Inks Lake State Park is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Because the lake’s level usually stays constant, you can play here year-round. 

 Inks Lake camping offers many activities such as backpack, geocache, play volleyball, picnic, and observe nature. We have 9 miles of hiking trails through shady forests and across rocky hills. Hike Pecan Flats, a self-guided 3.3-mile trail that is perfect for the whole family, or stop by our bird blind. Rent our group picnic pavilion for your next family reunion. Take a virtual tour with our interactive trails map.

 On the water, you can swim (no lifeguards on duty), boat, water ski, scuba dive and fish. We have set aside a large, no-wake zone for paddling.

 Stay at one of nearly 200 campsites or 22 cabins (two are ADA-accessible). Many sites are lakeside or have easy access to the lake. Several camping loops have playgrounds. Sponsored youth groups can rent our youth group camping area.

Inks Lake State Park Campground

I stayed at Inks Lake during May of 2017 while on Geology Field Camp. We were camped away from the main campsite in a more secluded section, and it couldn't have been a better spot. The sites were well spread out despite there being so many of them, and some of them sat right on the lake. The amenities are top-notch, with large bathrooms and showers close to the campsites. There are some nice swimming spots and an area to hike around that shows off the amazing geology. A great spot to bring the kids.

A Beautiful and Relaxing Campsite

This is a great camping spot in the heart of Texas.  The lake is beautiful, spring fed and clear.  Camping spots are large and usually plenty of space between neighbors (water only spots).  Bathrooms are pretty nice, even have showers if you are into that.  Hiking trails are good, swimming hole is awesome.

It does get crowded, and the water/electric spots do not have any privacy. Overall I would definitely recommend.

Great Spot, Reserve Early and Arrive Early

This park has great hiking trails, campsites, and water activities. Grab a kayak and paddle up and down Inks Lake. Set up your tent near hiking trails and lake access. Take a jump off the cliffs at Devil's Waterhole. Don't forget you fishing poles, as there are also lots of great fishing areas.

Fun park for the whole family

I stayed here over a weekend, and it was so lovely. The campsite was $16/night, and a $6/adult entrance fee. 

There was plenty of wildlife around - birds, squirrels, lizards, etc. There were a ton of birds, actually, and they even have a "Bird Blind" with lots of bird feeders and flowers where you can sit and watch the birds and butterflies. Neat!

There's a park store where you can buy food and drinks, firewood, and other basic supplies. There's a trailer parked outside that sells ice cream and sno cones, which is perfect if you're not smart like us and choose a hot as heck weekend to go camping. 

The bathrooms were surprisingly clean and nice for a campground. Flush toilets, warm showers, the works! Much less spider-y than I was expecting, too. 

Make sure you make reservations ahead of time! I made mine on Friday for the next night, and I snagged the last available campsite. You don't choose your campsite ahead of time, rather, when you show up, the employees let you choose from a map of available sites. The woman who helped us out was super helpful in describing the cool features of the site we randomly chose.

Great Place to Camp!

A three day stay was not long enough! There are plenty of hiking trails, a lake and then so many amenities! They had multiple play grounds, two fishing piers, rentals of kayaks and paddle boats... And a snow cone / ice cream stand! 
The individual sites are large, but some are better than others. All have shade, level parking, water and electricity. The restrooms were clean and recently remodeled. 
We will be going back soon!

So much to do!

Great place to spend a weekend, with kayaking and a bird blind near by.  I suggest walking to the fishing dock to see the sunset.  Campground was operating under-capacity when we visited (June 16) because a significant number of campsites were closed due to flooding.

Quiet Campground

Very crowded on weekends, make reservations well in advance!

Nice during the week

The first time I camped here was Memorial Day weekend. We had reservations, but it was packed and we regretted our timing. Lots of loud people during the day and into the evening. Luckily the rangers/state park cops reinforce the no noise and no alcohol rules very seriously, so it was quiet after 10pm and no people doing stupid drunk hijinks.

There used to be a decent place to eat nearby, but it was closed the second time we went in 2015. No idea if the closure is permanent. 

Some decent kayaking and beautiful pink cliffs. Friend from Austin brought his bike and said the biking trails were excellent. Lots of folk fishing both times we were there. Cabins were available (with a reservation) but we set up tents and enjoyed the view.

Mosquitos weren’t terrible when we were there but the chiggers were a pain in the…leg. Learned my lesson the first day and wore pants for the rest of our trip(s).


Devil’s Waterhole was a blast to swim in, despite the creepy name!


Great when it isn’t a holiday!

I love to take my pups camping and this is a great place for it. The sites have plenty of amenities and are situated very close to Devils Waterhole.  Roughly 10 miles of hiking trails are nearby and plenty of water activities including fishing and boating.

Dog friendly!

