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....

Great park. Dog's love it!…read more But way - way overpriced for admission. Very clean too. Beach was well kept.

Nestled right along the lake, this park is the perfect spot for a fun-filled family day outdoors…read more With plenty of open green space, shaded picnic areas, and beautiful waterfront views, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The kids loved the playground and splash areas, while the walking trails and peaceful lake breeze made it relaxing for the adults too. Whether you're grilling with family, playing games in the sun, or just enjoying the scenery, this park has an inviting atmosphere that makes it easy to spend the whole day there. Clean, family-friendly, and full of activities, it's definitely a go-to destination for sunshine and outdoor fun.

Had a great time here amazing service everything went smoothly…read more Great help over the phone as well

Absolutely loved the food! The service was great. My only suggestion is to put a soft close on the…read moredoor to the patio.

This review is for the swimming hole - an awesome swimming spot just an hour away from Austin!…read moreNumber one tip is to make sure you have reservations ahead of time on the website. You will want to show up a little bit ahead of time because people will be lining up to get in once the reservation time opens and you don't want to waste your reservation time just waiting in line. Service was kinda off-putting, the lady was not very friendly and she also wasn't very clear about the wristbands and whether or not all of us needed them or if just the kids needed them. Other than that, the place itself was very nice and other staff walking around were very nice too. They did round everyone up around 5pm because of lightning storms within 10 mile distance so they have to clear the area and hold for 30 mins before they can allow you back, but luckily we were pretty much ready to leave anyway. Our reservation specifically included a picnic table so we had a designated spot with our name reserved just near the swimming hole. The nice part about reservations means that the place doesn't get super crowded. The kids really liked the swing but even just floating around was really nice. The water itself is mostly shaded by large trees so you aren't burning in the sun. Definitely recommend bringing food and drinks to enjoy a picnic out here, since they had one vending machine nearby. The bathrooms were super clean and not terribly far from the water itself so that was super convenient, as well as nice changing rooms! This was a nice way to spend the afternoon cooling down from the Texas heat.

We visited during the 2-6pm time slot and now I understand why reservations are required. The place…read moreis smaller than I expected, but that actually makes it feel more peaceful and less crowded. Everything was very organized and the staff did a great job keeping things running smoothly. The water was great a bit cold but clear and so refreshing on a hot day. We also had a lot of fun using the rope swing! Just sharing a few tips: large umbrellas aren't allowed, but you can bring a small one, and you'll probably want it if it's sunny. There are some reserved spots available but they're very limited and book up fast. If you don't have one, make sure to arrive early because most spots are first come, first served. You could bring your own food and drinks but alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Overall, such a fun place to spend a few hours and cool off. Definitely worth the visit!

It's now called Claire Hotel. It's not a hotel. It's old and needs serious upgrades…read more We somehow got a handicapped friendly room. The bathroom was terrible!!! Old, musty, questionable! One bed slanted downward, one box spring had blood stains. Beds were not comfortable. Kitchen was ugh too. Looks so cute from the outside but I would not recommend.

What beautiful cabin. Very peaceful. The check in was very smooth. The cabin was very clean.read more

We loved how clean the area was and that it was secure but also allowed us the flexibility to have…read moreour privacy as a team. What I would caution against is how long / much effort it takes to get to the water. I highly recommend water shoes and any floating device you deem fit/fun. It's great that there is water, electricity, and a covered space depending on which site you get.

If I could I would give ZERO stars I would. TERRIBLE. HORRIBLE. AWEFUL. Grass was so high it's…read moreridiculous to pitch a tent there. ROACHES EVERYWHERE. Staff is RUDE and unhelpful. My family has been to many campsites throughout our lives since we were kids and this site was the ABSOLUTE WORST camp site we've ever experienced. PLEASE save yourself the stress! DON'T DO IT!

The crew at Cranes Mill Marina is the best there is and the reason we are going into our 3rd year…read morewith them! Customer service is just part of it and they raise the bar every time they show up for work! Wes, Austin, Landry, & John y'all are amazing! Savanah, Mikey, JM & Carter, y'all are top hands through & through! Thank y'all for everything you do! Slainte'

Unfortunately, one bad experience does spoil your opinion. I have to say this was our first time…read moreout on the lake this season. There were a lot of new deck hands and there is a new manager for the boat club. We have been mostly pleased with our experiences with the boats. The boat was in pretty good shape except for some upholstery issues. The motor ran great. The deck hands were very helpful. But when we came into the dock, there were a couple of other very full boats with lots of passengers that had been pulling tubes. We made the mistake of not sticking around to check and see what the gas fill up was and somehow our fill up got mixed up with one of the other 2 boats that had been pulling tubes. Soooo, we were charged the wrong fuel charge. Our gas gauge barely made it past Full but we were charged $63.46 which meant we would have had to use at least 9 gallons of gas. We might have used at most 3 gallons. After explaining this to the front office, the best they could do was offer us a 5 gallon credit on our next trip out. I'm sorry, but the new management is going to have to do better than that, especially considering they may not remember this so called credit. To any other potential boat club members, pay attention to your gas gauge and the fill ups. Don't leave until you see what it is.

