Hike through the beautiful piney woods of East Texas and get a glimpse into the past where a lumber town once existed deep in the forest.

The Hike

The Sawmill Trail is a picturesque and family-friendly hike that starts at the Boykin Springs Recreation Area, located within the Angelina National Forest. The trail is approximately 2.5 miles long, making it a 5-mile round trip, and is relatively flat. During the rainy season, expect some muddy and wet crossings. However, the forest and creekside scenery along with a big payoff at the end, make it a highly recommended hike.

The History

The original Aldridge Sawmill (wooden Structure) was built in 1905 and a town soon formed around it. By 1911 the town had grown significantly there were 76 buildings at Aldridge including houses, a warehouse, a hotel, a company store, and offices. Later that year, the wooden mill structure burned down and a new mill was constructed using concrete. The sawmill continued to run at some capacity until 1923 when it was finally closed. By 1927 Aldridge was a ghost town. The U.S. Forest Service acquired the remains in 1935 and today you can see the ruins of the mill, a power plant, a fuels building, and a dry kiln.