I have gone tent camping a number of times at Ink's Lake. The campsites have always been of a good size with a fire ring, water, and bathrooms a short walk away.

I have often seen deer in the morning by my tent.

The hiking trails are ok. The best one is probably near the Devil's Watering Hole where you see waterfalls.

Swimming is great and there is a place near the Watering Hole where you can jump off rocks into deep water.

All in all, it's a great place to go to.

Beautiful Area

Kayaking, hiking, swimming, fishing, bouldering, cliff jumping, cabins, caving nearby, this park has it all. This is a destination park. I've camped here a couple times and come out for day trips numerous other times. Not as crowded as Enchanted Rock or Garner, but just as good!

Has it all

Spent 3 nights at Inks Lake from 8/3-8/6\. Got there right before dark on the first night and found the late check in process a bit confusing. Right now, Texas state parks don't assign or let you choose spots when you reserve so it's first come....When I got to Inks at about 730 pm, there was a sign in the lobby of the park headquarters that listed all the sites and said to pick any site that wasn't crossed off. Problem was, the sign was on the other side of the glass so folks couldn't cross off the site they chose. Wild goose chase led me to two sites that were already chosen. I finally picked an open site that I came upon and settled in. All the lake view spots were, of course, taken, so this shady spot was just fine. Site 72\. Nice and level. Water and 20/30/50 amp power. The water didn't work. The faucet was broken and spewed everywhere. I turned it way down, filled my fresh water tank, and turned it off.

Each site has an asphalt pad, water, electric. A picnic table, a lantern/garbage hook, and a grill/fire pit combo. The park has a general store where you can rent kayaks and paddle boats as well as borrow (for free) fishing gear. There is a very nice fishing pier and a cleaning house for those that wish to clean their catch. There is a boat launch by the store also. There's plenty of room for everyone in the lake to do whatever you like. There's even a swimming area called "Devils Watering Hole" where you can jump from the cliff into the lake. The park also has tent sites, adorable cabins and lots of day use space. Playgrounds keep the kids from causing misery back at the camp sites.

The patrons of the park were pleasant and well behaved. No rowdies after quiet hour. Friendly and helpful folks. The park staff was also peasNt and helpful. When I went up in the morning to do my check in (you go before 9am id[f you did a late check in), I told them about the faucet. By the time I got back to my site, the maintenance guys were there to fix it.

There is plenty of wild life to enjoy. Several trails to keep you occupied when you are tired of the water. Right down the road is Longhorn Caverns state park. Their general tour is 90 minutes of blissfully cool and very interesting cave tour. They also have an extreme tour that requires helmets and knee pads (they provide).

There are two wineries nearby for liesurely wine tastings. I enjoyed an excursion from Inks Lake to Longhorn Caverns and then stopped at one of the wineries on the way back.

The park, in general, was very clean and well maintained. Plenty of dumpsters and recycling bins for cans. My reason for subtracting a star is the state of the restroom/shower facilities. Ewwwwww! Now I know this park has heavy use. But with heavy use comes more money to spend on help. Clean those bathrooms, Texas! And while you are at it, toilet paper would be a nice touch. The showers were all out NASTY! Do not forget your shower flip flops, people. And do not drop anything on the floor while you are showering....gonna need a flame thrower to sterilize that nastiness!

in general, a fabulous long weekend and I will definitely go again. Can't wait for Texas to allow site specific booking starting in October of this year. Hint: #48.

oh. Wait. I forgot to mention....ants. Be prepared. They have the nasty varieties that show up suddenly, out of nowhere, and devour your dogs dinner before Fido can even whiff it with that finely tuned nose. And the fire ants at Inks are stealth. That's right. Stealth fire ants. No tell-tale mounds for these little bastards. No. You can't even find one if you looked all day. But suddenly, you are standing there and, POOF!, you are the next victim. I always say..."Texas will kill you" (but it's worth it). Btw, no snakes appeared during my stay.

Everything but the bathrooms

Ink's Lake State Park is a nice park to visit, but it is also a popular park. For it's size, it also has a lot of roads, which can make driving around a little confusing.

Over all, it is a pretty nice campground. All of the sites have at least water, a picnic table, and a fire ring. There are also sites you can reserve that have shelters. They also have many places for RVs. Some of the campsites can be a little rocky or have odd elevation.

At the store, you are able to rent canoes or kayaks to play around in. You can also buy wood and other things you may have forgotten.

The hiking is ok. Most of it is pretty flat, but walking along the lake or along the river offers some nice views. Along the river are a few waterfalls which are pretty.

The best swimming place is the Devil's Waterhole. There are some rocks on the far side that people climb up on to jump off of.

A good place to relax

I’ve camped here many times before. The park was created from the granite quarry used for the State Capitol. There are fishing piers and cleaning stations, kayak and paddle boat rentals. Staff is very friendly. Longhorn Cavern State Park is close by and really cool too.

