This realistic Inks Lake State Park Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this lakeshore park.

Inks Lake is a state park in Central Texas. Water sports, hiking trails, historical structures, and wildlife viewing make Inks Lake a nice destination.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Inks Lake is a human made lake that dates back to 1938. The park on its eastern shore opened to the public 12 years later. Without a doubt, Inks lake is the main reason why visitors come to this park.

Swimming and water sports help residents make the Texas summer heat a little more tolerable. While Texas is part of the Southwest, its climate is not warm enough to enjoy the lake year round.

You might find it eye-opening but Inks Lake has other sights beyond the lake. There are 9 miles of hiking trails and a few scenic viewpoints in the park. Wildlife viewing rounds up the list of the attractions.

The next few sections of this Inks Lake State Park Guide describe key places to visit in the park. The Guide follows a southbound journey on State Park Road 4.

1. Devil’s Waterhole

You would not have to wait for long to see the first sights in Inks Lake State Park. In fact, State Park Road 4 is a landmark in itself. We need to thank CCC for the creation of this Hill Country road.

Take a right turn at the gate. You will arrive at a bird blind. This is one of the best spots in the park to see wildlife. You could observe native birds during their nesting season. Charge your phone to take pictures.

The Bird Blind is next to a trailhead. A 1.2-mi (1.9-km) Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail leads you to a viewpoint. Devil’s Waterhole, the delta of Valley Spring Creek, will be on full display right below.

This is a wonderful swimming hole in the summer. A shallow part of Inks Lake in the delta attracts visitors in the summer. You could also reach it on a shorter 0.2-mi (0.3-km) Devil’s Waterhole Nature Trail.

2. Valley Spring Creek Waterfall

You could return to the parking lot or continue hiking the trails. There is a good reason to extend your exploration. An easy 0.9-mi (1.5-km) Valley Spring Trail Loop brings you to the same name waterfall.

The level of Valley Spring Creek differs by season. When there is a lot of rainfall, the creek is flowing. You will see a powerful waterfall in this case. But there is little to see here during the drought.

Late spring and early summer are some of the best times to visit Valley Spring Creek Waterfall. The creek will be flowing after heavy May rains. Inks Lake’s water temperature is warm enough for swimming, too.

You could go for a dive if the conditions are right. The waterfall leads to the Devil’s Waterhole and Spring Creek Delta. All three are unbeatable places to swim if the water level is high enough.

3. Fisherman’s Trails

You need to jump back in your car and return to State Park Road 4. No places of interest will be in sight for 2.3 miles (3.7 km). You will just be driving on the historic road all the way to the Park Headquarters.

After checking in with a park ranger, consider taking a side road to the fishing pier. You are welcome to take out your fishing rods if you have any. You do not need a license to fish in Texas state parks.

Fishing is only part of the reason to drive to this part of the park. The other has to do with two hiking trails. The Upper and Lower Fisherman’s Trails are easy hiking trails. They are great for beginners.

You could admire boulders and live oaks right next to the shoreline on the Lower Trail. The Upper Trail brings you to a granite rock not unlike Enchanted Rock. You could see Inks Dam and Lake on full display.

4. Stumpy Hollow

Your next stop in Inks Lake State Park should be at Stumpy Hollow. It is a section of the lake near the mouth of Hylton Branch. The name of this hollow and its main sights go back to the creation of Inks Lake.

Cedar and oak groves used to grow in this hollow well before Inks Lake came to be. Crews cut down trees in areas that will go under water. Stumpy Hollow is one of the few spots where that did not happen.

You could still see the results of this decision some 80 years. A few dead treetops are above the water level. Compared to Petrified Forest in Arizona, these trees are still standing.

The underwater tree stumps attract fish and other wildlife to Stumpy Hollow. But they also make it an unsafe spot for swimming and paddling. Enjoy the views from the relative safety of the Lake Trail.

5. 1,000 FT Overlook

Stumpy Hollow is a gateway for the longest trails in Inks Lake. Beside the 1.2-mi (1.9-km) Lake Trail, you could hike the 1.8-mi (2.9-km) Pecan Flats Trail. The 2.2-mi (3.5-km) Woodland Trail is another option.

All of these hiking trails are interconnected loops. You could hike just one trail or combine them into a 4.7-mi (7.5-km) loop. You will gain about 370 ft (113 m) in elevation on this longer path.

