Inks Lake State Park is located on the Colorado River in Texas. It is home to numerous trees, yuccas, prickly pear cacti, and rock formations. It has a hilly landscape and is surrounded by gneiss rock.
The park is a great place to bring the family for a weekend or day trip. There are many activities to enjoy, including hiking, geocaching, and volleyball. Visitors must purchase a day pass for admission, but kids under the age of 12 do not need one. Guests can enjoy the state park’s scenic views and nine miles of
hiking trails.
The park was created in 1938 after the Colorado River was dammed. The Civilian Conservation Corps worked to develop the surrounding area and built roads, boat houses, and docks. Visitors can go hiking, backpacking, and camping at the park, and enjoy the lake and surrounding land. The lake is also maintained at a steady level, making it ideal for lake activities.
The Colorado River runs 862 miles through the state, carrying about 600 billion gallons of water a year. Inks Lake State Park is located in the Llano Uplift, a geologic formation. The area was once prone to flooding. However, the LCRA built six dams along the river, including the Inks Dam to the south and Buchanan Dan to the north.
A new park plan for Inks Lake State Park will create a modern headquarters building, improve restrooms and the entrance. The park will also add a boat ramp and increase its day-use capacity. These improvements will cost around $9 million and are expected to be complete by 2025 or 2026. Construction on the new headquarters building will begin in 2022, and the old headquarters will be converted into an interpretive center.
Inks Lake State Park is home to some of the most scenic hiking and swimming spots in the Highland Lakes. Devil’s Waterhole is a popular natural swimming spot with cliffs rising 40 feet above the water. This swimming spot is not suitable for children as there are no lifeguards.
A number of snakes live in the park. While they are rare, venomous snakes can be present. Non-venomous water snakes include the diamond-backed watersnake and the blotched watersnake. These snakes have a nasty nature and will expel foul musk if they feel threatened. True water moccasin are also found in this park, but these snakes are typically nocturnal and only active at night.
