Located in the heart of east Texas, the 153,179-acre Angelina National Forest is located in Angelina, Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Jasper counties. The forest lies in the Neches River Basin and on the north and south shores of Sam Rayburn Reservoir, a 114,500-acre lake on the Angelina River formed by the construction of Sam Rayburn Dam in the early 1960's.

The Angelina National Forest lies in the upper Gulf Coastal general plain province and the terrain is gently rolling. Longleaf pine is the predominant cover type in the southern portion, while loblolly and shortleaf pine are the dominant types in the rest of the forest.

In the middle of the Angelina National Forest lies Sam Rayburn Reservoir, noted for its fishing, pleasure boating and skiing. Sam Rayburn Reservoir and the surrounding Angelina National Forest provide wintering habitat for the endangered bald eagle and during the winter months, forest visitors may see the bald eagle soaring over the lake, perched on a flooded snag or in a tall pine along the shoreline. Another endangered species, the red-cockaded woodpecker is found throughout the forest.

• The Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a must see for watersport enthusiasts; have a day of canoeing, boating or kayaking on the reservoir's north and south shores.
• Come during the winter and see bald eagles soaring over Lake Kurth or the red-cockaded woodpecker, another endangered species found througout the forest.