Do you want to explore the best lakes in and around Austin, Texas? If yes, then you have come to the right place.
In the whole of America, Austin boasts gorgeous lakes. So if you’re a watersports fan or want to catch a glimpse of beautiful lakes, Austin is a must-visit.
Knowing the lakes in this amazing city will make your exploration worthwhile. That’s why we took the liberty to prepare this list in the first place.
So if you’re ready to learn about Lakes in and around Houston, keep reading for more details.
1: Lake Travis:
Lake Travis is the favorite destination of many swimmers and anglers, including large and small boaters. It’s also deep and windy, making it the perfect destination for divers and anyone seeking adventure.
Did you also know that you could go butt naked in Lake Travis? It’s possible, as Lake Travis is Texas’s only approved public nude beach.
This means you can go butt naked, sunbathing your entire body and feeding your eyes with the gorgeous beach simultaneously. Memories created in places like Lake Travis remain forever. Why? There’s much to explore here.
Where is Lake Travis? This lake is located 20 miles to the northwest region of downtown. We’re talking about a 19,000-acre reserve lake. Lake Austin measures 4.5 miles wide and 64 miles long. It’s also quite deep, a feature that makes it a wise choice for divers seeking to explore deeper waters.
This lake is approximately 64 feet deep, but its deepest point (near the Mansfield Dam) measures 190 feet deep.
Water activities you can do in Lake Travis are endless. You can go boating, diving, swimming or other water sports.
2: Lake Austin:
Do you want to take your adventure to a whole new level? If yes, Lake Austin is a wise choice. This lake offers you plenty of engaging activities to get involved in. However, boat fishing is a bit difficult in this region. Why? It’s because of the weed on the shorelines. Tons of bass fish hide here.
Nevertheless, Lake Austin remains a popular boating and fishing destination. It’s what the lake is known for.
You’ll find plenty of bass fish in this region, as it boasts around 8-10 pounds of largemouth bass. In addition to bass, this lake has sunfish in abundance. And if you wish to immerse yourself in Texas wildlife, plan a trip to Mayfield Park and Nature Preserves.
Here are some fun things you can do on your visit to Lake Austin:
- Red Bud Island trail
- Turkey Creek Trail
- Riverplace Nature Trail
- Commons Fold water trail
- Visit the Ski Shore cafe
Where is Lake Austin located? This lake sits 12 miles northwest of Downtown Austin, between the City of Austin And Lake Travis. It began from the Mansfield Dam of Lake Travis to the north, ending at the hydroelectric Tom Miller Dam down south.
How big is Lake Austin? One thing you’ll discover about Lake Austin is that it’s narrow and long. In addition, it’s not as deep as Lake Travis. It boasts a 1,600-acre surface area and 75 feet depth.
A Handy Tip: For successful fishing in Lake Austin, do your fishing in the early morning and evening. The fishes are most active during this period.
3: Lady Bird Lake:
Lady Bird is one of the lakes with the cutest names. It’s a super gorgeous lake located in the city center. Thus, you’re guaranteed to pass by and view this lake somewhere when you visit Austin, Texas.
This Lake is one of Austin’s landmarks and a tourist attraction. Its previous name was Town Lake, but that changed in 2007. On July 26, 2007, the lake’s name was changed to Lady Bird Lake in honor of Lady Bird Johnson.
Lady Bird Johnson initiated several beautification projects along the waterfront during her lifetime. So it’s a special lake in the amazing city of Austin.
How big is Lady Bird Lake? This lake boasts a surface area of 416 acres. It serves as a recreational center and is used by the government for flood control.
A Handy Tip: Lady Bird Lake is an artificial lake created in 1960 following the construction of the Longhorn Dam.
Fun activities to do in Lady Bird Lake
Here are fun activities you should plan to explore on your visit to Lady Bird Lake.
- Paddleboarding
- Bike the trail
- Hike the trail
- River cruise
- Bat-watching
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Stand-up paddle board yoga
4: Mueller Lake:
With loads of turtles, fish, and ducks, Mueller Lake surely has plenty to offer. You’ll find plenty of fruiting fruit trees spread around the path of this gorgeous lake.
While no specific area is dedicated to sports or water games, Mueller Lakes boasts plenty of green space where you can make your own game.
Another thing you need to know is that this lake is relatively small. It’s the smallest lake on this list. Mueller Lake occupies approximately 6.5 acres.
Have fun in the picnic peninsula, loop trail, interactive playscape, and public art, including an amphitheater and stage. The Mueller Lake might be small, but it offers plenty of opportunities to have fun.
5: Lake Walter E. Long:
Lake Walter E. Long is a wise choice if you’re searching for one of the best lakes for swimming, boating, jet skis, and fishing, Lake Walter E. Long is a wise choice. This lake occupies approximately 1200 acres, making it one of the large lakes in the region.
