Canyon Lake is located in the 485-acre Canyon Park in the beautiful Texas hill country. It’s most known for water recreation, but you’ll also find an abundance of trails and parks to visit in this fantastic area. Canyon Lake is a reservoir created from the Guadalupe River, and the River Road allows for gentle boat cruising on hot summer days. This lake is the perfect getaway in Texas hill country.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is easily accessible via the highway and is only an hour from San Antonio, Texas. You can reach this fantastic lake by US-281. In addition, Canyon Lake is only a little over an hour from Austin and is accessible via I-35. This great location is easily accessible from nearby towns and makes for a perfect weekend getaway, which is why it is so popular.
When to Visit Canyon Lake
Summer months in Texas are hot and sunny, and tourism at Canyon Lake, especially in July, is very busy. Since many come to Canyon Lake for water recreation, it makes sense that it is used abundantly in the hot summer months. So, if you don’t mind the crowds, join the summer fun! Otherwise, stick to the spring or the fall when the temperatures are cooler, and there are fewer large groups to enjoy Canyon Lake.
Many campgrounds are open year-round and encourage visitors to visit every season. The winter season, for example, can be great for bass fishing and hiking. However, when to visit Canyon Lake depends on what activities you like to participate.
RV Parks At Canyon Lake
Several RV parks at Canyon Lake offer a great camping experience. Some parks have full hookups with water, electricity, and sewer, while others provide only electric and water hookups. No matter what type of hookups you need, there is a park at Canyon Lake that will fit your needs.
Arbor Ranch RV Park
This Canyon Lake Campground is located on the south side of the lake and boasts five acres of heavily-treed land to explore. Arbor Ranch RV Park has 28 RV sites with full hookups for guests. There are no tent camping sites available at this campground. The proximity of the park to the lake allows for fishing opportunities and other fun boat activities such as tubing and skiing.
Bunk Haus Lodging and RV Park
Bunk Haus Lodging and RV Park are located at Canyon Lake, only one mile from the Canyon Park Beaches. The free boat ramp at Little Jacobs Creek is two miles away. At this great location, you can rent motel rooms or cabins, in addition to thirty-five full-hookup RV sites. The grounds include a guest laundry and two guest restrooms and showers. Cabins have queen beds and bunk beds and kitchenettes, dish satellites, and linens.
Woods Canyon Lake Campground
If you’re looking for a place to camp that’s away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Canyon Lake is a great option. The Woods Canyon Lake Campground is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, making it the perfect spot to enjoy nature. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy while there, including fishing, swimming, and hiking. You can also take a boat out on the lake for some fun on the water.
Cranes Mill Park Camping
Cranes Mill Park offers a classic RV park and tent camping park. The campground features showers, personal sites, a dump station, and park hosts. Each campsite comes with a picnic table, benches, a fire ring, and standing grill, a water connection, and electricity. The grounds feature access to the lake with nearby trails, two fishing piers, and a boat ramp.
Guadalupe’s Best RV Park
Located right below the Canyon Lake Dam, this RV park is close to the Guadalupe River Nature Trail and River. You can swim in Canyon Lake and take advantage of all the hiking opportunities nearby. Guadalupe’s Best RV Park features pull-thru RV sites with 30 & 50 amp and sewer hookups, hot showers, and restrooms. Next door to this RV park is the Dam Red Bar which offers food trucks, a full bar, and music.
Jellystone Park
Jellystone Park in Canyon Lake, Texas, is a giant “Camp Resort” with an abundance of activities for kids and families to do. They have an indoor pool, mini-golf, scavenger hunt, jumping pillow, disc golf, laser tag, gem hunting, pedal carts, a water park, and more. You can stay here in the cabins, RV sites, and tent sites. RV sites include full hookups, picnic tables, fire rings, and charcoal grills. In addition, the grounds are dog friendly!
Potters Creek Park
Potters Creek Park is located on the northern shore of Canyon Lake and operates a year-round RV and tent campground. This location also includes overnight screened shelters. RV sites include water and electric hookups, and the grounds include flush toilets, showers, drinking water, and two dump stations. In addition, guests will be excited to find two boat ramps with docks, a fishing pier, and a beach.
Canyon Lake Recreational Activities
The area is known for its picturesque scenery, including rocky hills and cliffs and its ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and fishing. Canyon Lake was formed in the 1930s when the Guadalupe River was dammed to create a reservoir. The lake has since become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
Comal Park
Comal Park is located on the south shore of Canyon Lake that is open March through October as a first-come, first-serve facility. This unique park features picnic tables, boat ramps, a beach, and a playground. In addition, the recreation activities include a sand volleyball court, soccer goals, and four washer pits.
Jacob’s Creek Park
Jacob’s Creek Park is a waterfront park that features sheltered picnic tables, a playground, and a boat launch into Canyon Lake. This park also includes a beach and roped-off swimming area. It’s a bit rocky in the water, so swim shoes are recommended.
Fishing
Fishing is a huge attraction in Canyon Lake, with many people bridging boats from home to enjoy a large amount of fish in the lake year-round. There are also boat rental opportunities on the lake if you don’t have a boat of your own. In addition, many parks also have fishing piers available.
The largemouth bass is the most popular and most plentiful fish in the lake. You can also find white bass and striped bass. While you might discover crappie, fishing for them is generally poor, and angling for redbreast sunfish is usually good. Channel, blue, and flathead catfish are also abundant in the lake.
Conclusion
Canyon Lake and the great RV sites surrounding it make for a perfect vacation. If you’re looking for a long weekend, a summer vacation, or a fun fishing trip, Canyon Lake is an excellent spot in the Texas Hill Country for your next vacation. No matter the season, you can’t go wrong with this destination. Whether you’re looking for a winter Texan camping trip or a memorial day cabin outing, you can have all that and more from Canyon Lake.
For another great RV camping location in Texas, visit Lake Buchanan
Featured image Pismo (Edward Jackson) at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Tony is an avid camper and RV traveler. He fell in love with camping on his first RV trip with his wife over 25 years ago. Tony loves sharing lessons learned and tips about RV maintenance and safe traveling.
