Warmth and moisture characterize the Gulf Coastal Plain climate, encouraging poison ivy, poisonous snakes, chiggers, ticks, mosquitoes, and irritable, ground-nesting yellowjackets. Deer and smaller mammals live here, too. Despite the large number of dead trees that were killed by the Southern pine beetle, some USFS employees rate this as one of the most interesting Wilderness areas on Texas national forestland. The Neches River forms the entire eastern boundary and joins the idle water of Big Slough to create the seven-mile Big Slough Canoe Trail. Bear in mind that the canoe trail has not been maintained and wading will be required.
Hickory Creek drains hills along the western boundary and eases eastward to meet the river.
Anglers don't pose any threat, except perhaps to the catfish, bass, crappie, and sunfish.