The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas, and wildlife habitat. Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins. The Davy Crockett National Forest was proclaimed a National Forest by President Franklin Roosevelt on October 15, 1936.

The ranger district office is located near Ratcliff on Highway 7 about one-quarter mile west of FM 227 in Houston County. A work center is located about one-half mile north of Highway 7 on FM 227.

A wide variety of wildlife exists on the Davy Crockett National Forest. Principal game includes squirrel, deer, quail, dove, turkey, and waterfowl. The red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species, lives within carefully managed habitat on the forest.

The 20-mile-long Four C National Recreation Trail begins at Ratcliff Lake and winds through a diverse forest of towering pines, bottomland hardwoods, boggy sloughs, and upland forests. Midway down the trail is the Walnut Creek campsite with five tent pads, a shelter, and pit toilet. Another campsite, further north on the trail, has two tent pads. Neches Bluff Overlook, located at the north end of the trail, offers a panoramic view of pine-hardwood forests in the Neches River bottomlands with picnic and primitive camping facilities.

Dispersed camping is permitted in most parts of the National Forest year round, but is restricted to 25 designated hunter camps during the fall deer season to provide a safer hunting experience. A map of these camps is available at the ranger district office in early September.