Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Guadalupe River in Comal County, about an hour north of San Antonio, best known for swim beaches, boating and lakeside camping. Leashed dogs are allowed in its public parks, but Corps rules keep pets off designated swim beaches.

Quick Answers

• Dogs: Allowed on a leash in the public parks. Corps parks require a leash 6 feet or shorter, and pets stay off swim beaches, playgrounds and restrooms.
• State park or not: Not a state park. The Corps runs the lake, and a Comal County parks district called WORD runs the main day-use parks. State park passes don’t work at WORD parks.
• Swimming: Yes. Comal Park, Canyon Park and Cranes Mill Park have swim areas, open March 1 to October 31. There are no lifeguards.
• Camping: Potters Creek Park is the only Corps campground left. Sites must be reserved on Recreation.gov, from $26 a night for a tent site.
• Entry fee: $20 per vehicle at the WORD parks, or $5 with a Comal County registration. North Park is free.
• Lake level: About 96% full in late October 2026, after the July 2026 floods refilled it for the first time in more than 4.5 years.
• Drive time: About 1 hour 5 minutes from San Antonio and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Austin.
• Best time: May, September and October for warm water with smaller crowds. Summer weekends are the busiest.

Canyon Lake Parks: Who Runs What

Canyon Lake covers about 8,300 acres with 93 miles of shoreline at full pool. Its parks have three different operators, and each sets its own fees, hours and season. That’s the main thing to know before driving out.

WORD parks (Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County): open March 1 to October 31, closed November through February.

• Comal Park: 116 acres on the south shore near Startzville, with a 1,500-foot swim beach, two boat ramps, picnic sites, grills, disc golf, a 1.2-mile walking trail, and kayak and paddleboard rentals.
• Canyon Park: 485 acres on the north shore, day use only. It has a 3-lane boat ramp, picnic sites, a fishing pier, jet ski and pontoon rentals, and Swim Beach 1 about a mile before the main entrance. The Madrone Trail starts here.
• Cranes Mill Park: about 100 acres on a peninsula where the Guadalupe enters the lake. The Corps closed it at the end of 2025, and WORD reopened it in 2026 as first-come, first-served day use with a swim area, a fishing pier and restrooms with showers.

Corps of Engineers parks:

• Potters Creek Park: the north-shore campground. Reservation holders and their guests only, no day use.
• North Park: free day use, 8 a.m. to sunset daily. It stopped offering camping on May 13, 2026. There’s no designated swim beach, and the cliffs east of the park are closed.
• Overlook: the viewing area at the dam, with views over the lake and spillway. Winter hours (October 1 to Memorial Day weekend) are weekdays only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Guadalupe Park: below the dam on the river, sunrise to sunset year-round.

WORD rules worth knowing: no free re-entry, parks close to new arrivals when full, and payment goes through the ParkMobile app when no gate attendant is on duty. Glass and foam containers aren’t allowed.

Are Dogs Allowed at Canyon Lake?

Yes, in most parks. In the Corps parks, dogs must stay on a leash 6 feet or shorter, and federal rules keep pets off swim beaches, playgrounds and out of restrooms (service animals excepted). Potters Creek campground allows pets.

WORD welcomes leashed pets at Comal Park, Canyon Park and Cranes Mill Park and asks that they stay leashed at all times. WORD doesn’t say whether dogs can go on its swim beaches, so ask at the gate before heading to the water.

Pick up after dogs everywhere on Corps land, and never leave a dog in a parked car or unattended in the heat.

Swimming at Canyon Lake

Swimming is allowed in the lake at visitors’ own risk, and the Corps recommends sticking to designated swim beaches. The designated public beaches are at Comal Park, Canyon Park (Swim Beach 1) and Cranes Mill Park, all open March 1 to October 31. Potters Creek has a beach for campers only.

• No lifeguards at any public beach
• No swimming at boat ramps, docks or mooring points
• No jumping from trees, bridges or other structures, and no cliff jumping in the WORD parks
• Bottoms are rocky with sudden drop-offs, so water shoes help, and children need a life jacket and close watching

Comal Park is the favorite swim spot in recent reviews, with a long beach and a shallow area for kids. It also fills fastest. After the July 2026 floods, water-quality tests came back within the standards for swimming, but the water can turn brown or weedy after heavy rain.

