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Illustration

Big Thicket National Preserve, Texaswildflowers

Pitcher plants' large yellow flowers on the Pitcher Plant Trail, late March and April, per the National Park Service, not Big Thicket National Preserve's own peak dates. Its usual window for this year has passed.

Big Thicket National Preserve through the year

  • Pitcher plant flowersMar–Apr
  • Sundews bloom with small pink flowers from April into early summer (Sundew Trail)Apr
  • Hunting season (use caution off the sandbars)Oct–Feb
  • Fall colorNov–Dec
Timing at one spot
Late March and April
For that one spot, not the whole place, and not a forecast.

This week at Big Thicket National Preserve

From the Weather Service, the Park Service and USA-NPN volunteers

Right now in Big Thicket National Preserve · September

Next usual wildflowers timinglate March and April, at one spot

Next 7 days

This weekend (NWS forecast)

Sat, Oct 3: Showers And Thunderstorms, high 85°F, low 70°F · 80% chance of rain

Sun, Oct 4: Showers And Thunderstorms, high 82°F, low 68°F · 77% chance of rain

  • Rain likely · up to 80% chanceFriday, Friday Night, Saturday, Saturday Night, Sunday, Sunday Night

Updated Tue, Sep 29, 12:17 PM CDT, source: National Weather Service.

Today here · Tue, Sep 29

Timing at one spot: late March and April.

Sun: rises 7:10 a.m., sets 7:06 p.m.; civil twilight ends 7:30 p.m.

Moon tonight: waning gibbous, 86% lit (at 10 p.m.).

Sun and moon: our calculation, flat horizon. Window: National Park Service. How these work

Park alerts

NPS lists this notice for Big Thicket National Preserve. Read each notice for the affected area and dates.

Checked Tue, Sep 29, 1:28 PM EDT, source: National Park Service. No claim to original U.S. Government works.

Best spots around Big Thicket National Preserve

  • Pitcher Plant TrailA 1-mile loop in the Turkey Creek Unit, from a parking lot on County Road 4850: the first quarter mile is paved and boardwalk, through longleaf pines into the preserve's largest pitcher plant bog, where hundreds of pitcher plants grow.
  • Sundew TrailIn the Hickory Creek Savannah Unit off County Road 1910, south of Warren: a paved and boardwalk inner loop (0.3 mile) past a small bog with pitcher plants and red sundews in spring and summer, and an outer loop through longleaf pine. Shaded picnic pavilion and vault toilet at the trailhead.

Nearby

Straight-line miles; roads are longer
  • Dahomey Refuge304 miLocal timing: April · starts in ~6 months
  • Wheeler Refuge517 miUsually: April · starts in ~6 monthsTuSunnyWeSunnyThSunnyFrMostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySaShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySuShowers And Thunderstorms Likely, rain likelyMoSlight Chance Rain Showers, rain likely
  • White Sands717 miLocal timing: from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May · starts in ~7 monthsTuShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelyWeSunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, rain likelyThMostly SunnyFrSunnySaSunnySuSunnyMoMostly Sunny
  • Great Smoky Mountains724 miUsually mid- to late April · starts in ~6 monthsTuSunnyWeSunnyThSunnyFrMostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySaShowers And Thunderstorms, rain likelySuRain Showers, rain likelyMoChance Rain Showers, rain likely

Big Thicket National Preserve in pictures

Illustrative photos, not current conditions
Close-up of a single tall, pale green pitcher plant tube with red veins and a hooded lid, among grasses
The green, funnel-shaped pitcher (leaf) of a carnivorous pitcher plant at Big Thicket National Preserve, not its flower (NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga; date not given). Photo: NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga · public domain · resized

Questions people ask

When is peak wildflowers in Big Thicket National Preserve in 2027?

We don't have local timing for Big Thicket National Preserve yet. Pitcher plants' large yellow flowers on the Pitcher Plant Trail, late March and April, per the National Park Service: late March and April. That's for that one spot, not the whole place, and not a forecast.

Is it blooming in Big Thicket National Preserve right now?

Not now: its usual wildflowers window for this year has passed. Next time: late March and April, at one spot.

Is there a fee?

No. Admission to Big Thicket National Preserve is free, and no reservation is needed for either trail.Sources: National Park Service, Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve: Hike the Sundew Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How do I get to the Pitcher Plant Trail?

From US 69/287 in Warren, go east on FM 1943 for 4.3 miles, then turn right (south) on unpaved County Road 4850 and go 2 miles to the trailhead parking lot.Source: National Park Service, Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Is the trail accessible?

The first quarter mile, pavement and boardwalk through the bog, is accessible. Past the boardwalk the path is dirt and leaves with exposed roots, and it can get muddy after heavy rain.Sources: National Park Service, Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab), National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve: Plants that Eat Insects! (carnivorous plants brochure) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Are there guided walks?

Yes: rangers lead free one-hour, 1-mile walks to the carnivorous plants on the Pitcher Plant Trail in spring and summer. Dates and times are on the preserve's calendar of events.Source: National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve: Carnivorous Plants ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet; please pick up after your pet.Source: National Park Service, Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Where are the best spots in Big Thicket National Preserve?

Pitcher Plant Trail: a 1-mile loop in the Turkey Creek Unit, from a parking lot on County Road 4850: the first quarter mile is paved and boardwalk, through longleaf pines into the preserve's largest pitcher plant bog, where hundreds of pitcher plants grow.; Sundew Trail: in the Hickory Creek Savannah Unit off County Road 1910, south of Warren: a paved and boardwalk inner loop (0.3 mile) past a small bog with pitcher plants and red sundews in spring and summer, and an outer loop through longleaf pine. Shaded picnic pavilion and vault toilet at the trailhead..

Are there closures or permits to know about in Big Thicket National Preserve?

Hunting season (use caution off the sandbars) (Oct–Feb).

What is Big Thicket National Preserve like through the year?

Pitcher plant flowers (Mar–Apr), Hunting season (use caution off the sandbars) (Oct–Feb), Fall color (Nov–Dec) and Sundews bloom with small pink flowers from April into early summer (Sundew Trail) (Apr).

How we know

National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve: Hike the Sundew Trail (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve: Plants that Eat Insects! (carnivorous plants brochure) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve: Carnivorous Plants (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · National Weather Service forecast and alerts (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29) · National Park Service, Hike the Pitcher Plant Trail (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · National Park Service, Big Thicket hunting seasons (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · National Park Service, Paddling the Big Thicket (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.

All our sources and how we use them →