Pink granite and awesome hiking trails

This state park has lots of activity including swimming, boating, hiking.  Sites are large.  Park hosts are all friendly and helpful

Very hard to make reservatIons for weekends but usually avaIlable dIrIng the week.



Sites on the Lake

i love it! there's so much to do! I can't wait to go back!

Awesome!

Inks Lake is a great place for a weekend get away. There is plenty of water activities (boating, fishing, kayaking, ect.) to go and do there. You can rent just about any kind of water related item or you can bring your own. The campsites are huge! Perfect for large groups of people. There are not that many hiking trails but the couple they have are fun hikes. They are not to long, a hour at the max.

Weekend Trip 

This beautiful state park offers many activities. The campground sits on the edge of inks lake, and there is ample opportunity to go fishing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, and swimming. There are lots of trails extending from the campgrounds in which you can make your way around the lake, and up river. there are fishing docks that you can use, and the camp store on site. The campsites are large enough for approximately 2 to 3 large tents. The only downside to this campground is that it is normally very populated during camping season. The water is beautiful and there are lots of different kinds of fish to catch.

Beautiful, lots to do, populated.

We love Inks Lake SP! Site 346 is the best because you have the whole peninsula to yourself! water on both sides which means it can get windy.

346 is the best site!

I could live here. We ended up at site 104 I think. right on the lake. It was fantastic. easy access to restroom and shower facilities as well as the trails.



Must Visit

Camp Store is great!!

You can rent canoes for a price.

Fishing poles are free to rent.

Bring your own firewood but if you don’t then there is a camp store to purchase what you need.

Staff is helpful and you can find them patrolling the area on golf carts.

A short hike to the waterfalls.

Watering hole is refreshing and clean. There is a cliff to jump into the water!! Bring an inner tube to float in the river. Also bring water shoes as the bottom of river is slippery mud. There are rocks around so be careful not to slip!

Family camping!  Very clean

My wife and kids just spent the past 3 days at Inks Lake and really enjoyed our time there. We took our 6 and 4 year old’s hiking on some of the trails they offer, and had a blast. They offered a daypack filled with pencils and sketch pads and activity books for my kids and added another fun thing to do on our hike. The employees at the general store are incredibly nice and happy to help out. We look forward to going back and trying out the more primitive camp sites they offer. 

Family Friendly Car Camping

The facilities at this park have recently been upgraded and they are very nice. A hot shower in cooler temperature was most welcome. We hiked around 4.5 miles, nothing too challenging but very Nice views of the lake.  This was our third trip to this park, we love it.

Inks Lake State Park November 2018

An hour and a half away from Austin, we found Inks Lake to be a quiet and relaxing camp area away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There are several sites set up across the state park. The more modern RV campgrounds nearest the designated safe swimming areas. And the more remote camp zones on the other side of the main entrance. We chose the more remote area, which was perfect! We were close to the water, it was dark and quiet, and the campsites are more spread out. We still had access to some very nice bathrooms a short walk away. 

Overall, close to civilization, yet far enough to enjoy nature. 

A Waterfront Camp Heaven

My Fiancé and I ended up going here on a whim &amp; loved it. We kayaked for a few hours &amp; hiked to get some views of the bluebonnets. Such a fun experience, we will definitely be going back. A lot of people were camping at the time because we went during spring break, but even with all the people it didn’t seem too crowded. The staff was friendly and helpful! 

So many things to enjoy!

This campground has lots to do - its best feature. As usual, sites are cramped, but there is a lovely lake and hiking.

Great for a Texas SP!

Very clean and well maintained grounds and facilities. Wherever you are in the park there are showers and restrooms nearby. Awesome cliffs to jump off of. Friendly and helpful park rangers/staff.

Absolutely gorgeous!

This state park, although not too big was great! There’s lots to do and see. Most importantly the staff here is great! They are very helpful and happy to be. The drive up campsites are awesome and come with two grills; one low to the ground for firewood and another for charcoal. There’s a park store with lots of things in case you forgot something, and the bathroom/showers are super clean! Highly recommend! 

The hiking trails are wonderful and easy to follow, with a few challenging ones. But the place has it all! Canoes, paddle boats, kayaks, fishing,swimming. Great park for beginner or amateur campers. As well as seasoned ones looking to relax.  

AMAZING EXPERIENCE

Had a great time, but when we went spring of 2018 there was a lot of construction for new bathrooms. I would assume the new bathrooms are complete now and very nice! 

