Lake Whitney State Park – Texas State Park 26/89

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The Deets

Lake Whitney State Park is located in Whitney, TX, 40 minutes north of Waco, TX. Lake Whitney covers more than 23,000 acres and offers all the things a water-loving soul could want. You can boat, fish, swim, and even water ski. On land, you can enjoy the park’s two hiking trails, geocache, camp, and stargaze. The park also has a lot of wildlife to observe. We were lucky enough to see a beautiful owl during our visit! The cost of entry is $5 per adult and free for children 12 and under (or free for everyone if using a Parks Pass).

The History

Before the lake was made, the Brazos River flowed freely through this region. Archaeologists have discovered many artifacts that prove that the area has been a draw for people for centuries. Native Americans inhabited the area before settlers arrived. The town of Towash, the name of the chief of the Hainai, flourished before residents moved to nearby Whitney after a train station was built there. The remnants of the town are now underwater, having been flooded when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the river to create Lake Whitney. Lake Whitney State Park opened to the public in 1965 after leasing the land from the Department of the Army.

Our Experience

The woman at the front desk was just the nicest! She was so cheerful to talk to and provided us with ample information about the park. We were lucky that the park was open when we visited. Due to a deluge of rain in the weeks before we came, the lake was flooding. Technically, it was doing its job. The lake was meant to hold floodwaters and release them slowly to protect the river area downstream. We visited on 1 June 2021, and as I’m writing this today (10 June 2021), the park is now closed till the end of the month due to flooding.

Areas of the park were closed for our visit, but we still enjoyed our time there. There was quite a bit of trash near the water, but I think that was more due to floodwaters carrying it in, and I don’t think that’s the park’s normal state. The facilities are older and show their years of use, but they were clean and functional.

We’d have loved to take a dip in the lake, but it was closed due to flooding.

The Trails

There are two trails at Lake Whitney State Park. Unfortunately, the Towash Forest Trail was flooded, so we could only walk the Two Bridges Trail. The trail is only .9 miles long and we figured we could knock it out in 15 minutes. An hour later, we finally got back to the beginning. This trail is beautiful! There were so many lovely details to admire and we took our time enjoying it. It is an easy trail to walk but be prepared for mud if it’s been raining. At one point, the lake was starting to wash up right against the trail, so again, I think we got extremely lucky here. As the name states, there are two bridges on this trail. It’s a delightful walk that would be great for the entire family to enjoy.

Our Takeaway

I wish that we could have seen Lake Whitney State Park under better circumstances, but even yet, we were taken by it. The trail we walked was beautiful, and the owl we saw was the icing on the cake. We think this park has a lot to offer and would be a great place for the whole family. The RV spots are set in gorgeous areas of the park, so if you plan on staying the night, you’re in for a treat. If you’re in the area, definitely stop in and enjoy the park!

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