Big Cypress Creek facts for kids

Big Cypress Creek is a river in Texas, United States. It's about 86 miles (138 kilometers) long. This creek is part of a much bigger water system called the Red River watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or body of water. Eventually, the water from Big Cypress Creek flows into the Atchafalaya River through the Atchafalaya Basin and finally reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

Where Does Big Cypress Creek Start?

Big Cypress Creek begins in the southeastern part of Franklin County, Texas. This is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) northwest of a town called Winnsboro.

The Creek's Path

From its start, the creek generally flows towards the east. As it moves, it forms the natural border between Titus County and Camp County.

Later, Big Cypress Creek turns south. Here, its waters are held back to form a large lake called Lake O' the Pines. This lake covers the last 20 miles (32 kilometers) of the creek's original path, mostly in Marion County.

From Creek to Bayou

After flowing out of Lake O' the Pines, the creek changes its name and becomes known as Big Cypress Bayou. This bayou continues to flow east, eventually reaching Caddo Lake. From Caddo Lake, the water then flows into Louisiana, continuing its journey towards the Gulf of Mexico.