The Cutoff of the Trinity River and surrounding waterbodies support habitat for may species of waterfowl, shorebirds, and birds of prey. The riparian woodlands along The Cutoff support habitat for warblers, buntings, and a diversity of woodpeckers. Bring small watercraft (aluminum boats, kayaks, canoes, SUPs) for accessing over 6 miles of The Cutoff and associated tributaries.

Pileated woodpeckers can be founding nesting in the riparian woodland along The Cutoff. Bald eagles and Sandhill Cranes are known to utilize the area. A variety of waterfowl utilize The Cutoff and a complex of privately owned, managed wetlands on the Cottonwood Bend of The Cutoff of the Trinity River. During drier seasons, when the Trinity River has not overbanked into The Cutoff for a significant period of time, The Cutoff becomes considerably more shallow, allowing for a variety of shorebird habitat to emerge as high amounts of crustaceans and freshwater mussels are exposed. Look out for various Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills, and Wood Storks during these periods in the summer time. Other summer birds include Painted and Indigo Buntings. Occasionally thousands of Double-Crested Cormorants will crowd onto The Cutoff during winter months.

The Cutoff of the Trinity River is a state-owned, 6+ mile oxbow lake and navigable stream dammed by a levee project in 1926 on the original bed of the Trinity River. The waterway, also known as Creslenn Ranch Lake, and Creslynn by TPWD, is open to fishing and hunting and has been used for such for over a hundred years. Other than the right-of-way along FM 1667, the banks of The Cutoff are all privately owned.

Creslenn Park is a vanished county park on the upper, eastern banks of The Cutoff where a county-owned road remains but disputes abound regarding the road's accessibility following decades of taxes continuing to be paid on the roadway. Do not enter the former park road until the current litigation (court dates begin in 2024) allows Texans to return to the area.

Access to The Cutoff can be made via watercraft from the right-of-way along FM 1667. The right-of-way has been used for years for fishing and to launch small watercraft including aluminum boats, jon boats, gator boats, kayaks, canoes, and SUPs. As of February 2022, an illegal, privately owned fence was erected on the TXDOT right-of-way to discourage access. Despite the signage, you may cross the fence to launch boats and utilize the rest of the right-of-way to the water. The fence and placement of unauthorized fill into the navigable stream have been a subject of multiple ongoing lawsuits. Local law enforcement and state law enforcement in the area recognize the illicit fence and allow for putting boats over the fence, but do not allow for any damages to the fence as it is private property.

No foot trails exist at The Cutoff. The waterway is navigable throughout and includes over 6 miles of streambed that may be accessed by small watercraft.