New bathroom construction 

This is an absolute gem of a find in campgrounds.  The campground is spread out and large. All of the sites are separated by trees and foliage, so you get a sense of privacy.   The campground itself is extremely well-maintained and clean. The public restrooms and showers were all clean and nice. Talk about things to do, there are so many activities at Inks Lake State park!!  From fishing (from the many piers or the banks) canoeing (they have nice rentals, very reasonably priced)  hiking, boating, stand up paddle boarding, swimming, or simply chilling out in the lake on a tube.  The camper sites were really nice with all the hook-ups and a picnic table and a barbecue pit at each site.   Lots of hiking trails and this would be a birdwatchers dream.   The Texas wild flowers were blooming when we were there which made the hikes beautiful and the hikes are easy enough for small children to do without any problems.   The lake itself is clean  and it is partially rock bottom so the water is extremely clear. There is also a place called Devils hole at One end of the lake and it is a huge rock formation that people jump off of into the water because it is extremely deep in the area, even scuba divers dive down it is so clear.   I believe the park post told us it was an underground cave, which would make sense because the water was so clear.   You can’t go wrong with this campground but I would suggest booking early because it is extremely popular because of it’s many attractions. It didn’t disappoint!!  We will definitely be back many times.

Beautiful, LOTS to do, relaxing Texas Oasis

What could be better than camping lakeside during the summer?

Maybe camping lakeside in a teepee! I'll get to that later. 

**Campground Review:**

Some friends and I decided to go on a little camping trip this summer. 

I've found that it's always beneficial to camp near shade and water in the summer when temperatures are at a peak. I searched TheDyrt.com for a suitable campground. Once I found Inks Lake State Park, I realized that we could camp near the lake and have easy access to the water. I searched around a little bit until I found what I thought might be the perfect campsite - site #304. Unfortunately #304 was reserved, but #303 was available. The site offered shade and access to the water. Done.

We set out for the park after work on a Friday. We stopped along the way to have dinner in the town of Burnet at a cool little cafe called Bill's Burgers, Wings and Things. The food was great and the atmosphere was festive. If you need to pick up supplies or groceries, there are supermarkets in the town of Burnet.

We arrived at our campsite somewhat late at 7:30pm, so we quickly set up camp. 

Inks Lake State Park is a nice park nestled in the hill country of Texas. It is a short one hour drive from Austin. The park has a variety of facilities and activities for just about everyone. The main attractions of this park are the lake, the hiking trails and the Devil's Waterhole. From our campsite we could access the lake for paddling or fishing. We could also access the hiking trail that passes around the lake. There were brand new bathroom facilities at the park and they were some of the nicest bathrooms that I've ever seen at a campground. 

We went for a hike on one of the trails. There are some unique rock formations in the park called gneiss. While hiking among the gneiss it feels like you're on another planet. 

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the cove within the park called the Devil's Waterhole. We brought tubes to float in and chill in the water. I’ve always found that this is the best way to beat the heat in the summer. There is one side of the cove in which people climb the banks up to a rock outcropping to jump into the water below. There are some outcroppings 10 feet above the water, 20 feet and 30 feet. I jumped off the 20 foot high cliff and touched the bottom, so I didn't jump off the 30 feet cliff. It is fun jumping and it is entertaining watching others jump.

There's a little of something for everyone at Inks Lake State Park.

**Product Review of Wenzel's Shenanigan 5 Teepee Tent** 

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I am provided products to test. For this outing I was provided a Wenzel Shenanigan 5 Teepee Tent. Weeeeeee!

For more info: [https://wenzelco.com/shenanigan-5/](https://wenzelco.com/shenanigan-5/)

We arrived at our campground somewhat late in the evening at 7:30pm. Luckily we were able to quickly and easily set up our new Wenzel Shenanigan teepee tent. 

Basically, all we had to do was to find a flat clear area, spread out the tent, stake in the 6 stakes and then place on end of the included pole into the top of the tent and the bottom of the pole into a fastener in the bottom of the tent. And the tent was ready. 

I'd say that this is one of the best features of this tent - it is so easy to setup. 

Another benefit is that it is so fun. Weeeeee. Who wouldn't want to hangout in a teepee tent? The tent is available in your choice of two color patterns - blue or red. I chose the blue. It makes we want to smile every time that I see it.

The tent is a single wall tent. I believe that the material is treated for weather protection, but I wouldn't say that it is built for extreme rain or weather. It does have some nice ventilation options with a vented door, 3 windows, 2 ceiling vents and 2 floor vents. 

In the middle of summer in the middle of the day, this is a cool and fun place to chill.

The Shenanigan 5 tent is specified as a 5 person tent. However, like most tents the specified number is probably optimistic. Perhaps 2 adults and 3 children would fit inside. We found that there was plenty of room for 3 adults and gear.

I'd say that the pros of this tent are: 1. it is just so much fun. 2. it is easy to setup. 3. it is reasonably priced. 4. the color patterns are cool. 5. even tall people can stand up in this tent. 6. kids of all ages will love it.

