Joe Pool Lake, Texas

Joe Pool Lake is a U.S. Corp of Engineer's lake that is located just south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Since it first opened in 1989, the lake has been a popular destination for anyone interested in boating, fishing, hiking, camping or wildlife watching. Here are some of the highlights of what is available for you to enjoy this great lake.

Camping. There are two public parks that offer overnight facilities. Cedar Hill State Park (Cedar Hill, Texas) has a large campground that is typically full during the busy summer season. It is part of the Texas State Park system. There is a few walk in primitive camp sites, regular camping sites with electric and water, and full hook up RV sites. The second camping area is Loyd Park. It is run by the city of Grand Prairie. In addition to the normal tent and RV sites, there are also a number of fully furnished cabins available for rent.

Boating. There are two full service marinas on the lake. One is within Cedar Hill State Park and the other is just outside of Lynn Creek Park (Grand Prairie, Texas). The marinas offer slip rentals and also have boat launch areas. There are also additional boat launch sites around the lake, some within city parks or in areas run by the Corp of Engineers. During the summer weekend mornings and evenings the boat ramps can be full and the wait may be long to get your boat in or out of the water. Be prepared and plan accordingly.

Fishing. The Lake boasts bass, crappie and catfish. Along the banks of the lake there are numerous public parks where you can fish from the bank. Cedar Hill State Park even has lighted fishing docks and a fish cleaning station. Both marinas also offer floating pay-to-fish covered docks.

Hiking. The bulk of the hiking trails are found in Cedar Hill State Park. The largest, the Dorba trail, covers more than 10 miles and is a shared biking/hiking path. You can also find a few trails in Loyd Park. The trails offer great opportunities for birdwatching and viewing some of the fabulous wildflowers that grow in the natural areas around the lake. The bluebonnets are usually spectacular in the early spring, creating wonderful carpets of blue.

Swimming. There are numerous beaches in the parks (Cedar Hill, Loyd, and Lynn Creek) that offer a nice place to take your small children. Each has a real sandy beach, bathrooms within easy reach and an adjacent playground area.

There are other facilities and amenities to be found along the shores of Joe Pool Lake. The best way to find out more about this is to take a trip to the lake!