With warmer weather fast approaching, outdoor enthusiasts are beginning to prepare, inventorying and readying their equipment, and making plans for upcoming recreational activities following the end of winter. This annual ritual occurs everywhere, but perhaps nowhere is it as eagerly-anticipated as in Texas.
Containing more than 5,600 square miles of inland water (most in the contiguous U.S.), Texans have nearly unlimited options and opportunities when seeking bodies of water on which to enjoy recreational boating and other water-related activities.
The following are 7 of the Lone Star State’s most popular lakes for recreational boating and other outdoor pursuits:
North & South Central Texas
- Lake Travis — Located NW of Austin in Travis and Burnet counties, Lake Travis winds for more than 60 miles through the scenic Texas Hill Country. Boating, camping, fishing, scuba diving and swimming are just some of its more popular attractions, and its proximity to the state capital makes it easily accessible for ‘big city’ dwellers looking for either a day trip or a weekend getaway.
- Lake Lewisville — Located roughly a half-hour NW of Dallas, Lewisville has a well-earned reputation for its wide variety of watersport opportunities, ranging from boating, jet-skiing, sailing, and sports fishing. Another popular feature is its famous ‘Party Cove, ‘ where boaters congregate to a cookout, enjoy live music and — as the name implies — party.
- Canyon Lake — Noted for its many professionally staffed marinas and boat rental establishments, the ‘Water Recreational Capital’ of Texas, just 40 miles from San Antonio, Canyon Lake is especially popular among boaters of all types (jet, sailing, tubing, water skiing, etc), as well as for its’ abundant trophy-quality rainbow trout that’s certain to provide an exciting challenge for fishermen.
East Texas
- Sam Rayburn Lake/Reservoir — Named for the longtime Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, a Texas icon, and located 70 miles north of Beaumont, the Rayburn Reservoir is the state’s largest man-made lake. Excellent boating and fishing (especially several species of bass) are popular features of this massive (114,500 acres) man-made reservoir.
- Lake Conroe — Just a short drive from Houston, Lake Conroe meanders for more than twenty miles through picturesque east Texas pine forests, offering excellent boating, fishing (particularly in the Sam Houston National Forest area), jet-and-water-skiing opportunities.
North Texas
- Lake Bridgeport — Featuring 129 miles of shoreline, Lake Bridgeport (in North Texas’s Jack and Wise counties) is a popular destination for anglers due to a well-stocked fish population of crappie and various species of bass. The lake’s many marinas, ‘put-in’s’ and trails make it a perfect location for recreational boating and camping.
- Eagle Mountain Lake — Less than a half-hour north of Fort Worth is Eagle Mountain Lake, a popular family-friendly recreational spot that offers a little of everything for not only water sports enthusiasts but outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and interests. Whether it’s boating, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, camping, swimming or any other outdoor activity, this all-purpose attraction is guaranteed to meet your family’s requirements.