Texas Forest Trail Region
Explore the History and Culture of East Texas
Texas Heritage Trails Program
The Texas Heritage Trails Program, administered by the Texas Historical Commission, promotes heritage tourism across Texas through ten regional heritage tourism regions.
About the Texas Forest Trail
The Texas Forest Trail Region represents East Texas within the Texas Heritage Trails Program. Spanning the Piney Woods from the Red River to the Gulf Coast, the Forest Trail works with communities and partners to promote the historic places, cultural traditions, and landscapes of East Texas.
Through partnerships and regional storytelling, the Forest Trail connects visitors with the people, places, and experiences that define East Texas.
The Texas Forest Trail Region serves 35 counties across East Texas:
Angelina
Anderson
Bowie
Camp
Cass
Cherokee
Gregg
Franklin
Hardin
Harrison
Henderson
Houston
Jasper
Jefferson
Marion
Montgomery
Morris
Nacogdoches
Newton
Orange
Panola
Polk
Red River
Rusk
Sabine
San Augustine
San Jacinto
Shelby
Smith
Titus
Trinity
Tyler
Upshur
Walker
Wood
EXPLORE THE TEXAS FOREST TRAIL REGION
Through a family of websites focused on travel, storytelling, and heritage tourism, the Texas Forest Trail helps promote partner communities and connect visitors with the people, places, and experiences of East Texas.
Our Economic Impact
Travel and tourism play a vital role in the Texas economy, and the Texas Forest Trail Region is an important part of that impact.
In 2025, visitors generated an estimated $4.4 billion in direct travel spending across the region. That activity supported 34.4 thousand jobs, produced $1.3 billion in travel-generated earnings, and generated $394.3 million in state and local taxes.
direct travel spending in 2025
$4.4 billion
jobs supported by tourism
34.4 thousand
state and local taxes generated
$394.3 million
travel-generated earnings
$1.3 billion
Get Involved with the Texas Forest Trail
Support heritage tourism, historic preservation, and regional storytelling across East Texas. Whether you’re a community, business, organization, or individual, there are many ways to help promote the places, traditions, and landscapes that define the Texas Forest Trail.
Forest Partnership Program
- Regional Tourism Partners -
For tourism organizations, cities, and communities working together to promote East Texas.
Friends of the Forest
- Individual Heritage Supporters -
Individual supporters helping preserve and promote the heritage of East Texas.
Forest Business Alliance
- Small Business Supporters -
A network of East Texas businesses supporting heritage tourism and the communities.