Let’s face it, summers in Texas can be brutal! That is why locals always look for a great lake or swimming hole to escape to this time of year. Well, if that is you, then consider visiting Canyon Lake, TX.
Located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Canyon Lake is the perfect place to cool off from the Texas heat! Not only that, there are so many things to do in Canyon Lake, TX, that you can come here any time of year and enjoy this fabulous area!
Located about an hour from the popular tourist towns of Austin and San Antonio, this makes for the perfect weekend getaway in Texas!
The location on the famous Guadalupe River makes this area a fabulous place to explore if you love water recreation as you can kayak, ski, fish, boat, and more. Of course, if you just need a day or two to relax, Canyon Lake has you covered there as well!
This Guadalupe River reservoir is famous for it’s crystal clear water, fabulous fishing, scenic hill country view, and its abundance of wildlife.
There are also some fabulous outdoor areas, fun local restaurants with live music, gorgeous drives, museums, Texas wineries, and more! No matter what you are looking for, Canyon Lake, TX has you covered.
We were born and raised in Texas and still call it home today, so this area is well known to us as we have been visiting this area our entire lives! So, thank you for trusting our website for your Texas travel needs!
Let’s dive into all that Canyon Lake, TX has to offer!
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Where Is Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is a city in the Texas Hill Country that is located next to Canyon Lake reservoir, a reservoir on the Guadalupe River.
This Comal County town is comprised of about 25,000 citizens (as of the 2010 Census).
Just south of San Marcos and close to Austin and San Antonio, Canyon Lake is one of the lakes near Austin that we love.
Of course, it also has some of the best beaches near San Antonio, so it is a popular getaway.
Best Time to Visit Canyon Lake
The Central Texas location of Canyon Lake means that it has a nice climate year round.
The winter brings cool temperatures that are perfect to enjoy the hiking trails and some time out on the water.
In addition, the crystal clear waters here make it the perfect place to cool off from the Texas heat.
Really, there isn’t a bad time to come to this area. It’s a fabulous destination any time of year!
Where To Stay Near Canyon Lake
There are so many great places to stay near Canyon Lake. Whether you are looking for a lakeside vacation rental, or the perfect hotel to be pampered at, this area has you covered.
Here are a few of our suggestions!
Canyon Lakeview Resort is a great place to make your home base while exploring Canyon Lake. Offering cabins and lodge suites, Canyon Lakeview Resort is perfect for a couples trip or a family vacation.
Another option to consider is the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Hill Country Resort. This resort offers loads of amenities that are sure to keep you entertained on your trip!
A great place to stay for couples is the Hideout on Horseshoe. They offer villas and bungalows that are quaint and charming, and perfect for a relaxing getaway.
These are just a few of the Hill Country options. Find your perfect getaway here!
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Things To Do In Canyon Lake Texas
Site See On the Gorgeous River Road
One of the most beautiful scenic drives in the state of Texas can be found right here near Canyon Lake, Texas on River Road.
River Road follows the gorgeous blue-green waters of the Guadalupe River as it twists and turns through the Texas Hill Country past gorgeous views and cypress trees.
To do the entire drive of River Road (which is 15-miles), start at Interstate 35. Take the exit for Highway 337 in New Braunfels and drive until you see the Shell gas station just north of the Guadalupe River. Turn right by the shell and you are ready to roll!
Following River Road, you will get to see incredible views of rolling hills and beautiful farmland. As you cross the river (yes, you drive across the river, so watch for water levels), you can see the campgrounds and incredible cypress trees that are in the area.
Your drive will end in Overlook Park, which we cover below. It truly is Texas scenery at its best and, it’s free!
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Take In the Views at Overlook Park
If you complete the River Road drive mentioned above, then you are already at Overlook Park. This recreation park is accessible off of a short trail off of River Road.
Offering breathtaking view and a great place to spend the day, Overlook Park is well worth some of your time while visiting this area.
Granted, the park is a little rocky, but since Canyon Lake is known as one of the best swimming areas in Texas, you have to take the time to enjoy a day here, especially since the park is completely free to visit!
Tour Canyon Lake on a Boat
You truly cannot see a lake in Texas without getting out on the water. This is especially true for Canyon Lake as it cover over 8,000-acres of surface area!
A day out boating on a lake is truly a fabulous experience.
If you have your own boat, you will be pleased to know that Canyon Lake, Texas offers 23 boat ramps located at various points throughout the lake.