In addition to the water games, Lake Walter E. Long promotes other recreational activities. These include grills, tables, picnic sites, biking, volleyball court, etc.
This lake sits just 20 minutes from Austin city center and is one of the best among the rest. So if you want to have fun at a lake or to seek a lake to spend quality time in, Lake Walter E. Long will make a wise choice.
6: Quarry Lake:
Now privately owned, Quarry Lake sits just 10 miles off downtown Austin. Being privately owned makes Quarry Lake special, as it gets proper maintenance.
Who owns Quarry Lake? It belongs to Pure Austin Fitness Center. You can use this lake without paying a dime if you’re a gym member. Non-gym members with a day pass can get access to this lake too.
Take your workout out of the regular indoor gym into the open air at Quarry Lake. Perform your regular pushups, squats, and all at Quarry Lake.
Quarry Lake isn’t for you if you plan to fish and dive. Both are not permitted in this lake. Keep in mind also that paddle boats and kayaks are allowed in this lake. But besides these two, you can’t use any other boat.
So if you like swimming or need workout inspiration, the Quarry Lake is a must-visit. You’ll find people doing the things you love with passion. There’s no greater way to get motivated than this.
For swimmers, this lake boasts a 750-meter course. And as you know, swimming is the main thing on this lake.
7: Lake Marble Falls:
Lake Marble Falls is a must-see lake in Texas for many reasons. This lake is privately owned, and it maintains a high standard. You’ll enjoy every single minute spent on this amazing lake.
This lake is located in Hill County, Texas, just an hour’s drive from Austin. Boating and fishing are the two main popular recreational activities in Lake Marble Falls.
Participate in the Lake Marble Falls Lakefest drag boat races organized annually. But even if you can’t participate, don’t miss the action. This drag boat racing competition is a colorful and adrenaline-pumping event. It’s an event worth attending.
Marble Lake Falls is a special lake and reservoir on the famous Colorado River, Texas Hill Country.
Here are things to do on your planned visit to Lake Marble Falls.
- Hike and bike the trails
- Visit flat creek estate winery
- Check out sweet berry farms
- Pay a visit to save the world brewery
- Have fun at Hidden falls adventure park
8: Lake George Town:
Lake George Town is another lake you should be thinking of visiting. Located in the San Diego River, Lake George Town is located in George Town, one of the smallest towns in Texas.
This lake offers you a chance to meet and experience the warm embrace of Mother Nature. It boasts diverse wildlife, plus crystal clear water that encourages you to jump in and get wet.
You can do many things on your planned visit to this gorgeous lake. It allows swimming, boating, and fishing.
However, if you don’t fancy getting wet or engaging in a water sport, you can use the picnic area, hiking trails, campsite, and barbeque area. There are so many ways you can have fun in Lake George Town. A visit to this impressive lake will convince you.
9: Canyon Lake:
Canyon Lake is one of the lakes worth a day-long visit. Its location in the Guadalupe River makes it a great destination for relaxation and adventure.
This lake boasts a great deal of wildlife. You’ll find roadrunners, white-tailed deer, and many others to make your day enjoyable.
This lake is situated west and northwest of San Marcos and Braunfels, respectively. The fact that it’s also at the heart of Austin, Texas, means you won’t have to struggle to get to it.
The Canyon Lake is a deep, large, and clean rain-fed lake. It occupies 8,320 acres of land and 80 miles of shorelines to explore.
Evergreen oaks also surround this gorgeous lake.
Here are places to visit and things to do on your visit to Canyon Lake.
- Grill
- Boating
- Hiking
- Resort
- Soccer field
- Golf courses
- Yacht club
- Golf club
- Courtesy docks
- Sandy volleyball field
- Hit the swim beaches
The list goes on and on. You can have fun in diverse ways in this amazing lake.
10: Lake Buchanan:
Lake Buchanan is a historic lake. And it was the first Texas Highland Lakes ever formed. This lake boasts 22,333 acres of surface water, making it the largest.
Lake Buchanan was first flooded in 1939, and it’s a popular fishing destination. It boasts a white and striped bass, including a growing largemouth and Guadalupe bass population.
Take a trip to the northwest end of Lake Buchanan to catch a glimpse of the waterfall. This adorable lake offers many activities ranging from motorsport, kayaking, swimming, and fishing.
This lake has everything you need and more. There are camping areas and independently run hotels for couples or singles seeking to pass the night at Lake Buchanan.
Things you can and should do at Lake Buchanan.
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Kayaking
- Sunbathing
- Jet skiing
- Canoeing
- Hiking
- Paddle boating
Conclusion
These are some of the adorable lakes in Austin. And they’re a must-visit. So if you want to have fun, whether you plan to get wet or not, Austin is the best place to be.
You’ll find people who enjoy the things you do. And there’s nothing more fulfilling than having friends and even strangers having fun together.
From boating, kayaking, jet skiing, swimming, fishing, and motorsport, the activities you’ll encounter on these lakes are endless.
