Stillhouse Hollow Lake spans over 6,400 acres near Harker Heights, Texas with 58 miles of shoreline for camping and recreation. Elevation ranges from 600 to 800 feet above sea level, creating varied terrain around the lake's limestone shores. Strong winds affect the area primarily in spring months, particularly in open camping sections along the eastern shoreline.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Live Oak Ridge offers access to nature trails across the Belton Lake area. "There are nature trails across the main road and access to Belton and their small but awesome riverwalk area, historic Salado, Still Hollow Lake, the Belton dam (we could see the mural from both sites), Chalk Ridge Waterfalls and Temple, TX within a few minutes," notes Cheryl D.
Lakeside fishing: The clear waters of Cedar Ridge Park provide excellent fishing opportunities. Jim P. shared: "Found this camp at the last minute for an overnight stay. Seems to be on the river channel. Fishing is great. Campers next to us cleaned fish the evening we arrived and the next morning."
Wildlife viewing: Evenings at Mother Neff State Park provide opportunities for wildlife spotting. Greg B. mentioned: "Nice and easily traveled hiking trails along with a nice pond area for evening wildlife viewing. There is also an old Indian cave and wash pond."
What campers like
Year-round accessibility: Union Grove Park remains open throughout all seasons, unlike some area campgrounds. Michael C. described his experience: "We stayed at Union Grove 5 days. Would come back in a heart beat. Our site was a pull through. Asphalt with grass all around. The roads are one way, so it's a hike to the dumpster."
Diverse landscape: The mix of open water views and tree-covered areas provides camping options for different preferences. At Cedar Ridge Park, Jeff H. explained: "This is just flat out a beautiful, no frills park. It is water and electric only. The sites along the water give amazing sunset and sunrise views."
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and common areas. About Westcliff Park, SJ L. reported: "The bathrooms were ok, stocked, I wouldn't say clean, and the covered picnic spots did not have their roofs on yet so if you wanted shade you had to provide your own via tarp."
What you should know
Limited shade coverage: Many lakeside sites lack substantial tree cover, which affects summer camping conditions. Laura F. noted about Dana Peak Park: "This is a nice campground with spacious sites right on the lake with covered picnic tables. The park has many miles of mountain bike and hiking trails. The one downside is that the sites do not have decent sized trees."
Seasonal operation: Some campgrounds close during fall and winter months. Joel K. clarified: "I wanted to make a review about their open season. They have it listed on their website, but they are only open from March 2nd to September 30th for the year of 2022."
Wind conditions: Exposed lakeside sites can experience significant wind, especially during spring storms. Janese W. cautioned: "This is a gorgeous place to camp. We did tent camping this pass week. Our camp site was right by the water an absolutely gorgeous view to wake up to. The only draw back was the winds, they were so strong they shattered our tent poles."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Belton Lakeview Park provides family-friendly amenities near the water. George M. shared: "This is a great start point for all your hiking adventures. There are several other areas in and around this park where you can explore or even do some primitive day camping. Our running club uses this park to start and finish many outings, plenty of facilities to cook, eat, and play."
Educational opportunities: Mother Neff State Park offers historical features for children. Brittany S. recommends: "What a great park full of history! The cave is an amazing part of history and is definitely a must-see! Tonkawa tribe lived along the river in the 1800's and many artifacts have been found along with the awesome cave they used."
Wildlife encounters: Cedar Ridge provides opportunities to view deer and other animals. According to Dean H.: "Site 17, very clean camp. Lots of deer in camp and we saw a turkey. Sites that we really like with lots of shade 3,13,16,18."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For pet friendly camping near Harker Heights, Texas, level sites with good spacing matter. About Union Grove, Michael C. noted: "The campsites are located on small loops which limits the traffic past the individual camp sites. Many people, but spread out so didn't feel crowed."
Heat management: When camping with pets near Harker Heights during summer, prepare for limited shade. Sheila C. advised: "We were a little concerned about camping here in July with no shade. The breeze off the lake really helped make the 100 degree days better. The water is crystal clear, so we just went down and hopped in the water when it got to hot."
Hookup considerations: Most RV sites offer water and electric but not full hookups. Cody D. explained about Cedar Ridge: "Has 30 & 50 amp hookups with water does not have sewer hookups at sites but does have dump station close by."
