Camping and RVing
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Inks Lake State Park
Devil's Waterhole at Inks Lake State Park. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department © 2006, Earl Nottingham Inks Lake State Park is a true jewel in a string of Texas treasures in the area of Texas known as Central Texas Mineral Region, or Llano Uplift. The Llano Uplift, with giant outcroppings of pink granite, provides the unique setting for much of the beauty of the area. I saw it first about 10 years ago when, to explore my dream of RVing. I rented an RV at Austin, picked up my five-year-old granddaughter, and headed for Inks Lake State Park. Two things stand out about that trip: The delight of my granddaughter with the deer that roam the campgrounds, and the friendliness of the people of the Hill Country. I'm a native of Texas; I'm used to "Texas friendly", but as I drove through the Hill Country, the other drivers took road friendliness to a new level. From the time you enter the park, the views on every side are almost more than the mind can absorb. In the spring, Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, Indian Blankets, and other wildflowers and cactus against the background of pink granite are incredible. White-Tail Deer at almost every turn of the road watch with interest. If you get too close, they move slowly away, but just far enough, then they turn back to stare again. Numerous songbirds entertain with sight and song, and, depending on the time of day and your patience and/or luck, you may see ospreys, wild turkeys, quail, armadillos, foxes, and raccoons, as well as various lizards and snakes and other wild animals. In the winter, chances are good that you'll see red-breasted mergansers, common loons, and bald eagles An Inks Lake Slide ShowFor an inkling of what's in store for you, take a look at this Inks Lake slide show by BlazerMan, a photographer and GeoCacher. Inks Lake Day Use and Group FacilitiesGroup Picnic Pavilion (capacity 25) Amphitheater (capacity 200) - Contact the park for information. Group Picnic Area (capacity 40) - has 8 tables and grills. For fees and details, go here: CampingThe park offers a variety of campsites, ranging from primitive walk-up backpacking sites, to RV-suitable sites with water and electricity. None are full-hookups with sewer. They also have some "Limited Use Cabins" and a "Sponsored Youth Group Area". For details and prices, go here. Tours and guided activitiesThe park offers nature walks, geology hikes, fish seining, lakeshore ecology, Junior Ranger programs, and the Devil's Waterhole Canoe Tour. Check the Calendar of Events for dates and more information. Hiking and Nature TrailsThe park has 7.5 miles of hiking trails, including 1.5 miles of backpacking trails; The Austin Explorer website writes: "The most striking feature of Inks Lake is the abundance of granite rock outcroppings. Large boulders either litter the landscape or huge domes of granite burst from the Earth like a permanent bubble." The Austin Explorer website is very much worth a visit even for non hikers. It has good descriptions, personal accounts, and great photos of the area. Geocaching at Inks LakeSome Geocaching Locations Here are Geocaches from the Austin Explorer website: Central Texas Dam Series #6 A Geocaching Event BlazerMan writes: "The Central Texas group of the Texas Geocaching Association hosted the Texas Challenge 2006 at the park on March 18, 2006. SwimmingSince Inks is a constant level lake, droughts do not affect water-related activities such as lake swimming (unsupervised beach), boating, water skiing, scuba diving, and fishing. The Devil's Waterhole, pictured above, is the most famous feature of the Park. More than once, I've heard it described in lists of the "top 10" or "my favorite" swimming holes. The water is generally clear, surrounded by pink granite where the young and daring sometimes dive off high rock ledges. . Texas Hiker website writes: "The Devil's Waterhole, is a short but scenic trek along a small canyon that feeds the popular waterhole" "A word of caution, the granite gets very slippery when wet. The areas where water constantly runs over rock are covered in a thin layer of algae, so be careful as you traverse this area of the park" Be sure to visit the Texas Hiker website. It has useful personal experience advice and beautiful photos of the area. FishingInks Lake has two lighted fishing piers and a boat ramp. According to TPWD, the most commonly caught fish are bass, crappie, and catfish. Other varieties and record catches are in this link: For tips and more fishing information, go here: GolfingA 9-hole golf course, with golf carts and clubs available to rent. It is operated by the Highland Lakes Golf Club. Highland Lakes Golf Club website writes: "Enjoy scenic golfing on the shores of beautiful Inks Lake. This fun nine hole layout allows you to relax while you enjoy the picturesque views of the Texas Hill Country and Inks Lake. Highland Lakes Golf Club is located inside of Inks Lake State Park near Burnet and Marble Falls, Texas. In addition to our scenic views, Highland Lakes Golf Club also features a golf pro shop and golf cart rentals. Yearly, annual, semi annual, corporate and Winter Texan memberships are also available. No tee time is necessary here, so come discover the best kept golfing secret in the Highland Lakes!" ChildrenThe park offers much for the kids to do, with eight playgrounds, the Junior Ranger program, and an abundance of animals to watch. The Devil's Waterhole is for experienced adults, but there are more placid beaches suitable for children. PetsThere is an entire page of rules and laws about animals in Texas State Parks, which you can find on the website if you want to read it. Basically, it comes down to good manners for both the pet and the owner. Dogs in Spurs website writes: "The 1,202-acre Inks Lake State Park is a Texas treasure. Wrapped around five promontories projecting into Inks Lake, the park is strewn with pink granite outcrops cloaked in a thick fuzz of live oaks, mesquites, and junipers. Your leashed pooch will love rubbing noses with the many white-tailed deer that wander unafraid in the campgrounds." Go to the Dogs in Spurs website to read more about places and trails in Inks Lake State Park most suitable for pets. Texas State Park StoreThe Texas State Park Store rents canoes, paddle boats, and surf bikes year-round; they also offer groceries; and specialized gifts year-round. Getting HereDirections: The park is located 9 miles west of Burnet on State Highway 29 to Park Road 4. Go south 3 miles to the park headquarters. Download PDF file:
For more about Inks Lake State ParkTexas Parks & Wildlife Department For a Nearby Full-Hookups CampgroundTexas State Parks Campgrounds are beautiful, but most often they have time limits and seldom have full hookups. If you want to stay longer with full hookups, and prices reasonable enough you'll be tempted to stay for the season, you might want to check out my second-favorite campground (Second only to Inks Lake State Park), on the north-western shore of Lake Buchanan: Phone: 325-379-1065 For more about Camping and RVingTreasures of Texas TourInks Lake State Park is located just about 6 miles from the starting point of our Tour, at Buchanan Dam, and about 9 miles west of Burnet, one of the communities in the Texas Hill Country Regional Christmas Lighting Trail
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