I'd say the cons of this tent are: 1. not designed for extreme weather. 2. the side walls do limit shoulder space. 3. I prefer door entrances with one continuous zipper instead of three separate zippers. 

In summary, I'm pretty happy with the tent. I plan to use it for car camping weekends, as a shade tent for day outings and maybe even for fun times in the backyard.

Ranger Review: Wenzel Shenanigan 5 Teepee Tent at Inks Lake State Park

Great shade and easy walk 2 minute walk to facilities.   On a horseshoe loop with privacy from other sites.  Electricity and water at site and facilities are very clean.  The site backs up to a small creek so I can see mosquito issues when raining but it was dry when we camped with no real issues.

Inks Lake site #81

We were able to get a camp site side by side with our son and family. This was an awesome camp site and camp grounds! We saw a few deer also rented a double kayak and canoe to paddle to the Devils waterhole. This is a must do if you camp there. It was July in Texas so hit was extremely hot, but still had a great time! 

Devils Waterhole

Definitely a top 5 park of mine. Plenty of hiking and swiming. They have kayak and canoe rentals. They have a boat ramp and hundreds of campsites. Newly renovated bathrooms are also a nice touch.

Top Quality Park!

It was my first time camping with my girlfriend and I really enjoyed Inks Lake State Park!

Outdoor Camping

My wife, kids, dogs and I went out to Inks Lake and we stayed in site 345, in the tent only sites.  It was a great sire that backed right up on the lake.  We had a natural split level site with a clearing towards the lake that allowed us a great spot for me to set up our Bonfire Solo Stove.  There was enough room to set up our Kingdom 6 REI tent, which is a 2 room 6 man tent, along with 2 hammock.  We were on a small loop that allowed our kids (8 and 6) to have some room to roam, and we were just a 50 yard walk from the fishing dock and one of Texas State Parks newly renovated bathrooms.  I would recommend this site and park to anyone.  We were bummed we were able to to down the street to Lonnghorn Cavern, because some bad weather came in and we had too leave early.

Might have been the best site we've been in

Most have shade, good fishing, clean restrooms

Hill Country 

We went there in early April while the weather was still cool.  My husband enjoyed the fishing while I took photos in my walks.  We plan to go back as soon as they open the state parks again.  These is what we liked: large enough that the campgrounds were private, clean showers, lots of geese and other birds and good fishing.  

Great Park

Amazing views and facilities. The devils waterhole is a must! 

Great for water lovers 

inks lake state park .
I have to admit this Time of the year 6/15/2020 it’s hot over here, but it’s one of the most fun looking lakes, you could go swimming jumping off cliffs , kayaking ,boating , hiking, or you can get in a tube and watch everybody jump off the Clift. 
$23 night. AT&amp;T 2-3 bars .
T-mobil 0 bars
better reserve, I was able to only get one day.

I really like this place

Inks Lake SP is gorgeous, regardless of the time of year! The stone outcrops and cliffs are great for hiking. Sites aren’t quite as private as other state parks we’ve been to, but nice nonetheless. Longhorn Caverns is just a short drive up the road - like a 2-fer. :) 

Beautiful hill country park

Wow! What a beautiful state park! This place is MASSIVE with a large portion it campsites being right on the lake. The reservation site shows you each spot with pictures so look around to try and find the best spot. There is hiking, primitive camping, swimming hole, pier, boating and kayak rentals (not during Covid though). There is VERY limited cell connection supposedly Verizon does okay, but our Google Fi service was in and out. There is public WiFi at certain spots on the park but it's not the fastest. Nice bathrooms in each loop with hot showers and toilets. Sites can have electric or water or both and we're nicely spaced out from each other. We suggest visiting Devil's waterhole it was super fun jumping off the rock! 

Wonderful state park with beautiful views

If you are looking for a campground to stay where you can enjoy some time in the water, then Inks Lake is perfect. Watch the video I posted and it will give you an idea of the activities this park has to offer. This is a great park to visit during the summer months because of all the water activities available at the lake. 

  

They have kayaks and canoes for rent(except during COVID), and there is also cliff jumping at Devils Waterhole. Of course, if you don’t want to jump you can always float in a tube and just watch other people do belly flops. 

  

There are SOOO many campsites available. From tent sites to RV sites and even some lakefront cabins you can rent. This campground has a lot of sites that back up to the lake. But even if you don’t get one of those sites, all the sites have easy access to the lake. 

  

We stayed at site number 42. The campsites on this loop are pretty well spaced, but there aren’t many trees separating the sites so you can see everything your neighbor is doing. So, not the most private of sites. I’m not sure about the privacy of other loops, but the lack of barriers didn’t bother us too much. This loop worked well for us because it is within walking distance of the bathrooms, a playground as well as the park store where you go for rentals. They also have a fishing pier on the backside of the rental shop.\*\*\*BTW, the bathrooms were recently renovated so they are super nice and clean. 

