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Canyon Lake, TX

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Canyon Park

2.9 (23 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Canyon Park Photos

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Our morning view
Carol I.

Canyon Park recently re-open this year... April - September 2021. It is now overseen by WORD of Comal County. WORD collects taxes for improvements around the waterway of Comal County, which now includes two parks: Canyon on the north side and Comal on the south side of Canyon Lake. Canyon Park is huge although only a portion was open this past year. There used to be only one swimming beach, although WORD added an additional swimming beach across the road, both right as you enter into the park. Each has their own entrance gate with an admission charge. Go a little further to Madrone Train for hiking and biking. No charge. Then a little bit further down the road is another entrance to the whole park, which is mostly a rocky shoreline with a deep drop off in many parts. This is where you will also find Boat Ramp #18, a nice alternative to the subdivision ramps with all the long lines most boaters have been experiencing, especially the last two years. Lots of parking for both boaters and their guests, just have to pay the $10 cover and plan to be out of the water and the gate before it closes. I've enjoyed the park right after it opened in April this year 2021, then again a couple more times in September right before it closed which avoided the crowds of summer. I've got my favorite table picked out and I'm good with climbing on rocks wearing my water shoes with grips. In April during the height of pandemic, they actually assigned us a table upon arrival. In Sep, they no longer were doing this. They also give you a trash bag provided by WORD, please pick up your trash and deposit in the trash bin on your way out. We give our back back as we also bring out own trash bag, taking more than we bring in. The park does close when it hits max occupancy. I am not sure how they determine that, but as long as it keep people from setting up camp right next to us, I'm good with it. In summer on weekends, Park will close somewhere between 10-11am, so plan to get there early, or when it opens if you want your pick of tables. Sometimes park will reopen about 3ish when people are leaving. Heads up, park rangers are strict about closing time and will harass you the last hour. They have had a long day and want to shut those gates at 7pm. I truly look forward to what WORD of Comal County has planned for Canyon Park in the future. Canyon Lake Lake, my home away from home, and where I grew up... so beautiful out there...

Brent L.

You can find it all at this Army Corps of Engineer managed park. Camping, hiking, swimming, and boat ramps. The park itself is open from April 1 through September 30, but before you get to the entry gates, you'll find a hiking trail that's open year round. And it's FREE! The Madrone Trail has about 7.5 miles of trails with a couple of good views of the lake and the marina. The northern section of the trails is a bit on the rocky side, has a few moderate inclines and is mostly in the sun. There are a lot of side trails that aren't marked and occasionally you'll find yourself at the same spot you were at 30 minutes before wondering, how in the heck do I get out of here??? Once you finally find your way to the end of this section, you'll cross the park road and head into the southern section of the trail. This part of the trail is mostly shaded and there aren't any side trails to get lost on. I didn't see a single person on the southern stretch - yay! Everyone must have been stuck in the northern section going in circles. Water and restrooms at the trailhead but nowhere else along the trail. Difficulty level: Northern part of the trail - moderate. Southern trail - easy.

Helios enjoying the cool water
Kylee V.

LOVELY SPOT but WARNING for DOGGIES The trails around the lake are gorgeous but super rocky and some spots go awhile with out water. My young fit golden did good but I know his feet weren't loving it. My friends slightly over weight 4year old lab was having serious problems only yards into the trail. We immediately decided to just hang out around the lake shore line. The pups had a great time in the water but with the terrain and heat, there was no way in hell they could have made it over a mile on the actual trail. Looking forward to checking out the trail again once temps drop a bit and the dogs can stay at home!

Beach is not muddy

Was in Canyon Lake for a weekend getaway. The lake is 17 feet low, so it is pretty far from the parking lot, but it was nice swimming. There is a roped off swimming area. No lifeguard. $20 per car to enter the park.

Beach swim access

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4 years ago

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3 months ago

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5 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Great area to visit make sure you know how to swim and wear life jacket at all times for safety

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

fun clean and not too far of a drive from our cabin! Lots of tube riding near by and it's family friendly!

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

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11 years ago

Not bad if you want a place for kids to swim. It's closed because of the flooding though. The Engineers still haven't opened it up sadly.

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8 years ago

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Ask the Community - Canyon Park

Are dogs allowed to swim there?

Is it only for military personnel?

It's open for ever6.

Is there a nude beach area for families?

Umm... no.

