Hi, camppermom!
Stephen F. Austin State Park is the closest camping facilities to us, only about 15 miles away, so we have been there several times. It's an ok park for an overnight camp out, but there isn't really much to do other than walk, bike rides, or just enjoy the camping. I will say that the camp sites are spaced apart pretty well, so you don't feel cramped and crowded.
The Brazos river that borders the park on it's north side is nothing to brag about and not all that easy to get to. Once you get there all you see is really high river banks and muddy looking water. Unfortunately, that is the way the rivers just look here in the sandy coastal plains area. By the time the rivers get to this area, they have picked up a lot of sand, silt and dirt.
I have never fished at SFA, but it looks like it would be very difficult to do with all the over-hanging trees and the high banks. Swimming there is totally out of the question and not even permitted!
We have camped at Lake Somerville a couple of times a few years back. We did not stay at the State park, though, so I can not tell you anything about it. We stayed at Rocky Creek Park, which is a US Army Corps of Engineers park. Lake Somerville is suitable for swimming and fishing, but the water isn't crystal clear, like Lake Bastrop for example.
So, if you want to do swimming, boating, jet-skiing or fishing, I would recommend Lake Sommerville 100% over SFA.
I hope this help you out some...........
Happy Camping.
Cheyenne
