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Load up the Chevy Silverado or Trailblazer and take the road out of Athens, TX on adventures packed with outdoor activities. Hike and bike through breathtaking woodlands wet your hook in the fourth-largest lake in Texas, cool off in the splashiest spot in the region, go off-roading through the mud, and pitch your tent on the shores of a scenic lake. Take the Chevy and Discover These 5 Outdoor Activities Near Athens, TX 1. Explore the Beautiful Purtis Creek Prairies and Woodlands The beautiful Purtis Creek State Park at 14225 FM 316 N in Eustace is just 11.8 miles from Athens and stretches over 1,582 acres of rolling prairies and deciduous woodlands abundant with birdlife. Put on your hiking boots, get on your bicycle, and head down the trails that cut through the woods and run along the shores of the scenic 355-acre Purtis Creek Lake. 2. Pitch Your Tent at Shiloh on the Lake Pack your camping gear in the Chevy and take a short 12.7-mile drive to the scenic 48-acre Shiloh on the Lake campground at 14638 Travis Parkway in Malakoff for an extraordinary camping adventure. Pick a full hookup or primitive campsite in Piney Woods, or pitch your tent on the shores of the beautiful Cedar Creek Lake. Spend your days fishing from the pier, kayaking, and boating on the lake, hiking and biking through the woods, or just sticking your toes in the sand on the sandy swimming beach. 3. Go on a Fishing Expedition at Cedar Creek Reservoir Take a 15-mile drive west on US 175 to the enormous 32,623-acre Cedar Creek Reservoir, the fourth-largest lake in Texas, for an epic fishing expedition. The water is brimming with largemouth, white, hybrid striped bass, blue, flathead, and channel catfish, and the 320-mile-long shoreline has plenty of spots to wet your hook. Texas Parks and Wildlife stock the lake annually with hybrid striped bass, and a whopper of 13.19 pounds was hooked here. 4. Cool Off at Splash Kingdom Paradise Island There's no need to drive hundreds of miles to the ocean if you can hop in your Chevy and catch the waves 24.6 miles away in Canton. The extraordinary Splash Kingdom Paradise Island at 18814 Interstate 20 has a 350,000-gallon wave pool where you can ride the waves on the Flow Rider, glide down thrilling waterslides into swirling pools of water, and a long lazy river if you want to kick back and relax. 5. Hit the Trails at River Run ATV Park The 2,000-acre River Run ATV Park at 2001 County Road in Jacksonville, 37 miles away, is the ultimate spot in the region to head down the trails on horseback, in a golf cart, an off-road motorbike, or ATV, UTV, or your Chevy truck. The routes vary from hard-packed clay to slippery mud, with plenty of challenging sections, and you can ride for days without hitting the same trails twice. Go on exciting excursions and have loads of fun outdoors. To ensure your Chevy is ready for an outdoor adventure, drop by Bacon Auto Ranch today for an expert maintenance service.

Enjoy a scenic drive in your GMC Acadia or Chevrolet Trailblazer and discover the best views in and around Athens, TX. Gaze at the stars at two of the best planetariums in the state, enjoy a peaceful picnic on the shores of Lake Athens, stroll through the breathtaking East Texas Arboretum, and explore the natural beauty of Purtis Creek State Park. From planetariums to great parks in the area, there are many places for amazing views! 1. Appreciate the Wonder of the Night Skies For a truly magical experience and unmatched views of the night skies, two of the best planetariums in Texas are under 40 miles away from Athens. The Cook Center Planetarium at 3100 W. Collin Street in Corsicana is the second-largest planetarium in Texas, with a 60-foot diameter dome. The state-of-the-art Center for Earth and Space Science Education Planetarium on the Tyler Junior College campus at 1411 E Lake Street in Tyler is equipped with cutting-edge technology, and you can enjoy a full-dome video experience here! 2. Enjoy the Scenic Views Over Lake Athens One of the most scenic views in the area is over the 1,799-acre Lake Athens on FM 2495, just five miles east of the city. The tree-lined, grassy shores of the beautiful lake are perfect for enjoying the scenery, especially at Lake Athens Marina and RV Park. The park offers kayak and paddleboard rentals for a peaceful outing on the water and tables under the trees to enjoy a quiet picnic overlooking the lake and the surrounding woodlands. 3. Take a Stroll Through the East Texas Arboretum Explore one hundred acres of flower gardens and woodlands filled with wildlife in the magnificent East Texas Arboretum at 1601 Patterson Road in Athens. The serene Ruby Key Garden and more are breathtaking areas with lush green lawns and flowering plants. Follow two miles of scenic trails that wind through the woodlands and over streams connected by a 115-foot suspension bridge to catch glimpses of the birds and deer and to appreciate the breathtaking surroundings. 4. Find Spectacular Scenery in Purtis Creek State Park Just over 14 miles from Athens, Purtis Creek State Park at 14225 FM 316 N in Eustace offers beautiful scenery along the nature trails that cut through 1,582 acres of prairies and deciduous woodlands filled with bird life. Hike down the 1.7-mile Beaver Slide Nature Path for spectacular views of the sparkling 355-acre Purtis Creek Lake and discover the woods around the highly scenic Solar Trail. Find a New or Used Car for Taking in These Great Views There are beautiful natural areas with breathtaking scenery in and around Athens where you can enjoy plenty of outdoor activities and a picnic in scenic surroundings. Stop at Bacon Auto Ranch today for top-quality new and used Chevrolet and GMC vehicles and expert maintenance and repair services.