Inks Lake State Park is the perfect spot for family fun in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The smallest of the Highland Lakes chain west of Austin, this constant level lake is popular for fishing and boating.
Inks Lake State Park has a large campground with water and electric hookups, plus 22 small cabins. Facilities include a boat ramp, boat dock, two fishing piers, several playgrounds, picnic areas and hiking trails. The well-stocked park store rents canoes, kayaks and paddle boats.
An easy trail leads about a quarter of a mile from the campground through classic Texas Hill Country vistas of scrub cedar, oaks, and prickly pear cactus, to the park's most scenic spot, the Devil's Waterhole. This lovely cove is surrounded by huge rock outcroppings, pink granite on one side of the water and pink and grey gneiss on the trail side. Scramble up on the rocks for a great view of the lake.
Inks Lake State Park offers lots of activities in the summer, including Saturday night programs at the amphitheater, lake tours by electric boat, fishing with a ranger, guided nature hikes and full moon programs. For a real treat, rent a canoe or kayak for an easy paddle to Devil's Waterhole.
There's plenty to do outside of the park too. Longhorn Caverns and the Inks Dam Fish Hatchery are just a few miles from the park. Rockhopper's Family Fun Center in nearby Marble Falls has a beautifully landscaped miniature golf course, plus a game arcade. Other Texas Hill Country attractions less than an hour's drive from the park include:
- Enchanted Rock
- Fredericksburg
- Colorado Bend State Park
- Burnet
- Llano
Plan Your Visit to Inks Lake State Park
The park is about 12 miles southwest of Burnet and can be reached via Park Road 4 from either Highway 29 or 281. Camping reservations are essential in the summer. The day use parking lots are fairly small, so arrive early if you aren't camping. For current details about Inks Lake State Park, visit the park's website.
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