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…
Keep scrolling to read more.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Canyon Lake! Article topics include:

Looking for Canyon Lake cabins or other accommodations? Save time and use this interactive map to find, compare and book at the best rates. Or explore more of our favorite travel partners.


All About Canyon Lake, 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
divider

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:

Check TripAdvisor
Check Expedia
Find a Campspot
All Travel Resources

Canyon Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

divider

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

We strive to keep information on LakeLubbers as accurate as possible. If you’ve found something here that needs updating, please touch base by filling out our Content Correction form.

Shop Canyon Lake Gifts

Custom Lake Tumblers

Captain / First Mate Custom 20 oz Tumbler

SHOP NOW
Custom Lake T Shirt

Personalized My Boat My Rules Unisex T-Shirt

SHOP NOW
Custom Lake Coffee Mug - On Lake Time

On Lake Time Custom Coffee Mug – 11oz or 15oz

SHOP NOW
VIEW ALL CUSTOM LAKE PRODUCTS

More Canyon Lake news from LakeLubbers.com

  • Advertise your vacation rental property or local business: DETAILS HERE
  • The Canyon Lake forum has been discontinued: HERE’S WHY
  • New Canyon Lake photos coming soon!
  • You’re invited to join our lake-lovin’ community on Facebook and Instagram!
  • Share this Canyon Lake article with your fellow LakeLubbers: