Weekend Escapes: 9 Stunning Lakes Within the Texas Triangle
There are over 150 major lakes in Texas! Here's a small list of the best ones within the Texas Triangle.
1) Canyon Lake
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface area: 8,230 acres
- Shoreline length: 80 miles
- Maximum depth: 65 feet
- Average water level: 550 feet above sea level
Canyon Lake is located 35 miles northeast of San Antonio and 35 miles southwest of Austin.
Canyon Lake has the second highest clarity among Texas lakes (behind only Amistad Reservoir). It is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Texas (vying for the #1 spot with Lake Travis!).
History
Canyon Lake was formed in 1964 after the completion of the Canyon Dam, which is a US Army Corps of Engineers project. The dam is located on the Guadalupe River and was constructed to provide flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power for the region.
The Canyon Dam was built to protect the downstream communities from flooding and to provide a reliable water supply for irrigation, industry, and municipalities.
Things To See & Do
Fishing - Canyon Lake is known for its excellent fishing, with species such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, catfish and sunfish.
Boating - Canyon Lake offers plenty of opportunities for boating, including sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
Water Sports - Locals and visitors often enjoy water sports such as diving, tubing, water skiing, and jet-skiing on the lake.
Other popular activities at the lake include: camping, hiking, biking, golfing and picnicking.
The lake's shoreline is also home to a variety of wildlife. White-tailed deer, foxes, roadrunners, turkey, and bald eagles are in abundance.
Find Out More
The Online Guide To Canyon Lake, Texas
2) Lake Conroe
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 21,000 acres
- Shoreline Length: 157 miles
- Maximum Depth: 70-75 feet
- Average Water Level: 201 feet above mean sea level
Lake Conroe is a located in Montgomery County, Texas, about 40 miles north of Houston.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the lake area was developed with residential communities, marinas, and recreational facilities, making it a popular weekend getaway for Houstonians.
History
Lake Conroe was formed in 1973 after the completion of the Conroe Dam, a US Army Corps of Engineers project. The dam was built to provide flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power for the region.
The lake was named after the nearby town of Conroe, which was founded in 1872 and named after a local farmer, Isaac Conroe.
Things To See & Do
Fishing - There are four fishing guides on the lake: Billy Mills Git-A-Guide, Bradley's Guide Service, Catch-A-Trophy Fishing Guide Service and Jimmy's Gone Fishing. Fish available at Lake Conroe include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, crappie (both white crappie and black crappie), catfish (channel catfish and blue catfish).
Boating - Lake Conroe is pretty big and has several boating facilities to choose from! AZTX Boat Rentals, Make Time Boating, Lakeview Marina, The Palms Marina, Waterpoint Marina, April Plaza Marina, Conroe Yacht Club.
Water Sports - There's lots to do on the lake besides just fishing and boating! Popular activities on the water include kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing. 1097 Watersports, FunDay Rentals, JetSki Lake Conroe.
Other Activities - Check out these other things to do on Lake Conroe: Boathouse Bar & Lounge, Conroe Lake House, Cruisin' Tikis, Southern Empress Cruises.
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3) Lake Travis
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 18,929 acres
- Shoreline Length: 270+ miles (serpentine)
- Maximum Depth: 210 feet (64 meters) when the lake is full
- Average Water Level: The normal operating range is 207 m above mean sea level
Lake Travis is 15-20 miles northwest of downtown Austin.
History
Lake Travis, an artificial lake on the Colorado River, has a rich history that dates back to the 1930s. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) began construction on the Mansfield Dam in 1937, initially planning for a smaller structure. However, due to a major flood in 1938, the dam's height was increased from 200 feet to 278 feet, delaying completion until 1942.
The dam's purpose was to control floodwaters from the 600 miles of the Colorado River within the LCRA's service area.
Things To See & Do
Lake Travis is a huge lake that has lots to do! We recommend you go to their website to see everything.
