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    Ray Roberts Lake State Park

    4.4 (58 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Ray Roberts Lake State Park Photos

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    Dee B.

    Really love this park... Great for families too! First time I've seen a park that also has a place for your horses right next to your camp site! That was cool... The beach though is really nice... large swimming area with a soft sand beach and a roped off area. There are also covered and uncovered picnic tables with grills close to the beach area. Bonus for a really nice updated park with lots of activity areas for kids. On the opposite side were some people on stand up paddle boards, another sandy beach area and a huge covered picnic pavilion. Impressed with this park and beach area! I haven't camped yet, but looking forward to booking one!

    Tina B.

    Pretty huge lake. There are hiking trails, area for camping and other fun activities. You can also rent a canoe to go on the lake. When we visited the lake, it was very windy and the water was choppy so I wasn't trying to get on a canoe. Restrooms are ok but some toilet doesn't wanna flush and sinks tend to get clogged. I'd love to come back on a nice summer day and enjoy the water more.

    Map of Ray Roberts Lake Isle du Bois unit
    Sherri H.

    We had a great time day hiking at the Isle du Bois unit! We went online to make a reservation the day before and printed off our receipt. When we arrived we showed the attendant the printed receipt and he scanned it and we were checked in so quickly! We just placed our receipt on the dash of our car and we were all set. We have an annual Texas State Park pass, so admission is free (you save $7 per person!) for the entire car. If you are camping overnight you would need to pay for your site fee. We did a day hike with the grandkids and ended up walking about 3 miles! Part of the paths are concrete sidewalks which would be great for someone in a wheelchair! We walked on some nice sandy trails and even went off the trail to find the lake. Hubby had a free app called Gaia GPS and once we turned it on, it tracked where we walked so we could find our way back and see how far we hiked. We also drove around the entire park to check out the trails and campsites, boat launch and picnic/playground areas. The bathrooms were clean and the showers looked nice. There were some pavilions you could reserve ahead of time for larger gatherings. This is a beautiful state park not too far from the city. We enjoyed being outside together in nature.

    Lots of parking
    Magnus L.

    The first time we went here on a weekend we had to turn back because they only allow 25% occupancy out of the max capacity of 700 people per day. They recommended we reserve a day pass in the future, which we did. If you don't have a state pass it's $7 per day per person. It's not a very large state park but it's nice with a good size lake and plenty of trails and cabins you can stay at overnight. You can book picnic tables by the lake or throughout trails. The restrooms was nice and clean. Many people were fishing when we were here. We just walked a 2.5 mile trail. We brought enough water but they also have fossets at places along this trail where you can refill if you need to. We saw different kinds of birds, deer and a large turtle along the way. This trail was a concrete trail so you can ride a bike if you prefer. Most seem to walk when we were here. I didn't see any restaurants which I didn't expect either. The ask you to use mask when you can't social distance (this was before the governor's order that you have to mask in public places where social distancing isn't possible). It was a neat place, we'll likely come back in the fall when it's not so hot.

    Campsite

    Specifically....Isle Du Bois. Great park! We tent camped in April with our kids. There's several great tent spots as well as RV hookups. Toilets and sinks in the community bathrooms (no showers). Lots of space to fish. The beach spot is really nice with a great playground, boat ramp with parking, sand volleyball, several covered picnic tables and grills. It's becoming a popular place and getting more crowded. I love all the trails great for mountain biking or walking.

    Can you find the doe?
    Frank S.

    Get away from it all with this well kept local secret. Only about an hour north of Dallas. Friendly staff and well maintained facilities. Most sites, especially out on the point, are spaced out far from each other. Affordably priced. Books up 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Remember that the farther down the path you camp, the longer you'll be going back and forth with your gear. I got quite the work-out this weekend. Great family fun and father daughter bonding... "Hey dad, can we come back here some time?" "Yeah sure, when would you like to come back?" "Well, I was thinking maybe next weekend?" It's been 20 years since I've been back and it's just as natural and rustic as it was back then. Highly recommended for a weekend hiatus from the busy city life.

    Views from the Isle du Bois fishing pier

    My daughter, grandsons and I visited Ray Roberts Lake on Labor Day. The Park Ranger we worked with was very informative and friendly. We picked up our Texas State Parks Junior Ranger books and the Texas State Parks Passport Books. We are excited to start collecting our stamps for this passport!! We hiked two of the trails: the Lost Pines Trail and the Randy Bell Scenic Trail. The Lost Pines trail was very sandy, but good views of the lake! We really enjoyed the Randy Bell trail since it was paved the whole way, but there were not really good views of the lake! I would definitely recommend either trail and will return again sometime!

