Boating, Fishing & Camping
Pat Mayse Lake
13 miles north of Paris, Pat Mayse Lake offers 6,000 acres of surface water for sporting activities. Fishing and hunting are open to the public on the Corps of Engineers Lake and there are convenient ramp facilities for pleasure boating and skiing on all sides of
the lake. Camping sites with electrical hook-ups, water, restrooms and showers are available. In addition to Corp of Engineers managed facilities, Camp Kiwanis features individual and group camping facilities, pavilions, boat ramp, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits and other games.
Lake Crook
3 miles north of Paris off U.S. 271, Lake Crook has fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking as well as a pavilion. The Lake Crook Trail follows the southeastern shore of the lake providing great views of the lake and chances to spot some of the abundant bird and wildlife population around the lake. Most summers the rumble of drag boats can be heard around Lake Crook for The Paris Powerboat Grand Prix as part of the Southern Drag Boat Association's annual racing schedule.
Lake Gibbons
Lake Gibbons can be located by driving 4.2 miles NW of Loop 286 on FM 79 & west on 2820 and offers swimming, boating & fishing. The 600-acre Gambill Goose Refuge is particularly interesting in winter, though Lake Gibbons hosts a variety of wildlife year-round. Guests driving along the western shore in summer could see Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, along with Lark Sparrow and Dickcissel. The lake also attracts a diversity of swallows, with Barn Swallow and Purple Martin being most numerous. The resident population of Canada Geese is occasionally joined by summering Snow, Blue or White-fronted Geese. The geese are commonly fed and the easy food source attracts dozens of sizable western chicken turtles and red-eared sliders. The fields around the lake are often filled with wildflowers, attracting numerous butterflies and dragonflies.
Paris Sports Complex
A community fishing pond is located inside the Paris Sports Complex at 2005 S. Collegiate Dr. next to the Love Civic Center.
Trail de Paris / Northeast Texas Trail
The Trail de Paris is the founding section of the 130 mile long Northeast Texas Trail. The rails-to-trails project includes paved and unpaved sections with areas for primative camping. Use of the trail is limited to walking, running and non-powered wheeled vehicles.