The Four C National Recreation Trail leads hikers through part of the Davy Crockett National Forest. This 20-mile-long trail begins at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area and ends at the Neches Bluff Overlook.
Named for the Central Coal and Coke Company, which logged virgin timber in the area, the Four C Trail follows some abandoned tramways built by that company. The area around the trail is a forest that grew after the company completed its logging operation in the early 1920's. Its sawmill was located at Ratcliff Lake, which served as a log pond. Ratcliff Lake is now a developed recreation area with paid camping and facilities and paid parking (honor system). Except for a 1-mile segment through privately owned timberlands, the Four C Trail stays on national forest land. The trail, marked with white rectangular tags on trees, is easy to follow. The hiker may enjoy a variety of aesthetic and educational experiences through pines, bottomland hardwoods, boggy sloughs, and upland forests. Both old and young trees representing second-and third-growth forests grow along the trail. After a 2 hour drive from Houston, Friday evening camping is available at the grassy parking area at Naches Bluff. A primitive AT style lean-too is located at the Walnut Creek campsite mid-way along the trail. Water can be tanked near this road crossing (513-2).
