Inks Lake State Park

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Inks Lake State Park offers family fun on water and land. With its sparkling blue water, colorful rock outcrops, and striking sunsets, this gem of the Hill Country is just an hour northwest of Austin.

Things to Do



Boating at Inks Lake State Park

Inks Lake State Park is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Because the lake’s level usually stays constant, you can play here year-round.

On land, you can camp, backpack, geocache and observe nature.

We have 7.5 miles of hiking trails through shady forests and across rocky hills. Hike Pecan Flats, a self-guided 3.3-mile trail that is perfect for the whole family, or stop by the bird blind.



On the water, you can swim (no lifeguards on duty), boat, water ski, scuba dive and fish. There is a large, no-wake zone for paddling. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, one- to two-person kayaks, life vests and paddles at the park store.



Stay at one of nearly 200 campsites or 22 cabins (two are ADA-accessible). Many sites are lakeside or have easy access to the lake. Several camping loops have playgrounds.

Fishing pier at Inks Lake State Park

Fish for sunfish, catfish and several species of bass. We have two fishing piers, fish cleaning stations, and a boat ramp. You do not need a fishing license to fish from a pier or the shore in a state park.

History



Some of the first people here were prehistoric peoples, who lived and worked along the banks of the Colorado River about 8,000 years ago. Later, Apache and Comanche Indians ranged throughout the Hill Country.



After Texas became a state, settlers began moving into the area. These settlers operated small farms or raised livestock. The main industry was livestock:  cattle, sheep and goats.

The Colorado River is the largest river entirely within the state of Texas. It travels 862 miles; almost 600 billion gallons of water flow in a typical year.

With the steep slopes and thin, rocky soils of the area, the river flooded frequently and with devastating results.

The Lower Colorado River Authority built a series of six dams to help control the river. Inks Lake is second lake in the series.

Two dams form its boundaries – Buchanan Dan to the north and Inks Dam to the south.

Dam construction provided needed work for local farmers and ranchers at the height of the Great Depression.



As part of the Colorado River improvements, the state legislature ordered the creation of a park on the new lake. The state parks board acquired about 1,200 acres for Inks Lake State Park in 1940.

The National Park Service planned the park’s improvements, with construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The men also built a scenic parkway, complete with bridges and culverts made of local materials, to connect the park to nearby roadways.

Plants and Wildlife



Bluebonnets at Inks Lake State Park

Inks Lake State Park is home to ancient geology, and a wide variety of native plants and animals. sits on the east edge of the Llano Uplift, the geologic heart of Texas. It has some of the best views of pre-Cambrian (more than 600 million years old) geology in the state.



The pink rock islands jutting up through the limestone in the park are metamorphic rock called Valley Spring gneiss (“nice”). This gneiss is often mistaken for Town Mountain granite since they have similar color and texture.

The small amount of granite in the park appears only as veins cutting through the gneiss.

Intense heat and pressure applied to the original rocks over millions of years formed gneiss.

The original rocks were sedimentary (formed from sand, silt and mud) and igneous (likely granite). Learn more on geology hikes offered throughout the year.

Bluebonnets at Inks Lake State ParkThe gneiss “islands” support unique micro habitats. Wild flowers, grasses, forbs, mosses, lichens and ferns grow on these rock outcrops.

Over hundreds of years, larger rocks are broken down into gravels and soil by the plants that grow in crevices and at the base of the outcrops.



Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish are all abundant here. The most common mammals are white-tailed deer, raccoon, squirrel, armadillo, skunk and rabbit. You may occasionally see fox, ringtail and coyote.



Common birds include turkey vultures, great blue herons, snowy egrets, mallard and wood ducks, cardinals, flycatchers, swallows, wrens, quail and sparrows. Birds of prey include great horned owls, barred owls, screech owls, red-tailed hawks and ospreys.

Migratory birds like Canada geese, hummingbirds and pelicans also frequent the park.

There is a bird blind where you can get a good view of many  of the park’s birds.

Bluebonnets at Inks Lake State ParkCommon reptiles and amphibians include many species of lizards and salamanders as well as red-eared sliders, snapping turtles and soft shell turtles.



Many snakes live in the park; most are nonvenomous. Venomous snakes that live there include western diamondback rattlesnake, western cottonmouth (or water moccasin), and Texas coral snake.

However, these snakes are rarely seen.

The vast majority of snake sightings are of water snakes, mainly the diamond-backed watersnake (or blotched watersnake). These snakes are non-venomous, but can exhibit nasty behavior and are not afraid to strike.

Like a skunk, they expel a very foul smelling musk when bothered.

True water moccasins are most active at night and are rarely seen during the day.



So what should you do if you encounter a snake?

Leave it alone! Do not attempt to poke, prod or move the snake. If you see a water snake while swimming, just move away. Most snake bites occur when people go off the trail, stick their hands and feet under ledges or crevices, or try to move, touch or kill snakes.



Plants in the park range from the typical grasses and trees found in dry, arid regions of the state to the moisture-loving plants found around the lake and along the few streambeds that run through the park.



Common trees here are Ashe juniper, mesquite, cedar elm, live oak, post oak, Texas persimmon and willow. Large pecan trees tower over the Pecan Flats area.

Native grasses include blue grama, sideoats grama and buffalograss.

Many wildflowers bloom in the spring, such as Texas bluebonnets, Indian blankets and Indian paintbrushes.

A wide variety of cacti, from the prickly pear to the tasajillo (pencil cactus), barrel and lace cactus grow here. You will also see yucca and bee brush, especially out on the trails.



Shallow temporary rainwater basins, or vernal pools, form on rock outcrops. The thin layer of sand and organic material on the bottom of the pools sustains aquatic plants. These become dormant when the water dries up in the summer.

Two plants found in these pools grow only in Central Texas:  rock quillwort and Edward’s Plateau cornsalad.

Facilities and Fees



Sunset at Inks Lake State ParkThis park charges a day use fee of $6.00 for each person over 13, and an overnight camping fee of $5.00 for each person over 13, in addition to the day fee.



Some campsites allow a set number of occupants for one camping fee, with a $6.00 charge for each person over the set occupancy. It’s also an extra $6.00 for each extra vehicle per campsite.



Campsite fees vary from $10 for a primitive campsite for 4, to $22 for a campsite with electricity and water and an occupancy of 8 people.

You can get primitive campsites, campsites with water, campsites with electricity, or campsites with both water and electric.

Boat rentals and cabin rentals are also available for additional fees.