    Nice lake
    Cristina G.

    Fantastic state park very clean and grate trails the beach area is very nice that have grills and Biggs palapas with electricity and big grill I love this park and my friends love it to we will definitely came back soon nos encantó este parque está muy limpio y tiene techos con asadores y palapas grandes con luz y asador grande el area de la playa está fantástica nos escaneo a mi y mis amigos definitivamente regresaremos pronto

    Lake smells like pee.
    Nicole N.

    My friends and I went camping at the park. People peed in the lake where our camp site was at and it's stink there. Do not get in the water where the camp ground is because your clothes will smell like urine. We didn't enjoyed our trip because in the middle of the night around 2AM, our car got broken into. We caught them in time and left in the middle of the night, leaving our belongings behind because frighten for our life. There's absolutely no security cameras in placed.

    Map they give you at entrance is always helpful.
    Manda C.

    For my 500th review I'm glad I still have a special place left to share. We've been coming here for years and this is my husband's favorite spot for camping and fishing near home. Just north of Denton, and east of Sanger, is Lake Ray Roberts. There are two major units, Isle du Bois and Johnson, with several satellite, self pay units nearby. The satellite units are nice and secluded and share the same hours of 6am to 10pm as the main units. They allow dogs, but they have to be on a leash no longer than six feet long. However, with Isle du Bois being my personal favorite as well, this review will focus on what this location offers. My opinion is that this is the most family friendly, and it has the widest variety of scenery and activities. I like my state parks peaceful, and while it can get crowded, there are so many spots that still give you that isolated feeling with a beautiful view. Entrance fees are free for children 12 and under and are $7 for everyone else. Since this is a state park, you do not need a fishing license to fish. Camping ranges from $15 for single tent sites to $35 for larger RV sites with more amps. Checkout for camping is at 2pm. Personally, I recommend you get the annual state park pass. It allows you to enter any state park free for everyone in your vehicle and it gives you discounts on camping. It's $70, but we got our full use of it by our fourth visit this year. This makes a day of fishing and grilling a cheap outing. From the main entrance where you check in (the lines can get long during nice weekends, holidays and summers, so arrive early) the different units within Isle du Bois are Hawthorn on the left, Bluestem on your right, Deer Ridge on your left, Quail Run on your right, Wild Plum on your left and then at the end is the boat launch and the beach. Hawthorn is popular with families and troop camping trips. There is a multi-person restroom and there is water on the trail to the sites. These sites are for tent camping and some of them are right on the water! There are also several paved trails for hiking and biking and a playground on this site. This unit also has more shaded areas. This location can get crowded on the weekends and people always seem really irritable during check out in this area. Anyone who has been camping with loved ones knows what I mean, lol. If you go camping with your family, try to remind yourselves that you love them and focus on the fun activities more than the pain of the setup and breakdown. :) The only negative to Hawthorn, if you bring your pets, is you tend to run across more pets off leash in this area. Bluestem is an equestrian unit and each site has two stalls! This unit has a single use restroom and shower. The coolest part about this unit is that there is a trail for the horses. Directly to the left of the start of the trail is a hiking trail to a kiddie pond that is educational for those new to fishing and has a decent amount of shade. There is an additional, non paved, hiking trail as well for those who are more experienced. If you hike, be careful of snakes! Deer Ridge is the most popular section for RV campsites, though Quail Run has some as well. Deer Ridge is more compact for the sites and they are closest to the restroom facilities. You see a lot more of the larger campers at this location and fewer sites are closer to the water. This location also has a small playground. Quail Run is more scenic and some of the sites are right on the water, including some parking spots for those stopping to fish. Plenty of secluded trails and several ponds in this area as well. You are most likely to see multiple deer in this area. Wild Plum is only a picnic area, so there is a small parking lot and a paved path to different spread out, picnic tables. When you get to the end, you can either go to the left where the boat launch area is or to the right where the beach is. These areas are set up for the masses with multiple restrooms, showers and plenty of parking. They are perfect for day trips, but also have the least amount of shaded spots so don't forget sunscreen and a hat! There are several big group pavilions you can reserve. The beach side is very family friendly and I have seen some people fishing, but it's mostly playing in the water and sand. There is also a volleyball court. The other side is a bit rocky, but makes for good fishing if it's not too windy. There are a ton of covered picnic tables and all of them have a grill. Please note, check the water is running before you get started on your grilling. On one of our April visits, both nearby water spigots were off and we had to get water from the lake to fully put out the fire in our grill. Other than that, it's a very large area with plenty of setup points for you and your pets. The only downside is that birds setup nests in the covered picnic tables so sometimes it's quite filthy. The view of the water is fantastic though. I hope you have a blast like we do!