If you are unsure what trail to pick, go with the Pecan Flats Trail. This path is not only shorter than the Woodland Trail. It is also the fastest route to a viewpoint. This should be enough to swing your decision.

The 1,000 ft Overlook is quite descriptive. It is at an elevation of exactly 1,000 ft (305 m). This elevation ensures that you have nice views of the lake below. Lack of shade is the main downside of these trails.

Continue with this Inks Lake State Park Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Inks Lake

Inks Lake State Park is on the western edge of Burnet County in Central Texas. This park is 15 minutes west of the county seat. It is also just 10 minutes north of Longhorn Cavern State Park.

Inks Lake State Park is in-between Highway TX-29 and Hoover Valley Road. All sights in the park are along State Park Road 4. As a result, it is one of the easiest parks to visit in the Texas Hill County.

You could reach Inks Lake much faster than Balcones Canyonlands, Muleshoe Bend, Grelle, Colorado Bend, LBJ Ranch, and Enchanted Rock.

Only Guadalupe River, Honey Creek, McKinney Falls, and Pedernales Falls are closer to the major cities than Inks Lake. This knowledge could help you craft a comprehensive itinerary through the Hill Country.

Most visitors to Inks Lake come from the Greater Austin area. A drive from the Capital of the Lone Star State takes 75 minutes. This makes Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS) the closest airport to the park.

San Antonio Airport (SAT) is another alternative. But this airport is 1 hour 45 minutes away. There are also fewer direct flights to the Alamo City. But airport parking and car rentals tend to be more affordable.

Where to Stay near Inks Lake

Camping is the only way to stay right in Inks Lake State Park. If tents and sleeping bags are not your cup of tea, get ready to drive for at least 25 minutes.

Painted Sky Inn is the only hotel to consider in Burnet, Texas. This lakeshore place to stay allows you to unwind while enjoying refreshing waters of Lake Buchanan.

You should head south for more places to stay near Inks Lake. Check out La Quinta by Wyndham Marble Falls, Hidden Falls Inn, and WorldMark Marble Falls. These hotels are worth a close look.

There are few other places to stay in the area. You could drive all the way to Johnson City on Highways US-281 and US-290. Consider staying in The Bentley Hotel on 290.

If none of these options work out, you should drive to the towns around Austin. Leander, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Bee Cave, and Dripping Springs have plenty of places to stay for every traveler.

Check out Holiday Inn Express & Suites Leander, an IHG Hotel and Hampton Inn & Suites Cedar Park North Austin, Tx. These hotels have amazing reviews and great amenities.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lakeway and Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hill Country are great options, too. You could not go wrong with either place to stay.

Last but not least, consider Courtyard by Marriott Austin Dripping Springs and AC Hotel by Marriott Austin Hill Country. The latter hotel is just a short drive from McKinney Falls.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Inks Lake State Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. year round. The park headquarters and store welcome visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Inks Lake has entrance fees. They apply to all visitors 13 and older. You should budget $7 per adult. Kids enjoy a free visit to Inks Lake.

A daily fee to visit this park equates to 10% of a Texas State Parks Pass. But this annual pass grants free admission to you and all guests traveling in the same car.

Inks Lake is a popular destination for Burnet County residents and Austinites. As a result, the park often sells out on weekends and in the summer.

Thankfully, Inks Lake participates in the Save the Day advance reservation system. You could get a day pass up to 30 days in advance. You will be let into the park even if it has sold completely.

A boat is not necessary to enjoy Inks Lake. But if you would like to paddle, you could rent kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards in the park. Rentals are available between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

You will pay $20 for the first hour hour and $10 per an additional hour. The prices are the same no matter what boat you rent. Do not forget to return your rental by 4 p.m.

Takeaways: Inks Lake State Park

Inks Lake is a great destination to visit in the summer. Devil’s Waterhole, Spring Creek Delta, and Valley Spring Creek Waterfall are amazing sights to see. But you need to make sure the conditions are right.

It is possible that things will not look as rosy during your visit. The ongoing drought impacts the lake and its tributaries. Valley Spring Creek might not be flowing. There might not be a waterfall to speak of.

The lake level might be too shallow. And you might run into algae, zebra mussels, and water snakes in the water. All of these things might not make your visit to Inks Lake very exciting.

Of course, you could see Devil’s Waterhole, 1,000 FT Overlook, and Stumpy Hollow year round. You should decide for yourself if lake views and a few dead underwater trees are worth a $7 entrance fee.

Take a look at this Inks Lake State Park Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!