Inks Lake State Park
Burnet, Texas (Burnet County)

Get Campsite & Facility Reservations Download a Park Map from TPWD

About the State Park

Swimming hotspot, the Devil's Waterhole

Like another Texas favorite, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, 1,200-acre Inks Lake State Park is located on the pink granite outcroppings of the Llano Uplift. The park is characterized by scenic vistas overlooking expansive granite hills and 803-acre Inks Lake. Over 7 miles of hiking trails are available. Extremely popular year-round, the park offers recreational opportunities such as camping, fishing, picnicking, wildlife observation, SCUBA diving, swimming, boating and water sports. Boat ramps, two fishing piers, a playground, and a 9-hole golf course are also available. Since the park's group facilities, mini-cabins, developed (RV) and tent campsites are often in high demand, reservations are highly recommended.

Wildlife includes white-tail deer, wild turkeys, various lizards, snakes, ospreys, and numerous songbirds. Birding opportunities in winter are excellent as red-breasted mergansers, common loons, and bald eagles congregate in the area.

Fish species in 803-acre Inks Lake:

Bass: Guadalupe, Largemouth, Striped, White
Catfish: Channel, Flathead
Crappie: White
Shad: Gizzard, Threadfin
Others: Bluegill

Park Ratings

Explanation of Symbols
Campsites/Overnight Facilities	3 star
Leashed Pets Permitted?	YES
Picnic Areas/Playgrounds	4 star
Solitude	1 star
Trail System	2 star
Water Recreation	4 star
Wildlife	4 star
Ratings are based on a scale of 0 (low) to 4 (high).

Shannon's Wild Texas Notebook

Inks Lake State Park is another of Texas' more developed parks, offering two fishing piers, a 9-hole lakeside golf course, grocery store, boat rentals, and concessions. Even during periods of peak visitation (spring break, summer and holidays), we often find the hiking trails pleasantly deserted. The trails are well-marked and offer many scenic views of the surrounding granite-covered landscape and Inks Lake. The trails are arranged in a loop configuration, simplifying the task of creating a hike to suit your needs and abilities. In addition to abundant wildlife, several species of cacti and numerous sotol plants jut out of the rock throughout the park. During our relatively short hikes, we spotted a garter snake, numerous turkey vultures, cardinals, and other songbirds.

For more information, read our trip reports:

Wildflower Weekend

Location

From Austin, take Highway 183 N. to Highway 29 W. to Burnet. The park is located 9 miles west of Burnet on Texas Highway 29; turn left on Park Road 4 (P4) and proceed 3 miles to the park. Alternatively, take Highway 71 W. to Highway 281 N., then proceed on Park Road 4 for 12 miles to the park. The park entrance is located at 3630 Park Road 4 West.

The nearest major Texas cities are: Abilene, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio

Maps for Inks Lake State Park

Roadway Map - MapQuest
Buy a Topographic Map of the Area - MyTopo

How to Get Here from Your Location?

^* NOTE: The driving directions (Google Maps) open in a new window.

Coordinates for GPS Users:

30.73083° Latitude -98.37028° Longitude (WGS84/NAD83; decimal degrees)
Convert to another coordinate sytem or map datum

Hours

Open 7 days a week year-round from 8 AM to 10 PM for day use activities.

Check for restricted park access before any trip. When controlled public hunts are in progress, general access is not permitted.

Fees

A park entrance fee is charged per day -- $4 per person for adults 13 years of age and older. (Texas residents age 65 or older pay only $2 per person.) NOTE: Listed fees may not be accurate year-round due to seasonal changes. Contact the park directly to confirm fees.

Campsite and other facility fees are in addition to the park entrance fee.

Note: Learn about the $60 Texas State Parks Pass which exempts passholders, and the passengers in their vehicle, from the entrance fees at all Texas State Parks.

Reservations

Reserve Now for campsites or other park facilities.

Reservations can also be made by calling TPWD's Central Reservation System at (512)389-8900 from 9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday, 9 AM to noon on Saturdays.

Events

Check the TPWD Calendar for upcoming events at this or other area parks.

Weather

Volunteer Opportunities

Contact the Friends of Inks Lake, the officially recognized non-profit support group of Inks Lake State Park, at 1316 Logan, Round Rock, TX 78664.

Official Contact Information

The State Park is managed by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Road 4 West
Burnet, TX 78611

Telephone: (512)793-2223
TPWD Park Info: 1-800-792-1112

Inks Lake State ParkBurnet, Texas (Burnet County)