As far as fishing goes, Lake Travis is home to Guadalupe bass, largemouth bass, white bass and sunfish with small numbers of striped bass and crappies.
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4) Lake Bryan
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 829 acres
- Shoreline Length: Approximately 4.5 miles.
- Maximum Depth: 45 feet.
- Average Water Level: 355.5 feet above mean sea level.
The lake is located a 5 miles northwest of Bryan.
History
Lake Bryan has a rich history tied to the development of the Roland C. Dansby Power Plant. The power plant was built in 1978, and Lake Bryan was constructed as the cooling source for the plant.
The lake is a power plant cooling reservoir located in Brazos County, Texas, and is managed by Bryan Texas Utilities.
Lake Bryan is also home to the Texas A&M University Rowing, Wakeboarding, Sailing, and Cycling teams, as well as the Sailing Club.
Things To See & Do
Fishing - Lake Bryan has a fair amount of crappies and largemouth bass with a good amount of catfish and sunfish.
Water Sports - Paddleboarding and kayaking. Rentals available through Paddle EZ.
Other possible activities include swimming, camping and/or visiting the Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill.
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5) White Rock Lake
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 1,088 acre
- Shoreline Length: 9.4 miles
- Maximum Depth: 20 feet
- Average Water Level: 400.16 feet above NAVD 88
White Rock Lake is located in northeast Dallas, Texas. It is one of Dallas's largest parks and recreational areas.
History
White Rock Lake was created between 1910-1911 as a reservoir when the city of Dallas dammed White Rock Creek to address growing water needs. It served as Dallas's primary water source until 1943 when Lake Dallas (now Lake Lewisville) was constructed. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed much of the lake's recreational infrastructure including stone buildings and picnic areas that remain today. The lake's popularity for recreation grew significantly after World War II, with swimming (until banned in the 1950s), sailing, and fishing becoming popular activities. The historic Bath House, built in 1930 as a swimming facility, was later repurposed as a cultural center. In the 1980s and 1990s, the lake underwent major restoration efforts including a significant dredging project in 1995 that removed approximately 350,000 cubic yards of sediment.
Things To See & Do
Biking & Hiking - There are 9 miles of hiking and biking trails surrounding the lake.
Water Sports - There are many on-the-lake activities like rowing, sailing and kayaking. See: White Rock Rowing, Dallas United Crew, Corinthian Sailing Club or White Rock Boat Club.
Fishing - The lake contains an abundance of largemouth bass and crappies with a fair amount of catfish.
Birding - The lake and its surrounding areas support over 217 species of birds, including swans, pelicans, sea gulls, loons, and various ducks! Among the notable sightings, white pelicans rest in Sunset Bay each winter after flying from lakes near the Canadian border. Bald eagles have been observed in the park, particularly at Sunset Bay. The wooded area below the dam is also a good spot for birdwatching, where species like the Brown Creeper and Brown Thrasher can be found in winter, and passerine migrants in spring and fall. The lake is also home to a colony of monk parakeets, a species native to South America, whose origins remain a mystery.
Other activities - Visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, White Rock Lake Dog Park or the Bath House Cultural Center for art exhibitions and performances.
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6) Lake Somerville
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 11,456 Acres
- Shoreline Length: 85 miles
- Maximum Depth: 14 feet
- Average Water Level: 238 mean feet above sea level
Located just northwest of the town of Brenham, Somerville Lake is in the lower-third of the Triangle. It's about 90 miles east of Austin and 40 miles southwest of College Station.
History
Somerville Lake was created when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of a dam on Yegua Creek in 1967, primarily for flood control along the Brazos River basin. The reservoir was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1954 after devastating floods affected the region in the early 1950s. The dam and reservoir are named after the nearby town of Somerville, which itself was named after Albert Somerville, a railroad executive who helped establish the settlement in the late 19th century. Following the lake's completion, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department developed two state parks on its shores—Birch Creek State Park (1974) and Nails Creek State Park (1977). The lake quickly became an important recreational resource for residents of Central Texas, particularly those in the Bryan-College Station area.