Boating, Paddling and Fishing

Canyon Lake has 23 boat ramps run by Comal County, the Corps, WORD, the military and private marinas. Each ramp closes at a different water level, so check ramp status with the lake office before towing a boat.

• Free ramps: the Potters Creek West day-use ramp (Ramp 21), with a courtesy dock and fishing dock, and Little Jacobs Creek (Ramp 17)
• WORD ramps: at Comal Park, Canyon Park and Cranes Mill Park; closed November through February unless WORD says otherwise
• Marinas: Canyon Lake Marina near Canyon Park and Cranes Mill Marina, both privately run
• Rentals: jet skis and pontoons at Canyon Park, kayaks and paddleboards at Comal Park, in season
• Life jackets: Texas law requires a life jacket within reach for everyone on board, and children under 13 must wear one on boats under 26 feet while underway
• Zebra mussels: they’re in the lake, so clean, drain and dry boats before leaving. Draining is required by law

Jet skis and boats share the water near the swim beaches. When a Corps ramp is closed for low water, kayaks can’t launch from it either.

Fishing: a Texas fishing license is required. Largemouth, smallmouth and Guadalupe bass, white and striped bass, catfish and sunfish are the main catches. TPWD stocks rainbow trout in the Guadalupe below the dam in late fall. Shore fishing is allowed on most of the lake except the dam, ramps, docks and swim beaches. Texas has a consumption advisory for striped bass and longnose gar from this lake.

Camping at Canyon Lake

Potters Creek Park is the only Corps campground left on Canyon Lake, and every site must be reserved ahead. Book on Recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777, up to 6 months out. There are no walk-up sites.

• RV sites: more than 90 back-in sites with 50-amp electric and water, $35 a night, RVs up to 60 feet
• Tent sites: 10 sites with water and 15-amp electric, $26 a night
• Screened shelters: 7 roofed shelters with screen walls and outlets, $45 a night
• Family sites: 5 multi-unit sites, $60 (double) or $90 (triple)
• Group area: 1 tent-only group camp for up to 100 people, $100 a night

Every site has a picnic table, fire ring, grill, water and electricity. Restrooms have flush toilets and hot showers, and there are 2 dump stations. Check-in is 3 p.m., check-out 2 p.m., and stays are limited to 14 nights in 30 days.

The gate locks at 9 p.m. most nights, and at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from April through September. Late arrivals park outside and walk in. Some sites close from October 1 to the end of March.

Elsewhere on the lake: Cranes Mill Park has 30 RV sites run by a private partner and booked through cranesmillrv.com. North Park camping ended in May 2026, and Comal Park and Canyon Park are day use only.

Burn ban: Comal County renewed its burn ban on October 23, 2026, so campfires and fire rings are off limits until it lifts. Gate staff give the current rule at check-in.

Hiking Trails at Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is a water destination first, but it has a handful of good trails, most with little shade. Carry more water than seems necessary in summer.

• Madrone Trail: starts at the end of Canyon Park Road in Canyon Park. Free, open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. WORD gives no official length; hikers report about 7.5 miles, rocky, with spots to reach the water and a native-plant pollinator garden along the way
• Old Hancock Trail: 4 miles one way on the north shore for hiking, mountain biking and horses. Mostly flat, open prairie with little shade; closed when wet
• Guadalupe Trail: just under 1 mile one way along the river below the dam, under bald cypress. Hiking only; closed during high water releases
• Dam walk: visitors can walk across the dam service road from the Overlook, and many call it the best view on the lake near sunset. Check Overlook hours first
• Comal Park walking trail: 1.2 miles with a lake overlook, open in park season

Canyon Lake Gorge

Canyon Lake Gorge is a 64-acre limestone canyon below the dam, carved in 2002 when floodwater went over the spillway for the first time. The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) runs it, and volunteer guides lead the tours.

• Guided tour: about 2 hours and 1.25 miles, rated moderate, $20 per person, ages 7 and up. Tours run Tuesday to Saturday; book ahead on canyongorgetours.com. Dinosaur tracks are only on this tour
• Self-guided Gorge Rim Trail: about 1.6 miles, easy, $5 per person 12 and up, no reservation
• Good to know: everyone on a guided tour signs a waiver, hikers under 18 need an adult, and the gorge has been closed on Sundays since September 2026

Visitors on Tripadvisor rate the guides highly. Bring water and a snack, and expect a slow pace over uneven rock.

