Equestrian camping near Cordell Hull Lake offers several options for riders seeking trail access and overnight accommodations. Located in central Texas with limestone-rich terrain, the lake area experiences hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and mild winters, making year-round horse camping possible. Trail systems vary in difficulty with moderate elevation changes between 500-800 feet above sea level.
What to do
Fishing access points: Live Oak Ridge provides multiple fishing spots along Belton Lake. As Lisa H. notes, "Live Oak is a nice Corps of Engineers park on Belton Lake. The campsites are well maintained with asphalt parking, a covered picnic table, and nice gravel area."
Lake activities: Speegleville Park offers direct lake access. Michael C. shares, "Excellent campground. Very clean. Hard stand shelters over picnic tables. Beautiful views of Waco lake. Lots of trails to walk."
Trail riding: The Lacey Point area features a 20-mile equestrian trail with mostly flat terrain suited for beginning to intermediate riders. For those seeking shorter trails, Reynolds Creek offers a "nice little 1 mile hike were you can bird watch and view the lake Waco, it is very shaded and flat."
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Live Oak Ridge offers well-spaced sites with natural shade. Maxine C. mentions, "Pretty much all sites have trees above, very romantic setting and enough space between site that you dont feel on top of others."
Wildlife viewing: Buena Vista Wildlife Safari provides unique animal encounters alongside camping. Chris P. reports, "The drive through safari is an extra $15 per car and worth it. Highly recommend this place."
Water proximity: Several campers appreciate being near the water at Pace Bend Park. Jenny R. states, "The lake is clean, cool and deep! Tons of primitive camping and most sites have a table and a grill...and PRIVACY!"
What you should know
Limited horse facilities: Most campgrounds lack purpose-built equestrian amenities. While Heart of Texas Fair Complex permits overnight camping, Josie J. clarifies, "These grounds are just for those participating in events at the center. Lots of equestrian and ag show events."
Seasonal variations: Summer brings crowds and insects to many sites. As kelly T. notes about Willis Creek: "We arrived late Friday evening after hours. The gates are still open but overwhelming with skeeters everywhere. All sites were overgrown with tall grass/weeds."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely between locations. At Reynolds Creek, Brittany S. reports, "Bathrooms and showers need some work, but they do the job."
Limited water access: Despite being lakefront, some sites have difficult shoreline access. Shane M. found at Reynolds Creek: "High banks made it impossible to get to the water. No swimming area or fishing area that we found."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Reynolds Creek offers a playground for children. Brittany S. mentions, "There is a nice boat ramp and dock for fishing. It is also pet friendly and equestrian friendly."
Cleanliness considerations: Berry Springs Park features "Small, but very clean / new restrooms. Lots and lots and lots of fields, walking trails. Perfect for dogs who like to run," according to Chris E.
Activity planning: Pace Bend Park offers diverse family activities. Ruth P. shares, "Love Pace Bend! It is only a 40 minute drive from Austin, perfect for a weekend get away. They have big camping sites, great for large groups!"
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Willis Creek provides reliable power and water. Kelly T. confirms, "Water and electric connectors working perfectly. Fire ring and grill at all sites."
RV site dimensions: Speegleville Park accommodates larger rigs with spacious sites. Becky B. reports, "Beautiful campground. Very spacious. We stayed in site 4. The whole campground was booked but it was very quite."
Cell service quality: Mobile connectivity varies by campground and carrier. At Live Oak Ridge, Cari E. notes, "I also had good enough service with AT&T to work with my phone's hotspot, but Verizon was pretty poor and even streaming videos was choppy, though you can call and text as usual."
