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Canyon Lake, Texas, USA

Canyon Lake, with a maximum depth of 125 feet, is one of the deepest and most scenic lakes in Texas. Canyon Lake, formerly known as Canyon Reservoir, is on the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country just 35 miles northeast of San Antonio and 40 miles southwest of Austin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Canyon Dam, Canyon Lake, and all adjacent property. The Guadalupe-Blanco…
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    • All About Canyon Lake, TX

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Texas - Hill Country Region, TX -

    Canyon Lake, with a maximum depth of 125 feet, is one of the deepest and most scenic lakes in Texas. Canyon Lake, formerly known as Canyon Reservoir, is on the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country just 35 miles northeast of San Antonio and 40 miles southwest of Austin. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Canyon Dam, Canyon Lake, and all adjacent property. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority manages water rights, wastewater treatment, and hydroelectric generating facilities. Canyon Lake was completed in 1968,and was built to prevent flash flooding along the Guadalupe River and to assure the water supply for the communities downstream from the dam. It is also a popular recreational destination.

    Considered by some to be the “Water Recreation Capital of Texas,” Canyon Lake is an exceptional place to visit year round for recreational activities such as boating, jet skiing, nature walks, bird watching, hiking & biking trails, sunset cruises on the lake, and river excursions. The lake area also offers a variety of restaurants and places to shop. Eight Army Corps of Engineer public parks with excellent outdoor recreation opportunities are scattered along Canyon Lake’s 80 miles of shoreline. Many of the parks have developed campsites for tents and trailers, as well as boat ramps, restrooms and picnic tables. A golf course, several marinas, yacht clubs, and a ski club are also located on the lake. Tubing is one of the favorite pastimes of water lovers playing on Canyon Lake.

    For fans of fishing, largemouth bass is the most popular and most abundant fish in Canyon Lake. White bass, striped bass, and catfish also provide excellent opportunities to catch the “big one.” There is an annual stocking program because striped bass do not reproduce successfully in Canyon Lake. Rocky banks, rock ledges, flooded timber, and marinas provide cover for game fish in the lake.

    There are many fascinating local attractions in the Canyon Lake area to entertain young and old. Schlitterbahn Water Park in nearby New Braunfels is considered to be among the top water parks in the world. Explore Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest known cavern in Texas. Go on a safari at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch where you can view, photograph & feed species from all over the world from the comfort of your own vehicle.

    Another very popular site is the Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country and Dinosaur Tracks. This museum is dedicated to preserving the memory and spirit of Native American Indians, the early pioneers who settled the area, and the development of Canyon Lake Dam. It sits on the site where hundreds of dinosaur tracks were discovered in the early 1980s. It is considered the most prolific site in Texas in terms of the number of tracks, estimated to be 100 million years old.

    Whether you are looking for a fun getaway or a home surrounded by the natural beauty of Canyon Lake and the Texas Hill Country, Canyon Lake living is superb- an easy distance from the city, but far enough away in lifestyle and quality of life. Canyon Dam made development possible along the lakeshore and in the area downstream, which is now protected from periodic flooding. Even as the lake was filling, the first residential subdivisions began filling with permanent and part-time residents.

    As they say at Canyon Lake, “Come for a weekend and stay a life time!”

    Things to Do at Canyon Lake

    These are some activities in the Canyon Lake, TX area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Jet Skiing
    • Tubing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Museum

    What Kind of Fish Are in Canyon Lake?

    Canyon Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • White Bass
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    Find Places to Stay at Canyon Lake

    If you’re considering a Canyon Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Canyon Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Canyon Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Canyon Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: US Army Corps of Engineers

    Surface Area: 8,230 acres

    Shoreline Length: 80 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 909 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 900 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 950 feet

    Average Depth: 43 feet

    Maximum Depth: 125 feet

    Water Volume: 382,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1968

    Lake Area-Population: 16,870

    Canyon Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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