    Family camping on the peninsula

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    10 months ago

    Well maintained. Main beach area is very crowded you are better off going to a camping area to go into the lake where there are less people

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ray Roberts Lake State Park

    The website says there are special instructions for arriving past 5pm? I tried calling but noone answered. Anyone know what the special late arrival instructions are?

    I don't think the staffers even know.

    Where is the playground located?

    At the end of the park by the swimming area. There is also one by the restroom at Deer Ridge.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Ray Roberts Lake State Park

    When I visit this lake, I'm usually in the Isle du Bois unit where there is plenty of areas to swim, bike, and run around a bit.

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    Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit - Peace

    Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit

    4.6(12 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    Having years and YEARS of experience as a long distance trail runner I very much find solace and…read morepeace in the great outdoors. Ray Roberts Johnson Branch is a beautiful park with lots to do. Bring the family or come solo. This is a smaller part of the Ray Roberts park so it is a very safe feeling here. Fish, hike, bring a picnic basket! I very much enjoyed my travels here, and simply cant wait to visit again to get some trail time in!!

    I've camped here twice now (once in Sept and once in Oct) and can attest that the state park is…read morejust as great both times. Both times, you are greeted right at entrance and given an introduction by some really nice staffers. Regardless of whether you're a newcomer or not, they will give you a map and help orient you around the area. The site that we chose (Dogwood Canyon again) was clean and nicely spread out from the next site. We don't know if any staff members come by to check on the place after check-out but every time we've come now, the site is pretty clean and clear from any litter. Unfortunately this time around, the toilets weren't that well stocked with toilet paper so yes, bring toilet paper while camping! This should be for best practice anyways. :-) Other than that, we did have some noise disturbance in the evening from rowdy kiddos - it doesn't seem like anyone really patrols around to keep parties in check like some negative Google reviews may have suggested, who knows! The hikes were great, I would rate the blue and orange trails to be pretty mild-moderate. There are some slopes and there are some spots you may need to "climb" a bit but nothing too bad! I absolutely love having this park to get away to from the busyness of the city. Makes the $75 annual pass so so worth it (otherwise, it would be $7 per person, per day for admission)!

    Photos
    Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit - Lakeview campsite, first camping trip for Winston

    Lakeview campsite, first camping trip for Winston

    Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit - Serenity on the trails.

    Serenity on the trails.

    Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit

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    North Lakes Park

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    11.9 mi

    Think of just about any outdoor activity on level ground and you'll find it at North Lakes Park…read more The 350-acre property features miles of walking trails, plus countless amenities, from soccer and baseball fields to tennis courts, volleyball courts, a frisbee golf course, a driving range, playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing ponds, and a beautifully maintained dog park with multiple pens. The restrooms are kept clean, and there is ample parking, even on the weekend. This is a great place to get some fresh air, whether solo or with family and friends, and enjoy the beauty of nature!

    North Lakes Park has been a great resource for me and my family and friends who visit during the…read moreyear; it features the Tennis Center, which is hard asphalt regulation tennis courts that are free to the public during the day. A central feature is the park's paved jogging trails, which includes a model airplane flying center, and the city's recycling center and even a dog park, at the extreme end of the system. The city's Police Department features great officers who can help via 911 Phone Calls, 24/7. Fortunately for the residents who live close by, response times are prioritized by the severity of the situation and the need for urgent assistance. Denton, Texas is going to grow with respect to the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington area by virtue of the local attractions offered to the voting public's attention to the very positive thing that green spaces offer to the people. Cheers, Mark F.

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    North Lakes Park - Covered gazebo with soccer fields in the background

    Covered gazebo with soccer fields in the background

    North Lakes Park - Fun sculpture at the dog park

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    Fun sculpture at the dog park

    Ray Roberts Lake State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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