  

And as an added bonus...you get 2 state parks in one. What I mean is that Longhorn Cavern State Park is also nearby. There’s no camping there, but they have guided tours that teach you all about how the caves were formed by the river and constructed by the CCC. Since we are a homeschooling family, we appreciate any chance to get hands-on learning during our camping trips. There is no park entrance fee, but the guided tour is$18 for 12&amp; up and$10 for kids. 

  

We had a great time at this park, and we would probably put in our top 10 in Texas simply because we like all the lake activities.

Perfect lake for summer camping location...and there’s a cave nearby

Tent Camped 28JUL, 1 night. Even at half capacity the park was humming.  Camp store/marina onsite. Got 10 miles of hikes in as well as a great sunset and sunrise (all from the fishing pier.  Site 224 had amazing trees and was close to the bathrooms &amp; the Devil’s watering hole without feeling cramped.  Definitely camping here again this fall. 

Great water, great hikes, great sites

Catching up on my reviews…Inks Lake SP is a superb park about 40 minutes from Austin in the Texas Hill Country.  Great lake with a large no wake zone in one area that makes it very family friendly and paddler friendly.  There are sites away from the NWZ that allow you to ski/tube right from your campsite.  Great choice of flat, easy access spots.  Tent-only spots with only water are available as-well.   Decent hiking and easy biking around the park is available.  The area around Devil's Hole is great for floating about and jumping from the rocks.  Just wish that folks would clean up after themselves better.  Great camp store with lots of products.  Lake was lowered in 2019 to update the docks and boat ramps (very nice now), lake is back to normal seasonal levels.  ILSP is close to Austin, so it stays busy during the season, so reserve well ahead of time.  No Wifi at the campsites, but decent mobile reception (ATT).  30/50 amp and water at most sites.  Fire ring and table on concrete pads at all sites.  Tables are not covered, however.  I've been told that there is Wifi available at the camp store, but I cannot personally verify that.

Great getaway in Texas Hill Country - May 2018

Inks Lake state park is a beautiful picturesque park with amazing fews and some of the best campsites in the area. The sites are well spaced with vegetation between most. There is developed tent pads and tables on slabs at each site. Ours also had water. We were lucky enough to get a site right at the waters edge with a nice personal small beach with clean waters all the way to the shore. The bath houses were well maintained and they have firewood vending machines at several stations throughout the campgrounds. They also have small concrete cabins to rent. The area around the devils watering hole is beautiful with high cliffs and a beautiful calm lake below. Several people were jumping off cliffs and scuba diving in the area. It is a no wake zone for any boaters. The trails in the area also provide more amazing views. The staff in the store were very polite and helpful. They have canoe rentals but, we were unable to do so due to covid. Overall highly recommended we will be visiting more in the future.

Diamond in the Ruff

We came to this park with the plan of floating in the water for a few hours, showering, then hiking to a backcountry/primitive tent site. Water was great - ventured out at the furthest cove you can get to from the park water access and walked around and saw a water moccasin! Showers were fine (couldn't get the warm water to work but not a huge deal). 

The walk to our primitive site was fun and challenging - rockier than expected and it was a welcome sight to us. We also got to see some deer! The site itself was amazing. Great shade coverage (site D Pecan Flats Trail), and had a raccoon visitor who we caught red handed trying to sneak up on us! the day was warm but still got a bit chilly in the evening (October). Overall, great water activities and camping!

Great camping and hang out

We planned a trip with friends over the New Year break to Inks Lake State Park. My husband and I rented a camper from [RVShare.com](http://www.rvshare.com) (We absolutely love using this site!) and had it delivered there. Booking the site through the [ReserveAmerica.com](http://www.reserveamerica.com) app was super easy and we also used it to book our day passes to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. The first 2 days of our trip was super wet and cold, even had snow flurries one night, so we spent it inside the camper hanging out in the warmth! Once the weather cleared on the 3rd day, it was still cold but sunny and beautiful! We ventured out around the lake taking pictures and scouting out the trails. We made it over to the Devil’s Waterhole which is a“can’t miss” feature at ILSP!!! What a gorgeous place! This is where some of our goofy family members decided to take the“polar bear plunge” into the frigid(54 degree) waters below. Clear water and beautiful scenery everywhere we went. The park was super clean and the staff and park rangers were very friendly and polite. We used the shower/restroom facilities on-site instead of our trailer for our longer showers and“longer” restroom breaks. They were really clean and spacious; nicely heated with abundant hot water. The lake is gorgeous with clear water and wildlife everywhere. We were able to get firewood, ice, and odds and ends from the general store on-site. We even decided to purchase/pickup our Texas State Parks pass here! We can’t wait to visit again in warmer weather!