Things To See & Do
Wildlife - In the park around the lake you'll likely see white-tailed deer, fox, coyote, bobcat, North American river otter, raccoon, American alligator, rabbit, six-lined racerunners, cottonmouth and nine-banded armadillo.
Birding - The park around the lake is renowned for bird watching opportunities. Killdeer, turkey vulture, black vulture, northern cardinal, common grackle northern mockingbird and blue jay are common in the park. Sandhill cranes, egrets, herons, white-faced ibis, American white pelican, grebes, cormorants, and a variety of ducks are documented in the wetlands. In the colder months, keep an eye out for wintering bald eagles and migrating osprey.
Fishing - The lake itself is an excellent source of largemouth bass, catfish and striped bass with a good supply of crappies and sunfish.
Other activities - People who go to Somerville Lake also go boating and camping. With over 40 miles of trails, hiking is also a popular activity.
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7) Lady Bird Lake
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 416 acres
- Shoreline Length: 18.3 miles
- Maximum Depth: 18 feet
- Average Water Level: 428 feet above mean sea level
Lady Bird Lake is located centrally in Austin.
History
Lady Bird Lake was created in 1960 when the City of Austin built Longhorn Dam across the Colorado River to form a reservoir for the city's power plant. Originally called Town Lake, it was renamed in 2007 to honor Lady Bird Johnson, the former First Lady who led beautification efforts along its shores.
Things To See & Do
Biking & Hiking - The lake is surrounded by 10 miles of trails.
Water Sports - Kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and rowing are popular activites on the lake. Swimming is prohibited due to dangerous currents and debris.
Fishing - The lake is an excellent supply of largemouth bass, a good stock of sunfish with only a few catfish. It is illegal to fish from any part of the bridge.
Find Out More
Austin Texas Parks & Recreation
8) Calaveras Lake
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 3,695 acres
- Shoreline Length: 50 miles
- Maximum Depth: 45 feet
- Average Water Level: 484-485 feet above mean sea level
Calaveras Lake is located approximately 20 miles southeast of downtown San Antonio.
History
Calaveras Lake was formed in 1969 by the construction of a dam to provide cooling water for the Calaveras Power Station, which supplies additional electricity to the city. The dam and lake are managed by CPS Energy and were one of the first projects in the nation to use treated wastewater for power plant cooling.
Things To See & Do
There are facilities at the lake for camping, picnicking, fishing and boating. If you're fishing in Somerville Lake, you'll find a lot of white bass, largemouth bass, and catfish, with a good amount of sunfish and crappies.
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Calaveras Lake from Texas Parks & Wildlife
9) Lake Georgetown
- Classification: Reservoir/Artificial Lake
- Surface Area: 1,297 acres
- Shoreline Length: about 25 miles
- Maximum Depth: 85 feet
- Average Water Level: 834 feet above mean sea level
Lake Georgetown, formerly known as North Fork Lake, is a reservoir located 3.5 miles northwest of Georgetown, Texas, on the North Fork of the San Gabriel River in the Brazos River basin in west central Williamson County.
History
Construction of the dam began in 1972 and was completed in 1978. The reservoir, formed by a rockfill dam 6,947 feet long, serves multiple purposes including flood control, recreation, and as a water supply for neighboring communities. The dam was officially completed on October 5, 1979, and serves to provide flood control for the community of Georgetown. Lake Georgetown is managed by the Fort Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Things To See & Do
There are facilities at the lake for camping, picnicking, fishing and boating.
If you're fishing in Lake Georgetown, you'll find a lot of white bass, with a good amount of largemouth bass, catfish, striped bass and sunfish plus a fair amount of smallmouth bass and crappie.
Find Out More
Lake Georgetown from the Handbook Of Texas
Hopefully this article gave you some useful insights into the nicest lakes in the Texas Triangle. Please leave us a comment!
* initial research done with the assistance of Claude AI and Leo AI
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