Boasting miles of comely lakeshore, dense forests of stately oak trees and a fabulous modern campground, Lake Tawakoni State Park is the perfect destination for some good old fashioned R&R.
Situated just an hour’s drive from Dallas, this stunning 375-acre park is a great place to head to if you love water.
Centered around the beautiful 38,000 acre Lake Tawakoni, it is known for being a top spot for swimming, fishing and boating. It also has five miles of multi-use trails which can be explored via hiking or mountain biking.
Other activities you can enjoy in this Texas state park include picnicking, geocaching, photography, bird spotting and wildlife watching. All of which provide compelling reasons to temporarily trade in big city living for a remote nature getaway – at least for the weekend. If not for a longer vacation.
Activities
Guests at the park can engage in a wide selection of outdoor recreational activities during their time there.
Outlined below is a brief overview of some of the most popular activities you can do while at Lake Tawakoni State Park.
Water activities at Lake Tawakoni State Park
With more than five miles of scenic shoreline to access the water from, swimming is a very popular activity at the park.
While you can enter it from anywhere, most people stick to the picturesque beach that is situated on the east side of the park. If you do go for a dip just be mindful that the lake is not lifeguarded, so you will need to exercise caution if you decide to splash around.
For those who prefer to be on the water – as opposed to in it – there is a four-lane boat dock just opposite the swimming beach. This provides plenty of opportunities to engage in a leisurely afternoon of kayaking, canoeing, SUP and pontooning.
By this swimming beach, you will also find several picnic tables which will enable you to enjoy an alfresco meal.
Fishing at Lake Tawakoni State Park
Incorporating almost 40,000 acres, Lake Tawakoni is a haven for those who enjoy fishing. With anglers from all over Texas and the surrounding states coming here for the chance to catch a decent haul.
The likes of white bass, catfish and both striped and hybrid bass are found in abundance within the reservoir. While largemouth bass and crappie are not uncommon hooks too.
Should you choose to fish from the shore you won’t need a license. Although you will if you take your rods and reels out onto the water in a boat. Should you want to do this, there are four boat ramps around the lake that you can launch from.
If you come to the park with young children, they might enjoy casting a line at the junior’s fishing pond which can be found near the entrance to the park.
For those who didn’t bring fishing gear with them, you can hire out equipment – just ask the main office. There is also a fish cleaning station to prepare your catch for a later meal.
Trails at Lake Tawakoni State Park
For those who prefer to stay on dry land, hiking and mountain biking provide excellent ways to explore the park.
All up there are five miles of multi-use trails that will take you to all parts of this stunning Texan recreational space. The routes vary in terms of length and degrees of difficulty. But there is something to suit everyone.
One of the most popular hiking trails is the Farkleberry Trail, which is a fairly easy trek that extends for a half-mile hike, and connects to three other of the park’s main trails. If you would prefer a tougher challenge, the Osage Orange Trail and Spring Point Branch Trail will provide you with one.
For mountain biking, the Blackjack Trail, which is named after the massive blackjack oak trees that line the route, is a delightful loop that showcases the park’s fabulous flora and fauna. This includes over 200 species of birds, as well as wildlife like cougars and armadillos.
Many of these trails also are home to several geocache treasures as well and showcase a number of exceptional look out points. So be sure to bring your camera with you.
Pets at Lake Tawakoni State Park
Pets are welcome to join you on your visit to the park, but some restrictions are imposed.
To determine what they are, it is worth getting in touch with the main office for more details.
Camping at Lake Tawakoni State Park
The park offers a decent range of accommodation options for those wanting to stay there for a few nights.
If you intend to bring a motorhome with you there are 72 sites available for RVs and trailers (as well as tents).
Overall there are two loops that provide 16 full hookup sites for water, sewer and electricity. The other 56 sites come with water and electric hookups only.
All of these sites are located near comfort stations that are equipped with flush toilets and hot showers. They all have their own picnic table, fire rings and lantern posts too, while some even provide convenient access to the lake.
This pet friendly campground is open all year round and also features a dump station among its amenities.
There is also a primitive group camp too which can sleep up to 48 people and is reached via a hike of about 100 yards. Water is not available here and vehicles are not permitted. However, it does have a large fire ring, six lantern hooks and six tables as well as a dumpster.
Park Location
Lake Tawakoni State Park
10822 FM 2475
Wills Point, TX 75169
Phone: 903.560.7123
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video showcasing several attractions at Lake Tawakoni State Park:
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