Lake Corpus Christi State Park – Texas State Park 24/89

This page contains affiliate links, and we may receive compensation if you click on a link. You can read our full advertising disclosure here.

The Deets

Lake Corpus Christi State Park is located in Mathis, TX, forty minutes west of Corpus Christi, TX. Lake Corpus Christi is over 18,000 acres of enjoyable water, and there are many different options for enjoying a day out on the lake. You can swim, paddle, sail, fish, boat, and water ski. Kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent at the park. There are two boat ramps, two lighted fishing piers, and two fish cleaning shelters. Another plus is that you do not need a fishing license to fish inside the state park!

If you don’t fancy the lake, you can enjoy the few miles of trails by foot or bike or sit a while in the bird blind and watch the abundant birdlife. Over 200 species have been identified in the park. You can even spend your time geocaching at the park. There are also screened shelters, cabins, and campsites available if you intend to stay for a night or two. Entrance to the park costs $5 per adult and is free for children aged 12 and under (or completely free for everyone if using a Park Pass).

The History

Lake Corpus Christi State Park is yet another CCC-built park. Civilian Conservation Corps Company 886 worked from 1934-1935 and built many buildings for the park, including a bathhouse, refectory, park residence, pump house, and a triple-arch bridge. Sadly, the refectory, also known as The Castle, is the only building that remains. The pump house is also still standing, and the roof is used as a look-out point. However, this area was roped off and inaccessible during our visit. The other buildings and the bridge now sit under the waters of Lake Corpus Christi. When the dam was raised in the 1950s, those buildings were in the flood zone. It’s crazy to think that it was all submerged. I wonder if there is anything left of them today.

Long before the park or lake was a thought, the land was once occupied by the Karankawa and Lipan Apache tribes. The Nueces River flowed through the area, bringing water and food to those living there. A few settlements were attempted in the area, such as Lagarto in 1858. Perhaps it would have survived, but community leaders denied the rail line that was hoping to pass through the area. That decision spelled the eventual doom of the town, little of which is left today.

The Nueces River also has a significant part to play in Texas history. It was disputed as the boundary between Texas and Mexico after the Texas revolution. When everything finally settled, the Rio Grande was designated the official boundary.

Our Experience

We made some pretty solid rookie mistakes during our visit to Lake Corpus Christi State Park. We had driven in from Mustang Island State Park and didn’t consider the temperature difference we’d be facing. When we left the beach, it was 78°F with a high of 81°F. By the time we got to Lake Corpus Christi State Park, it was 92°F and rising. For some unknown reason, I also expected there to be tons of shade on the trails and down by the lake. Huge mistake. By the end of the day, we had both sunburned quite badly, even with sunscreen (albeit applied later in the day).

Other than those simple mistakes, we really enjoyed our time there. The facilities were nice and there were endless covered picnic tables for day use. I don’t think we’ve ever seen so many available tables for day use. And trust me, they fill up! We only saw a handful of empty tables during our visit. They are well spread out and the park has multiple day-use areas, so it doesn’t feel cramped. It was a Sunday, the weather was beautiful, and people were out in force to enjoy the lake. This seems like a well-loved park by those that live nearby, and we can clearly see why!

The Trails

Lake Corpus Christi State Park doesn’t have very many trails, as the lake is the highlight, but we did walk most of what is available. We walked the Kiskadee Trail and part of the Longhorn Trail (the part between The Castle and parking at the restrooms). Both trails are fairly short and are easy walks. The bird blind along the Kiskadee Trail is very nice. Kiskadee has spotted shade, but the Longhorn Trail is practically all sun. That’s also why we chose to skip the main part of the Longhorn Trail. From what we could see of it in certain areas, it was also full sun. We were starting to burn already, so we decided only to walk the Catfish Point Trail.

The Catfish Point Trail has more variety with more twists and turns. The second half (after the viewpoint) is far more shaded. The trail has signs posted saying ‘enter’ and ‘exit.’ If you follow this advice, the second half will give you more shade. We thought the lookout point would be more impressive, to be honest, but the trail just rounds a bend by the lake. It would be great if there were a little shaded area to sit and enjoy the view, but there isn’t, so we kept going. In all, it’s a nice trail that’s less than a mile long and very easy.

Watch Your Toes

We did see a lot of huge ants on every trail during our walk. I’m not sure if this is normal or if it was due to the heavy rains we’d had the few days before, but there were ants everywhere you stepped. They were huge red ants, and both of us were in sandals, having just come from the beach. If we’d have been in regular shoes, we wouldn’t have cared so much. So perhaps wear closed-toe shoes on your visit!

Our Takeaway

Lake Corpus Christi is a nice park that is wildly popular. If you’re coming on a sunny summer day, we’d advise making reservations in advance. It looks like it could easily sell out on the regular. The lake is by far the main draw, so remember to bring your swimsuits and towels! Somehow, knowing we were going to the beach and a lake, we completely forgot to pack those essentials. We won’t be making that mistake again! The lake looked so inviting, and our biggest regret was not being able to enjoy it. If you’re looking for a place to get away with family and friends, enjoy a cookout, and play in the water, Lake Corpus Christi is the place for you.

Prefer to see Lake Corpus Christi State Park in action? Check out our vlog episode for this park!
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy