The Lighthouse Lakes Trails were established in 1999 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as the first paddling trail on the Texas coast. The area is located on North Harbor Island and is named for the old lighthouse on Lydia Ann Channel that was built in 1856. Most of the Lighthouse Lakes is very shallow, so access by powerboats is very limited and it is best to explore this area during high tide. The lakes are a series of open flats that are connected by multiple channels and sloughs. A hand-held GPS is very useful since it is easy to become disoriented and even lost in the maze of mangrove-lined channels.

Fishing and birdwatching are excellent in the Lighthouse Lakes. Fishing for trout and flounder can be good most of the year and the area is well-known or it's schools of "tailing" redfish.

The Cutters Loop starts at marker 60 and is 5 miles long. The launch site for this trail is along Highway 361.

Lighthouse Lakes Trails – Redfish Loop
Lighthouse Lakes Trails – South Bay Loop

Download a high resolution Aerial Photo Map of the Lighthouse Lakes Trails (5mb)