If you're looking for a peaceful Canyon Lake getaway, Log Cabins at Jacobs Creek is absolutely…read moreworth the trip. My family stayed there over spring break and we could not have been happier with the experience. The cabins are charming, clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully prepared with everything you need for a relaxing stay. The beds were unbelievably comfortable, and the atmosphere around the property was calm and beautiful. There are plenty of nearby places to eat, fish, and enjoy nature, which made it easy to unplug and spend quality time together. The owners and staff were incredibly kind and accommodating throughout our stay. You can tell they genuinely care about their guests. We'll definitely be returning.

These log caving on Canyon Lake are so beautiful and it's so nice to be able to find a place away…read morefrom the hustle and bustle of town. Very spacious, beautiful views of the sunset, nice comfy beds, and a kitchen if you want to cook your own meals. You do need to bring your own towels, food and shower items, but I absolutely love the charm of these cabins with their own balconies with a view. My only suggestion is to secure a room on the second story. The floors are not very insulated and you can hear every footstep if someone is staying above you. Still an amazing place to stay and will definitely be back on our next trip down!

Rockin'R River Rides had a nice set up. They do seem to nickel and dime you a bit. $15 for parking,…read more$25 for a cooler float tube which is what the going rate per person is. They have an air conditioned portable bathroom trailer that is decent. 6 stalls in the women's room and they were fairly clean. The summer heat had them smelling a little funky, but I'm not sure what can be done to fix that. The staff was friendly. The school bus ride back to the starting point after the float was nostalgic. For a moment, it took me back to feeling like we were on a school field trip. We definitely see ourselves coming back but at least bringing our own floats for our coolers to cut down on the expense. We had a large group with 2 coolers so it was $50 just to bring our coolers along.

They really do know how to nickel and dime you! It was about $23 per tube, plus another $16 for…read moreparking. The staff was pretty nice and helpful, though. They do have a decent size portable bathroom, which was nice. My only complaint is that they should keep the water on inside them a little longer. We got back to the beginning around 4:30 and went to use the bathroom before heading out, but the water was already turned off. The float itself was actually painful. There are SO many rocks that you constantly hit and scrape your rear end against, and it gets pretty uncomfortable after a while. I'm not sure if I'll be back to this location just because this particular section was so rocky. Overall, it was fun, but definitely bring some extra money and be prepared for a rocky ride!

What a gorgeous trail! This was such a good find. Plus nothing else was open because of the…read moreholiday. I needed a short hike to shake off the day and this was it! Gravel nature trails that led me down to the lake and back within 30 minutes. I saw a few people along the trail which was nice too! All the trails led back to the parking area and they're easy to read on the map in case you feel lost. Highly recommended!

Time for a 2025 update on the changes to the visitor experience here at Madrone Trail. My past…read morereviews go over the terrain (varied with rock gardens, shade, & minimal elevation change) and rules (stay on trail; no lake swimming access). Check those older reports for more details. The biggest change since my last update is the opening of the Butterfly Garden just a few yards from the trailhead off Canyon Park Road. This curated and annotated pocket park is a neat little fenced-in microbiome of native plants offering a great place to observe the changing seasons and pollinators at work. The local chapter of Texas Master Naturalists have done a wonderful job here! The devastating drought in Central Texas for the past several years has dropped the level of Canyon Lake by 29 feet and there's no end in sight. This is sad for many reasons, but offers some interesting opportunities at Madrone Trail in early 2025. The shoreline has changed dramatically and you can now see what used to be under water since 1968. During our most recent visits in 2024-2025, we've walked on uncovered asphalt roads that used to service the Hancock community. We've also found sunken water craft and all sorts of lost objects from boaters over the years. WORD (the local nonprofit that stewards this park) is currently cleaning up all 85 miles of Canyon Lake's shore, so most of the big items will be taken away soon. However, it's always appreciated when trail visitors bring a trash bag and pick up any smaller debris encountered along the way.