Even if you don’t have a boat of your own, you can still enjoy a day on the waters of Canyon Lake thanks to the boat rentals that are offered at two of the marinas.
Of course, the marinas also offer personal watercraft rentals for those of you feeling a bit more adventurous! Head to their website for more information.
While on the lake, take time to head to the Canyon dam also!
Like most Texas lakes, there are obstacles lurking below the surface, so be careful while boating on Canyon Lake.
If you would rather leave the boat driving to someone else, you can always book one of the scenic lake tours and leave the driving to someone else. These tours allow you to have fun on the lake without having to worry about a thing!
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Swim in the Crystal Clear Blue Water
The water in Canyon Lake is truly breathtaking and just beckons you to jump in, especially on a hot Texas day.
There are several places on Canyon Lake, TX that allow you to enjoy swimming from the shore.
We love visiting Comal Park, North Park, and Cranes Mills Park for a day of swimming and fun in the sun.
Some important things to note though, there are no lifeguards on duty, so be sure that you bring the proper safety gear, including life jackets.
Several of the beaches and swimming areas on the lake charge a fee for day use, so please keep that in mind as well. As we mentioned above, Overlook Park is free to visit.
Go Fishing in Lake Canyon
One of the best things to do while visiting Canyon Lake is to try your hand at fishing!
Bass are the anglers choice at this lake. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, Canyon Lake is home to several species of bass including Guadalupe bass, white and striped bass, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.
So, I think this outdoor haven might be the perfect place for you to catch a fish!
My dad is a fishing dude, and he loves visiting Canyon Lake, TX. His advice is to come in the spring and summer months if you are interested in hooking a bass.
This is when the fish are most active and you have a better chance of catching one, especially the largemouth bass.
Be sure and check the Texas Parks and Wildlife website to view current lake and fishing conditions as this can affect your trip.
Also, take not that you need a fishing license to fish on this scenic Texas lake, even from the bank.
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Enjoy the Canyon Lake Parks
There are so many great outdoor areas and parks on Canyon Lake that you could check out a different one every day of the week.
Many of the park are free to enter and are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps of Engineers help to maintain the parks which means that you always have a nice outdoor escape waiting for you.
Many of the parks on Canyon Lake offer you a place to enjoy the hiking trails, take a swim, fish from the bank, hunt for fossils, and more!
While you hike at the local parks, be sure to take plenty of water and sunscreen. Always protect yourself from the elements during your hike, especially in Texas!
Set Out On the Hiking Trails
Canyon Lake is the perfect place to enjoy some outdoor activities.
Boasting miles of scenic hiking trails, Canyon Lake, Texas will have you out exploring one of the top attractions in this area in no time.
While hiking this area, you will find yourself surrounded by beautiful scenery and, of course, some native Texas plant sand wildlife.
While on your hike, this is the perfect place to see if you can find some of the fossils from the Native American people who used to call Canyon Lake home.
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Visit Canyon Lake Gorge
Canyon Lake Gorge was created in 2002 when this area of Texas flooded. The waters spilled over Canyon Lake’s dam for more than six weeks straight. The flooding of Canyon Lake’s dam created the 1-mile long gorge you see before you today.
When you visit Canyon Lake Gorge, it’s hard to realize that you are looking at exposed rock that his millions of years old.
Canyon Lake Gorge is the perfect place to search for fossils and wildlife.
You can often find guided tours of the gorge if you want to learn more about the flood and the environmental impact it had on the area.
Visiting this area is one of the best things to do in Canyon Lake!
Go Tubing On Canyon Lake
A popular activity on Canyon Lake is to spend the day tubing on the lake. Really, tubing in Texas is popular on lakes and rivers!
While many people flock to New Braunfels and San Marcos to float the Comal River and the Guadalupe River during the summer months. Both New Braunfels and San Marcos can get extremely crowded on the weekends as people come up from Austin and San Antonio.
If you want to enjoy a day tubing while also avoiding the crowds, then Canyon Lake is a fabulous place to do that.
For a fun and free activity, enjoy small creeks around Canyon Lake are the perfect place to enjoy a float all to yourself.
There are even some tour companies that will arrange a float for you if you want to leave the work to someone else.
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Check Out Some Local Wineries
You have to check out some of the local Texas wineries while you are in the Canyon Lake area.
These wineries pride themselves on producing a quality product for customers to enjoy in a relaxing environment.
Here are some of our favorite wineries to visit when we are in the Texas Hill Country area.