Beautiful hill country lake!

We love this campground year around but it's especially fun in the summer because of the lake activities. Bring a kayak or tube and just float! There's also a winery nearby. It's tough to get a reservation here, you need to book way in advanced. The showers are brand new family style, they have a general store by the boat ramp, it's a good place to be one with nature, quiet if you get good neighbors, and the sites are pretty well spaced out.

Good camping year round

Last time been there Mar 5-7 for 2 nights. Water level in the lake is full, from the Devil's backbone trail seen a bunch of huge (2-3 feet) fish, probably carp or bass. Regretted I didn't take my kayak and a fishing gear! There is huge amount of waterfowl, including large geese and ducks, a lot of annoying squirrels as well ;)

That time park was open 75% as per the rangers, but I hope it is now 100% after the Mar-10. The only downside they don't have a full hookup sites so if you are staying longer than a couple of nights in your RV, be prepared to travel to a dump station every other day or so. On an opposite side the newly built (and renovated) restrooms with showers are top notch! Way better that a 4-star hotel, seriously! Very clean and well maintained! Overall the park is very well maintained! There is a number of cabins along the lake just across the marina and the gift shop. There is also option to rent a kayak or a canoe, but it was closed due to CCP virus.

Great park by the beautiful Inks Lake!

This review is for Inks Lake State Park, it is my absolute favorite state park in Texas. It has beautiful shoreline sites, but you also have nice trees for shade. If you get a site on the water you can usually launch your kayak right from your site. My husband and I love kayaking back to the Devils Water hole. The granite outcroppings are so pretty, and you always see lots of turtles. There are lots of really pretty hiking trails, and we like to ride our bikes around all the different loops in the park. You can’t beat the beautiful sunsets in the evening.

Inks Lake State Park

First primitive camping trip and was lucky to get the last camping spot available for a holiday weekend. The area of the state park where the primitive camping is is very quiet, about 2 miles walk away from the RV and cabin camping. So not much traffic near our spot. The site was cleared well and had several areas to choose from to put up our 2 person tent. We were near a compost restroom, which I always prefer if available. It was amazingly clean and well maintained (except for the trash can, which didn’t have a lid— critters enjoyed some midnight snacks. We ended up storing it inside the restroom itself on night two to save us the noise). 

Beautiful Park, well maintained

We loved Inks and will definitely return. The park was clean, the bathrooms were well maintained and the staff was really helpful.  No issues..everyone minded their business.  We always like to leave the place better than we found it and there was not alot of trash.  Lots of good hiking trails and photo opportunities

Wonderful place to camp and hike

Sites were isolated, though we could still somewhat see our neighbors. Ground was even. Favorite part of the site was definitely the hike out. 

Primitive Site hike is beautiful 

I’ve stayed here lots of times in tent sites, RV sites, and the cabins. I like them all and especially love the hikes and swimming.

Probably my favorite park for a quick trip

This is one of my favorite State parks. The water sites are so beautiful and the sunsets are amazing. We love kayaking over to Devils waterin’ Hole. There are also a lot of beautiful hiking trails that go up and around the granite out droppings. My favorite time to visit is the spring when the bluebonnets are blooming.

One of my favorite State Parks

September 2021

We took our first trip to Inks this week, camping there Sunday through Wednesday.  We got lucky that the temperatures those days dipped into the high 80s for us, as they had been in the mid to high 90s for months. When we arrived we were told that the spot we reserved wasn’t available, because the folks that had been staying there had abandoned their trailer and could not be located or contacted.

So we nervously trekked to an alternate site they awarded us to see what we were in for.  The site was a waterfront site like the one we had originally requested, but wasn’t as isolated. The sites with power and water in this park are closer together than the ones at Pedernales, and Guadalupe State Parks where we stayed at earlier this summer. We had to get used to a little less privacy here.  Some folks like mingling with the neighbors. That’s not us too much.

At first I was a little disappointed. The Powered sites didn’t seem to have the shade, scenery, and privacy of other parks.  There were non-powered sites that offered this.  There were some ugly-looking cabins within site of us as well, and playgrounds for children down the street, none of which is our thing. However, if you have kids, it’s great. The playgrounds were nicely kept. In fact, the whole park appeared very well managed, and clean, including the bathrooms, and shower, though we wish these had a lock for more privacy like some of the other parks offer. 

We had a nice big Oak tree on our site, and that of course is where  we set up. We have a mobile set up of a couple of chairs, fans, and lightweight table that enable us to move around under a shady tree that big all day following the shade.  Once the trailer was situated, and we were finally cooled off and sedentary drinking a cold beer, it started to dawn on me why this park is so cool – it is called Inks ‘Lake’ after all  - is the huge beautiful lake we were sitting in front of.  

