Sea Rim State Park

Temporary Mailing Address:
105 San Jacinto St
LaPorte TX 77571
Park locator map

Texas Parks and Wildlife was provided $2 million for the recovery of Sea Rim State Park by the 81st Legislature. With these funds, the department is currently engaged in a master planning process to restore limited facilities, including overnight camping. As we move forward, it will likely be a two year process while the agency considers what types of major improvements should be built. However, in the interim, we are in the final stages of removing all storm debris and destroyed facilities and have opened the Marsh Unit of the park. This will provide access to the JD Murphree WMA and allow bay fishing opportunities in the canals leading through the marsh. Within the ensuing weeks, we plan to permit access to the Beach Unit of the park as well. Use in each of these areas is currently intended for day-use only activities except for permitted users (ie: hunters accessing the WMA). To currently access the park, no entry permit or fee is required.

If you are planning on visiting the park, please consider the following information:

Although no staff are currently present, TPWD is increasing random patrols by State Park Police Officers
The park is intended for day-use only except for permitted users (ie-hunters accessing the WMA)
No facilities currently exist at the park (ie: water, restrooms, trash receptacles, check-in stations)
Come prepared to be self-sufficient
Respect the park rules—pack it in, pack it out—no trash receptacles
No public consumption of alcohol
If you have an emergency, call 911

If you are planning on using the park to access the JD Murphree WMA, please consider the following information:

To access the park, no permit or entry fee is required
To access the WMA, you either need a daily ($20) permit, available at the HWY 73 check station or the Annual Public Hunting permit
All hunters must register at the check station on HWY 73

History: Sea Rim State Park, 4141.1 acres of marshland with 5.2 miles of Gulf of Mexico beach shoreline, is located in Jefferson County, south of Port Arthur.

Acquired by purchase from Planet Oil and Mineral Corporation and Horizon Sales Corporation in 1972, Sea Rim State Park opened to the public in 1977. Sea Rim refers to that portion of the Gulf shoreline where marsh grasses meet the surf. These marshlands formed when silt from the Sabine River delta was carried down the beach by longshore currents. A unique environment, Sea Rim provides a valuable habitat for many wetland species.

Activities: Attractions include camping, wildlife observation, birding, beach combing, the Gambusia Nature Trail, canoeing, kayaking, airboat tours, beach swimming, fishing, year round canoe and paddle boat rentals, and public waterfowl hunting (in season).

Tours: The park offers an interpretive airboat tour during the spring, summer and fall. This one-hour tour through the marsh offers the visitor interesting views of spectacular beauty and diversity of the park. Airboat tours are by reservation only and are dependent upon weather conditions. Group interpretive tours are available upon request. Call (409) 971-2559 for information and reservations.

Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site, Village Creek State Park, McFadden National Wildlife Refuge, Pleasure Island, Sabine Woods, Big Thicket National Preserve, and the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area. A wide variety of festivals are held throughout the year in the cities of Port Arthur, Nederland, Groves, and Port Neches. Early Arcadian homes and turn-of-the-century villas, museums, historic sites, and oriental gardens offer tours for visitors.

Facilities: Sea Rim State park is divided into two units: D. Roy Harrington Beach Unit and Marshlands Unit.

Camping facilities in the D. Roy Harrington Beach Unit include campsites with water, campsites with water and electricity, and approximately 2 miles of open beach primitive camping. An overflow camping area and trailer dump station are also available.
Recreational facilities at the Beach Unit include ample picnic tables, restrooms with and without showers, a visitors' center with exhibits, observation decks, the Gambusia Nature Trail (a boardwalk through the marsh with a self-guided booklet), The Willow Pond Birding Trail, swimming (permitted only in Gulf of Mexico), and 6 miles of open beach for bike riding, hiking, beach combing, fishing and sunbathing.

The Marshlands Unit is only accessible by boat and as such proves an ideal location for observing nature in peaceful seclusion. A boat ramp is available for shallow watercraft such as flat-bottom boats, canoes and kayaks. Canoes for exploring the marsh can be rented from the park. Primitive camping platforms are located throughout the marsh. Four observation blinds in the marsh provide cover for bird watching, photographing and studying marsh wildlife. Fishing is permitted from dawn to dusk; however, swimming is not allowed in the marshlands area due to the presence of alligators. Visitors can tour the marsh on the park's airboat tours from April through October.

Map of Park (PDF 85 KB)
Map of the Marshlands Unit (PDF 114.9 KB)

Natural Features: Located along the Greater Texas Coastal Birding Trail, Sea Rim State Park serves as a rest stop for several species of migratory birds traveling the Central Flyway. Warblers, swallows, vireos, grosbeaks, buntings and flycatchers are only a few of the birds that visitors can expect to see. American alligator, mink, nutria, raccoon, rabbit, opossum, skunks, river otter and muskrat are some of the many animals visitors may see in the park. During dawn and dusk, bobcats and coyotes can sometimes be seen in the park. White and brown shrimp, crabs, and various sport fishes such as red drum, speckled trout and flounder thrive in the park's lakes and bayous. Rich with plankton and organic matter, the marshland waters serve as a nursery for various species of aquatic life, supporting marine fisheries and migratory waterfowl.

Seasonal Checklist of Birds at Sea Rim State Park:

Fall Checklist of Birds at Sea Rim State Park (PDF 85.8 KB)
Winter Checklist of Birds at Sea Rim State Park (PDF 82.7 KB)
Spring Checklist of Birds at Sea Rim State Park (PDF 86.1 KB)
Summer Checklist of Birds at Sea Rim State Park (PDF 85.3 KB)

More information on the wildlife mentioned here:

Texas Wildlife Factsheets.

Elevation: 6 ft.
Weather: July average high 93; January average low 42; September is the wettest month; first/last freeze: November 16/March 11. Beach conditions experience seasonal variation. Please contact the park for current conditions.

National Weather Service forecast for this area.

Schedule: Open: 7 days a week year-round. Busy Season: April through July. Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months.

Due to severe damage from Hurricane Rita & Hurricane Ike, Sea Rim State Park is currently closed. A reopening date has not been set.

Directions: The park is located 20 miles south of Port Arthur on State Highway 87. State Highway 87 is closed between Sea Rim and High Island. The park is 10 miles west of Sabine Pass.

Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.

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