulphur Unit, travel north from Interstate 30 at Exit 122 on the west side of Sulphur Springs for 10 miles on State Highway 19, then west on State Highway 71 for 4 miles, then north for 1 mile on FM 3505 to the park entrance, or east from Commerce on State Highway 71 for 16 miles, then north for 1 mile on FM 3505 to the park entrance, or east from Cooper for 1 mile on State Highway 154, then south on FM 1529 for 5 miles ( cross the lake dam) to State Highway 19, then south for 5 miles to State Highway 71, then west for 4 miles to FM 3505, then north for 1 mile to the park entrance.

Location Map for Cooper Lake State Park media download (PDF 69.4 KB)

Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.

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