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Overlook Park & Canyon Dam

Overlook Park & Canyon Dam

3.9(32 reviews)
3.5 mi

This park is absolutely amazing on many levels. Well maintained and gorgeous trees on the east side…read moreis the view of the lake that is better than the Oasis on Lake Travis. Always free always free and a perfect spot for families or couples. The children love it and you can see the entire panorama of Canyon Lake. Everyone is always happy there and there is a special feeling about the place of freedom. It truly makes it a joy to be an American and to have such special peaceful and accessible spots for the ones you love. Often views of sailboats and skiers in front of the backdrop of a glorious Hill country sunset with beautiful Cascades of Guadalupe hills rolling into the lake. The park is well maintained and safe. Parking is sometimes a walk because it is such a popular location for everyone from college students to children and senior citizens walking along the dam for exercise. The spot is truly a joy that should be embraced by everyone in Central Texas. To the east you have a view of the gorgeous Canyon valley and the activity below on the river. Oftentimes you will see fly fisherman in the river which is remarkable for the ambiance of Central Texas and quite a pleasant surprise. Put this location on your list for a beautiful spring day and make some memories with your family!

Overlook Park and Dam at Canyon Lake (about 50-60ish miles from both Austin and San Antonio) is the…read morepublic park I visit most often since joining the CL community in June 2020. At least a couple of times per month, we make our weekend run over the dam from North Park and bask in the seasonal beauty of the big blue lake, the variety of plants on the slopes and forest, and the joy of other visitors taking it all in. Who knows how long it will last in these troubled times for public works, but today, the park remains free to enter from dawn to dusk. The enforcement of parking and capacity limits is by Comal County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), while the authority for the water and 1964-built dam falls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Game Wardens, and the Guadalupe - Blanco River Authority (GBRA). Finally, the Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) helps with safety signage and waste management around the park by providing free litter bags to make it as easy as possible for visitors to pack out their trash. The park technically doesn't promote swim access, and there is no lifeguard or buoy barrier system for protected swim zones, but you will see many swimmers and floaters in the cold water around the rocky shore during warm weather. The closer to the dam you are, the more likely you'll see fish swimming in the clear water, so bring your snorkel and enjoy. Keep in mind, depth drops off steeply down to 120 feet, so if you're not a strong swimmer, a life vest or other safety provisions may be in order. Certainly, keep an eye on your kids at all times. If you want a coveted spot for the day at the shoreline, you're going to need to plan ahead. Pack up your provisions, chairs, shade tent, what-have-you and get to the park as soon as possible after dawn to secure a parking spot. You'll need your goat feet and maybe an all-terrain wagon to get down the rocky trails to your place at the water. The shore is entirely limestone, so you typically won't be able to use stakes for a pop-up; plan to weigh down with something else, as Canyon Lake gets VERY windy. Restrooms are at the far southeast end of the park, near the Gorge overlook. You'll also find porto-johns near the dam gate and disabled parking spots. If you're still there by sunset, you'll hear the sheriff's deputy over a PA system asking you to leave. There is no camping or overnight parking allowed. Note that this park is also home to USACE headquarters for Canyon Lake. Their visitor center is open Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p except for federal holidays. A few times per year, special events may open up an opportunity to drive across the dam's paved path (a.k.a. the Verada Real). These spots are secured through a charitable donation to the DAM Community Alliance (damcommunityalliance.com) and tend to sell out fast. Otherwise, only pedestrians, strollers, and bicycles are allowed on the paved path. Dogs should be on leash and poop should be picked up, please, for the love of all that is holy. More to come....

Photos
Overlook Park & Canyon Dam
Overlook Park & Canyon Dam - Canyon dam

Canyon dam

Overlook Park & Canyon Dam - Look there!

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Look there!

