Lake Georgetown was nearly deserted on a recent Sunday morning this
spring. Only a few picnic tables were taken and an occasional boat crossed the
lake. Most of the activity was in the campgrounds and by the lake shore where,
in every indent, there was a fisherman casting line.
According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger Wendy LaGrone, the parks
and lake begin their busiest period after church lets out. Even at it busiest,
the parks are not as crowded as some of their Highland Lakes neighbors.
Less than an hour north of downtown Austin and four miles upstream from
Georgetown, the 1,310-acre lake on the North Fork of the San Gabriel River was
built for flood control, LaGrone said. The dam was completed in 1979, the parks
in 1981.
The four parks are assigned different recreational roles. Each one is well
maintained, heavily wooded, and scenic. Cedar Breaks Park on the south bank is
the only park that mixes camping and day-use facilities. The park has two
fishing docks and the busiest of three boat ramps.
Jim Hogg Park, on the north side of the lake off FM2338, is dedicated to
camping. There are 148 campsites with water and electricity. To make camping
reservations, call 800/284-2267 between 16 and 90 days in advance. The
campsites rent for $12 per night for up to eight people and $24 for a double
site and up to 16 people.
Russell Park covers a peninsula of high bluffs overlooking the lake. The only
designated swimming area on the lake is a gravel beach below the picnic area.
Swimming is allowed anywhere on the lake, but LaGrone warns that sharp
drop-offs are not uncommon. The park has a boat ramp and two group picnic
shelters that can be reserved by calling 512/863-3016.
Russell Park and the fourth park, Tejas Camp, are off FM3405 between US183 and
FM2338. FM3405 is a nice, but short, Sunday drive past old ranches and farms.
Fortunately, the road has not been spoiled by development like that on FM2338
west of Georgetown. The drive gets even nicer when you turn onto County Road
258 to Tejas Camp.
Tejas Camp is the smallest and newest of the parks. Actually, the campground
is on the San Gabriel River where it empties into the lake. With less than a
dozen campsites spread out along the tree line of a small meadow, the park is
very scenic. More visitors use the low water crossing at County Road 258 as a
swimming hole than camp at the park.
One of the most unique features of the lake is the Good Water Trail that goes
around nearly two-thirds of the lake shore. Due to the springs that flow into
the river, the fertile banks, and the abundant game, Native Americans called
this area “the land of good water.”
Good Water Trail begins at Cedar Breaks Park and ends at Russell Park on the
other side of the lake. LaGrone said most people who hike the entire 16.6 miles
stop to camp at Tejas Camp. There are three primitive campgrounds along the
trail that have four sites each and are used mainly by scout groups.
One of the prettiest places on the lake is Crockett Gardens, two and a half
miles upstream from the Cedar Breaks Park trailhead. A spring tumbles down a
moss-covered waterfall in a pecan grove. “You cannot get out on a cellular
phone from there,” LaGrone said.
LaGrone said fisherman never admit to finding a good fishing spot, but last
February a record
eight-pound, 14-ounce largemouth bass was caught. The
state wildlife department stocked the lake with smallmouth bass this month.
The Corps has produced three brochures on the lake and the trail. Be sure to
ask for all three at the gates. Day-use at the parks is free, swimming is $1
per person up to $3 per car, and boat launching is $2.
Coming up this weekend…
Watermelon Thump in Luling has been a summer tradition since 1954.
Where else would they hold the World Champion Seed Spitting Contest? June
22-24. 210/875-3214.
Antique Machinery Exhibition in Stonewall is a great excuse to visit
the vegetable stands and see how farmers used to work, June 24-25.
210/659-3742.
Coming up…
July Fourth Weekend can be four days long if you can talk your boss
into Monday off. For longer trips, check out the 30th season of Texas in
Palo Duro Canyon outside of Canyon thru Aug.19; 806/655-2181. The Texas State
Railroad runs between Rusk and Palestine daily (except Tue. & Wed.);
800/422-8951. First Monday market days are going on around the state, including
the granddaddy of them all, Canton, 903/567-2991. – Gerald E.
McLeod
216th In A Series. Collect Them All.
This article appears in June 23 • 1995 and June 23 • 1995 (Cover).