Lake Levels and Conditions

Canyon Lake’s water level swings widely, and it changes the whole trip. In May 2025 the lake sat at about 45% full, with closed ramps and no usable beaches. Floods on the upper Guadalupe in July 2026 filled it to the 909-foot full mark for the first time in more than 4.5 years.

On October 27, 2026, the lake was 96.5% full. Check the current level on the Texas Water Development Board’s Canyon Lake page before going. Low water means fewer open ramps, longer walks to the water and smaller beaches.

What Visitors Say

Google reviews from the last two years tell two different stories: a very low lake through spring 2026, then delight once it refilled that summer. Recent reviews average about 4.4 stars.

• Water: reviewers from late July 2026 on celebrate a full lake. Some summer 2026 visitors still found brown water, weeds or floating plants after the floods
• Crowds: Comal Park and Canyon Park’s Swim Beach 1 get packed on summer weekends, with entry lines, a hunt for parking and a long carry to the water
• Fees: $20 per car feels steep to some families, especially with no re-entry. Others call it fair for a clean, well-run beach
• Overlook parking: many summer 2026 reviews mention a 2-hour parking limit with towing at the dam overlook
• Potters Creek: big paved sites and clean, roomy showers get the most praise, though some campers found the bathrooms poorly kept. Shade is uneven, and the treeless Loop 5 can be very windy
• Gate times: strict. Potters Creek won’t check anyone in before 3 p.m., and the WORD parks stop letting cars in well before closing
• Wildlife: deer often walk right through the Potters Creek sites

Visitor tips: arrive early on summer weekends, bring everything at once, pack water shoes and a shade canopy for the beaches, and wear life jackets around jet skis.

Getting There

Canyon Lake sits off FM 306 between New Braunfels and US 281. From I-35, take exit 191 at New Braunfels and drive about 15 miles west on FM 306. From US 281, drive about 12 miles east.

• From San Antonio: about 47 miles, about 1 hour 5 minutes
• From Austin: about 55 miles, about 1 hour 15 minutes
• From Houston: about 190 miles, about 3 hours 40 minutes
• From Dallas: about 250 miles, about 4 hours 40 minutes

Times are without traffic. Summer weekends add time, and some visitors suggest coming in from I-35 rather than US 281.

Nearby Parks

• Guadalupe River State Park: the closest state park, with river swimming and camping
• Camp Huaco Springs: riverside camping and tubing on the Guadalupe in New Braunfels
• Bergheim Campground and River Outfitter: camping and river trips on the upper Guadalupe

More trips in Parks Near San Antonio.

Know Before You Go

• Fees: WORD parks $20 per vehicle, $5 with a Comal County registration, plus a $1 card fee; no state or federal passes accepted. North Park is free. Confirm current fees with WORD and the Corps before going
• Season: WORD parks (Comal, Canyon, Cranes Mill) are open March 1 to October 31. Potters Creek, North Park and the trails are open year-round
• Reservations: required for Potters Creek camping (Recreation.gov) and guided Gorge tours. WORD day use is first come, first served
• Dogs: leashed in the parks, 6 feet or shorter on Corps land; not on Corps swim beaches
• Water and shade: little natural shade at the beaches and on most trails. Bring water, sunscreen and a canopy
• Difficulty: easy beaches and short trails; the Madrone Trail and the Gorge tour involve rocky ground
• Best season: May, September and October. Summer weekends and holidays are the most crowded
• Fires: Comal County burn ban in effect as of October 23, 2026
• Official sites: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Canyon Lake (lake office 830-964-3341) and WORD parks
• Map: Canyon Lake on Google Maps
• Last checked: October 2026

Canyon Lake FAQ

Is there a state park at Canyon Lake? No. The closest is Guadalupe River State Park, upstream on the Guadalupe River.

How deep is Canyon Lake? TPWD lists a maximum depth of 125 feet.

Is Canyon Lake closing in 2026? No. News about a 2026 closure refers to Canyon Lake in Arizona; the Texas lake stays open, though the WORD parks close for the season from November through February.

What is the closest town to Canyon Lake? New Braunfels, about 16 miles southeast.

Featured photo: Ashton Brown