Old Hancock Trail - A view from the trail on a summer dusk hike, July 2022

Old Hancock Trail

3.5(4 reviews)
1.6 mi

This review is targeting active adults who love the outdoors and like to run, hike, or cycle…read more(mountain bike) on trails with a variety of terrain: grassland, limestone rock gardens, oak groves, and lake shoreline. If that doesn't float your boat, or you are looking for a spot to have a family swim & picnic with the kids, knock the stars down to 2 and find another pretty park to explore during your visit to North Canyon Lake. Old Hancock Equestrian Trail is a free, public, day-use-only park on land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, like all the other land in the flood plain surrounding Canyon Lake. It is designated specifically for horseback riding, so everyone else must yield to those riders. If you get there before 9a on a weekday, chances are, you'll have the whole place to yourself for a 7-mile round-trip (out and back) trip from the trailhead around the north shore of the lake to Canyon Park Road (near Brookshire Brothers and Canyon Beach). The horses are more commonly seen on the weekends but may be there at any time, along with their owners' trucks and trailers in the dirt parking area. Just off the parking area, there are a few spurs that take you through the bushes to the lakeshore. This area is often used by anglers and kayakers to access the lake during good conditions for their sport, but its main purpose is for horses and their riders to take a dip after their ride. Toward the northeast from the parking area is the main trailhead, next to the informational kiosk. Take the path in the grass that heads north/northeast and follows the shore of the lake. About half the time, you'll have a water view; other times, it will be tall grasses, trees, or cow pastures. Depending on the time of day and time of year, you'll see a variety of birds, insects, deer, cattle, and maybe a big spiny lizard, a snapping turtle, or a harmless rat snake if you're lucky. In the spring, wildflowers and butterflies are abundant, but so can be the mud. In summer, it is hotter than Hades but the lake breeze is nice with the blue water and blue skies. In the fall, a few of the trees take on a magnificent red, orange, and yellow color scheme. In winter, everything is dried out and gray. I just love watching the seasons change here. At different points along the trail, you'll find rest benches, trail markers, and spurs down to the water, where you are welcome to go for a swim (at least at the time of this writing in June 2022). It's one of the last places around Canyon Lake where you can do that without paying a fee, but you've got to want it bad enough to hike there & back, and you can only bring what you can carry on your back. The trail (more like a dual-track dirt road) is mostly flat and open with sand, grass, or caliche surfaces, but there are a few challenging sections with short inclines, yards of bumpy rocks, and a couple of wet weather creek crossings. After a rain, there's also the possibility that some local dude from the adjacent neighborhood will have gone "night muddin'" out there in a 4x4 and made the ruts deep in some areas, but this has lately not been such a problem since the Comal County Sherriff has started warning about the potential $5,000 fine for using a motorized vehicle on the trail. A few words of warning: - This park property is between private land (residences, ranches, and businesses) and the lake. Be sure to stay on the trail and don't trespass over fences or beyond posted "private property" areas. - Shade is limited and the sun can be intense at least 10 months of the year, so wear a hat and sunscreen, make sure you're hydrated, go with a buddy, and try to time your trip for hours close to sun up or sundown. It would not be easy for an emergency vehicle to reach you out there if heatstroke happened. - No restrooms, water fountains, or trash bins are available to users of this trail. Pack in and pack out everything. Leave no trace. Litterbugs, shoo, stay away!

The Old Hancock Trail is primarily a trail for horses, but it also makes a good hiking trail. If it…read moreis warm outside, beware because there is lots of sunshine on this trail and little shade. Investing in some SPF 40 might be a good idea. It is mostly a dirt trail that skirts the northern side of the lake and stretches for about 3 1/2 miles to end at Canyon Park. To find the trailhead, just find your way to FM 306 (I took FM 12 out of San Marcos and it was a scenic drive). Once you pass FM 3424 on the north side of the lake, continue for about 1.9 miles on FM 306 until you see a street sign for Hancock Road. This road passes by a small airport and then dead ends at the trailhead where there is tons of free parking. Take a picnic with you and maybe a swimsuit, because there are several places along the trail that would be a good stop for a swim and a bite to eat. I mostly felt like I was hiking on someone's ranch road that happened to be next to a nice lake. I saw several deer and birds along the way, and there were a few people on horseback also. I'm sure this trail would be full of wildflowers and butterflies in the Spring. Anyway, I hope this encourages you to check it out when you have a free day to play in the sun. I'm not sure how Yelp ended up with this in Lubbock, but don't worry, I am working with them to fix this error. Yes, it is on Canyon Lake. Google Maps must hate Canyon Lake for some reason. :-)

Photos
Old Hancock Trail - Kayaking from the south spur at Old Hancock Trail

Kayaking from the south spur at Old Hancock Trail

Old Hancock Trail - A view from the trail at the halfway point

A view from the trail at the halfway point

Old Hancock Trail - A view from the trail on a summer dusk hike, July 2022

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A view from the trail on a summer dusk hike, July 2022

Canyon Park - beaches - Updated October 2026

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