Choke Canyon State Park
Calliham / Three Rivers, Texas

Download a Park Map (PDF) - courtesy of TPWD

Choke Canyon State Park is comprised of two units, Calliham and South Shore, surrounding 26,000-acre Choke Canyon Reservoir. Access to the North Shore Area is open to groups of no fewer than eight individuals; reservations and permits can be obtained at the South Shore Unit. Birding, boating, camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and wildlife observation are popular throughout the park.

Both units provide developed (RV) and primitive campsites, hiking/birding trails (3.5 miles total in the park), boat ramps, and playgrounds. The 1,100-acre Calliham Unit also offers a swimming pool (open daily from Memorial Day to the end of summer), tennis and basketball courts, baseball diamond, gymnasium, dining hall, and screened shelters. The restricted access 1,700-acre North Shore Area accounts for most of the parks trail system, offering 18 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, as well as developed and primitive campsites and boat ramps.

Established as a water supply for Corpus Christi, the reservoir is now home to roughly 200 bird species and abundant wildlife, such as white-tail deer, javelina (collared peccary), wild turkey, greater roadrunner, and golden-fronted woodpecker. American alligators are occasionally observed in the Calliham Unit's 90-acre lake, adjacent to the tent camping area.

Park Rating Explanation of Symbols
Campsites/Overnight Facilities
Leashed Pets Permitted?	YES
Picnic Areas/Playgrounds
Solitude
Trail System
Water Recreation
Wildlife
Ratings are based on a scale of 0 to 4.

Shannon's Notebook

Choke Canyon Lake

Copyright © Justin W. Moore
See more photos at OutdoorPhoto.com

Justin and I made our first visit to Choke Canyon on a typical hot, humid South Texas summer day. We explored both the Calliham and South Shore units, finding the former offered better birding and wildlife viewing opportunities. During our visit, we observed white-tail deer (extremely tame, due to years of being fed by "generous" visitors), wild turkey, golden-fronted woodpecker, red-winged blackbird, and numerous shorebirds. Fishing in the reservoir appeared to be quite good. Fish species include: catfish, carp, freshwater drum, and several species of bass.
For more information, read our trip report:

Choke Canyon Camping

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Location

The South Shore Unit is located 3.5 miles west of Three Rivers on State Highway 72 on the banks of Choke Canyon Reservoir. The Calliham Unit is located 12 miles west of Three Rivers on State Highway 72.
Map of Park's Location (Calliham Unit)
Map of Park's Location (South Shore Unit)

For GPS Users:
N 28° 28.27' W 098° 20.69' (WGS84/NAD83)
Convert to another coordinate sytem or map datum (Courtesy of Jeeep.com) (Calliham Unit)
N 28° 29.02' W 098° 14.52' (WGS84/NAD83)
Convert to another coordinate sytem or map datum (Courtesy of Jeeep.com) (South Shore Unit)

Hours

Open 7 days a week year-round from 5 AM to 10 PM for day use activities.

Check for restricted park access before any trip. When controlled public hunts are in progress, general access is not permitted.

Fees

A park entrance fee is charged per day -- $3 per person for adults 13 years of age and older. (Texas residents age 65 or older pay only $2 per person.)

Campsite and other facility fees are in addition to the park entrance fee.

Note: Learn about the $60 Texas State Parks Pass which exempts passholders, and the passengers in their vehicle, from the entrance fees at all Texas State Parks.

Reservations

Reserve Now for campsites and other park facilities.

Reservations can also be made by calling TPWD's Central Reservation System at (512)389-8900 from 9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday, 9 AM to noon on Saturdays.

Reserve Now for campsites and other park facilities.

Reservations can also be made by calling TPWD's Central Reservation System at (512)389-8900 from 9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday, 9 AM to noon on Saturdays.

Events

Consult TPWD's Park Events Calendar - Calliham Unit & South Shore Unit for information on upcoming events at this park.

Weather

Volunteer Opportunities

Contact the Friends of Choke Canyon, the officially recognized non-profit support group of Choke Canyon State Park, at P.O. Box 69, Calliham, TX 78007.