The Outdoors in Mount Vernon, Texas

Mount Vernon's nearest outdoor jewel is Lake Cypress Springs, a clear, spring-fed reservoir of about 3,461 acres on Big Cypress Creek, roughly eight miles south of town. Known for its clean water and scenic shoreline, it's a favorite for fishing, boating, swimming, and lakeside living.

Anglers come for largemouth bass, spotted bass, and channel catfish, and the lake is overseen by the Franklin County Water District, which maintains a string of public parks around the shore — Walleye, Twin Oaks, Guthrie, Overlook, Dogwood, and Mary King — for boat access, camping, picnicking, and day use. A lake patrol keeps the water orderly, making Cypress Springs a well-managed and popular spot close to home.

About eighteen miles southeast of Mount Vernon lies Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, a serene, wooded park on the lake of the same name. It offers more than three miles of hiking trails, fishing from the bank or a lighted pier, swimming, picnicking, and camping, with a boat ramp and a fish-cleaning station for anglers.

The fishing here is strong — largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie — and the park's pine-and-hardwood setting makes it a fine spot for a day trip or an overnight stay. Between Lake Bob Sandlin and Lake Cypress Springs, Mount Vernon residents have two distinct lakes, each with its own character, within a short drive.

Beyond the lakes, Mount Vernon is surrounded by the gently rolling, wooded country of Northeast Texas — a mix of forest, pasture, and the farms that have long defined Franklin County. Quiet country roads make for scenic drives, and the woods and fields make for good hunting, with deer, hogs, and other game in season.

The broader region adds still more lakes and outdoor opportunities within a reasonable drive. But the heart of Mount Vernon's outdoor life is its two nearby lakes — spring-fed Cypress Springs and the state-park waters of Bob Sandlin — which together make the town a fine base for fishing, boating, and getting outside any time of year.