Description Notes Maps Driving Directions Web References
| Difficulty: | Beginning |
| Length: | 5-30mi (spurs off Lone Star Trail) |
| Water: | Tank at various road crossings |
Little Lake Creek is located in Sam Houston National Forest along FM 149 about 5 miles north of the FM 150 junction. The area offers loop trails of varying length from 5 to 30+ miles so troops can customize treks to the age and physical ability of the crews. Trails loop through Little Lake Creek Wilderness Area. Trails are well marked and bridges and boardwalks are common in swampy areas. Despite this, the area can be very swampy during the rainy season (particularly the southern Little Lake Loop trail). The 20 mile loop to the east of the parking area on FM 149 is ideal for a weekend (Caney Creek Loop). From the southern parking area, head east (be careful not to miss the trail split off from the pipeline about 1-2 miles from the parking area) to the primitive campsite (on high sandy ground) along the southern Lake Conroe feeder stream (no name) – water can be treated. Considering the expanse of this low-lying area, this campsite is particularly noteworthy. Approaching Caney Creek, a trained eye will note the transition form piney wood to low land flood plain with extensive palmetto growth. Water supply is available from Caney Creek approximately 3 miles north of Lake Conroe – it is also deep enough for a wade and cool off in the hot weather. This is the last water until the second crossing of Pole Creek in the southeast corner of the loop, nearly 20 miles away. Water should be tanked in advance at the northern FM149 trail crossing – this is advisable as Pole Creek and Little Lake Creek water flow is unreliable. In dire situations, there is a farmer’s house with a donkey watering station. The owner is very nice and let us have free access to his hose in the pen. When you cross Osburn Road (237) (dirt) half way between Caney Creek and FM149 his driveway is about ½ mile south of the trail crossing on the left side of the road. The house is set back up the hill an additional ¼ mile. Stop in and ask permission to get some water. – only the donkey will mind (cover your ears!). The two northern loops in the Little Lake Creek area are basically dry with the exception of several isolated ponds. Water from these ponds is generally acceptable for treating. The northern most parking area along Rt. 149 is the head (milepost 0) of the Lone Star Trail.
May 21-24, 1999: It was a hot Memorial day weekend. We divided up into two crews one heading east the other west around the Little Lake Creek and Caney Creek loop trails off the Lone Star. We arrived around 7:00 PM at the Southern FM 149 trail head, split up and camped at the first places we could find. Our crew headed west and camped at the crossing of Pole Creek (water available) in the Little Lake Creek Wilderness Area. After an early rise we hiked around the southern Little Lake Loop trail (swampy in the southern section) and camped Saturday night at the northern Pole Creek crossing – there was very little water in the creek. Once again we got an early start on Sunday morning after a brief church service. We crossed FM 149 and headed out on the northern Canery creek loop trail where we met up with the other crew heading westward. When we crossed the county road, we dropped packs and two adults hiked up the road to a ranch house where we were given permission to get water from his faucet (much to the disagreement of his squealing donkey!) After lunch we had refreshing swim in the creek feeding Lake Conroe then turned south on the loop and camped at a primitive designated campsite on the southern tributary feeding the lake. The horse flies (1.5 inches long) were swarming! Two of the scouts were collecting water from the stream when a huge bolt of lightning struck less than 50 feet from them. I have never seen scouts move so fast in my life! – Eyes a mile wide – memories that will last a lifetime – no doubt! Again an early rise on Monday (Memorial Day) and we hit the car by 11:00 where the other crew joined us an hour later after completing their loops. This was a great trip for our first timers covering over 25 miles in the 3 days…
From The
Woodlands, take FM 242W to FM 1488W. Follow
1488W to the 149 junction and head north on 149 into down town Montgomery
(Junction of 105). Cross 105 and
continue north for about 5 miles. After
you see the signs indicating the border of Sam Houston National Forest look for
the southern trailhead on your right - it comes up fast!.
This trailhead connects Little Lake Creek loops to the west and Caney
Creek loop to the east. Trailhead parking is also available at the two other trail
crossings of FM149 further north. These
trail parking areas are posted on 149 – but watch for them because they are
fairly obscure.
These coordinates were digitized from existing maps and calibrated with known waypoints.
Click on a section of the overview below to see the full size map.