Head to New Braunfels to find La Cruz de Comal Wines. La Cruz de Comal produces wine with no added sugar, acid, tannins, or sulfites, making this a delicious natural wine to enjoy. You can find more information on their website.
Another must visit winery in this area is Dry Comal Creek Vineyards. The wines from Dry Comal Creek Vineyards are produced from 100% Texas grapes and are sure to make you fall in love with Texas wines. In addition to offering wine tastings, wine by the glass, and wine bottle service, Dry Comal Creek also hosts several events. Check out their website for more information.
Checking out the scenic wineries located in this area is definitely one of the best things to do!
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Play Some Golf
If you love to play golf, then you will feel right at home in the Canyon Lake area.
Check out Lakeside Golf Club to play their 18-hole golf course.
The course has gorgeous Texas countryside views and a small creek.
At the end of your round, take a break in their 19th Hole Bar and Grill.
Visit their website for current rates and operating hours.
Enjoy a the Day at Comal Park
You will find Comal Park located on the south shore of Canyon Lake near the city of Startzville.
Spending the day at Comal Park means that you have access to a large swim beach, restrooms, picnic areas, boat ramps, a playground, nature trail, fishing areas, and more.
The park is open from April 1- September 30. It is important to note that they change a fee for entry.
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Discover History at the Heritage Museum of Texas
You will find the Heritage Museum of Texas located on FM 2673 between Startzville and Sattler.
The Heritage Museum of Texas is the perfect place to search for pre-historic history.
The hiking trail at the Heritage Museum allows you to actively search for Texas history. Take time to explore the miles of nature at this attraction.
During your time on the trail, you can explore the area around the trail. Be sure to take in the trees, birds, and natural scenery that you are surrounded by.
There are several cool attractions as the museum is dedicated to protecting and preserving over 200 dinosaur tracks! Yes, you read that correctly, over 200 dinosaur tracks. It’s crazy to think that these tracks were created over 110 million years ago!
During your trip to the museum, you can join in on a tour to learn all about the natural history of the Texas Hill Country geography and the dinosaurs that once called this area home.
Go Scuba Diving
People love to go scuba diving in Canyon Lake. I mean, people journey from San Antonio, Austin, and farter to dive in this Texas lake. I guess this can be attributed to the crystal clear blue waters that you will find. here.
In addition to the plant and animal species that you will find here, you can also dive down to explore the wrecked cars and boats that are on site.
While all of those are cool things to see while diving, they are not the main attraction here.
The main reason people like to dive at Canyon Lake is the ghost town that is submerged under the lake.
The town existed prior to Canyon Lake being filled as a water reservoir. The town was evacuated and the water just filled up right on top of it.
This makes for a very unique and interesting attraction to search for in Texas.
If you’re interested in diving these attractions, you can find shoreline access points from several of the parks.
Go Camping or Glamping
If you want to make a full Texas road trip out of a trip to Canyon Lake and the Texas Hill Country, then consider camping near Canyon Lake (or glamping).
If you want a true camping experience (like just you and a tent), then you can experience that at parks like Canyon Park and North Park. Camping in these areas is a fun experience for sure!
If you’re like me and prefer to get your nature fix while still enjoying modern luxuries like a bed and air conditioning, then glamping might be a little more your style instead of camping.
Glamping on Canyon Lake is available at places like Cranes Mill Park, Potter’s Creek Park, and the Rio Guadalupe RV Resort.
Of course, camping allows for load of time to enjoy outdoor recreations. Make time for a fun swim, roam miles of trails (or just find the perfect hiking trail), go tubing, and maybe even discover some local history.
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About The Author
Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel. Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region. She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.
Tanya T
Sunday 5th of March 2023
Canyon Lake looks like a cool place to be on a hot summer day (pun intended). I could feel the lake breezes while reading your post :)
SamH Travels
Sunday 5th of March 2023
I haven’t had the opportunity to visit Texas yet, however when i do Canyon Lake will be on my to do list! The lake looks amazing, so much to see and do during a visit to the area. Thanks for sharing.
texasonly
Tuesday 7th of March 2023
I hope you get to visit soon. Texas is full of great places like Canyon Lake!
Sue
Sunday 5th of March 2023
Canyon Lake sounds like a true hidden gem! The color of the water is stunning! That's really cool that there is a ghost town that is submerged in the lake, must be really cool to dive down to see that.
texasonly
Tuesday 7th of March 2023
Canyon Lake is a Texas gem for sure!