The lake is gorgeous, and you can take advantage of it in many ways here. Jet skiing, boating, swimming, canoeing, and fishing were all going on. You can rent fishing gear, and canoes there, and I don’t believe you need a license for fishing. They have nice fishing peers you can fish off of, or you can cast from a boat, or your camping site if you’re on the water. We’re not in to any of that. We just like sitting by the water with a book, cold beer, painting rocks, and watching the squirrels, and ducks parading through water, air, and right through our camp.  (see pics)

 We were even visited by a couple of skunks while we were there, which was a first for me. All the animals are really tame because of their ongoing proximity to people, and I guess that’s why the skunks didn’t spray when I shewed them off.  They, and the squirrels will be in your trash the minute you’re gone from the site, so be sure to hang up your trash bags if you leave the site even for an errand. These little creatures are just waiting for you leave. When I caught them in the trash 2 different times, they just looked up at me like, ‘What’?, before slowly walking off.  They aren’t scared. 

 Day 2 started with smoking some incense, making coffee, and starting Terence McKenna’s ‘Food of the Gods’. Erika started feeling her camping groove while doing early morning jigs to music we were playing while she prepped yummy breakfast tacos for us; nothing like the smell of bacon and refried beans in the skillet.  We painted rocks, read, and enjoyed some family drama by phone that afternoon, while I slow-cooked a giant Dino rib all day for dinner. We brought the Weber grill with us this time for this. 

 Speaking of phones. There was no cell service for us for wi-fi, but we were able to send non-pic text messages, and make and receive phone calls. We have Sprint, but were told by some folks we met there that their Verizon phones had no issues. 

 That night we enjoyed our rib, and Queso, an mushrooms we made on the grill while jamming out to our tunes while debating the differences and merits of Stevie Ray Vaughn vs. Jimi Hendrix.  One set of our neighbors enjoyed our music, and requested the Rolling Stones to which we obliged. The other set of stuffy neighbors abandoned their trailer to go visit another while leaving a big outdoor tv they had on to Fox news to blare all night. Bring your own entertainment to block this out.  

 Day 3 found me making Erika jump through playful hoops to coax me out of bed to go bike riding. In summer Texas heat, you’re smart to make sure you have heavy physical exertion activities over by 11 am if you don’t want to invite extreme sweat, and heat stroke.  We headed out on our e-bikes and explored the whole park. It was a beautiful morning for riding. 

 We met some nice folks on the way, and chatted with them awhile before scoping out all of the different kinds of campsites that are there. Make sure you take a good look at the Park Map for what kind of site you want. There is something for everybody here, but the powered sites are a little on top of each other except for a few. The non-powered sites have a lot more privacy, and shade in many instances. 

 We rode our bikes all the way down to the pretty vista offered at Devils Waterhole. You can climb rocks there to get to high-up vistas, and a cliff you can jump from to go swimming if that’s your thing.  We then rode to a couple of fishing piers with gorgeous views of the lake where we had a romantic pair of ducks make a dramatic exit from the water to get airborne and proceed to fly right over our heads on the pier to the point we had to duck to get under them - no pun intended.  

There are no formal bike trails in the park. We just rode on the roads, and rode the walking path down to Devil’s Waterhole.

We came back to camp where Erika made a delicious cheese and cracker plate. We then napped, got up and chased shade around the big oak tree the rest of the afternoon.  We made a nice fire that night, and grilled carrots, chicken thighs, and corn on the cob.  There was a glowing full moon that gently lit the lake, and we talked until we were too tired to and called it a night.

Chasing Shade at Inks Lake

This state park has it all. Tent, cabin, rv camping, kayaking, fishing, and swimming. The cabins are great. This state park has some if the nicest restroom/showers and everything is always clean. 

Lots to do

Wow this park is beautiful! Huge lake with beautiful scenery. It was very quiet and peaceful. A nice escape from our daily lives. The only reason im not rating it 5 right now because the trails were closed due to them having a hunt which we were unaware of before we made the reservation. Despite this inconvenience, we have been walking the grounds where the campsites are and its very nice. We have two young kids and they enjoyed going fishing and walking around. Will have to come back in the summer to go swim and jump off the cliffs.  

Peaceful

Inks lake has some unique and picturesque hiking, about 10 ish miles in total. The lake itself is beautiful but when we were there in March 2022 it had much more algae than I've seen there before. It's a nice swimming hole if the algae subsides. The campsites were spacious although in some spots it was almost like 2 sites were paired together and you definitely would want to know your neighbor. The park gets high visitation on the weekends so be prepared for a packed house!

Large number of campsites, beautiful hiking

We visited in Dec 2021.  The campground holds a Christmas light contest in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  Very popular park.

Scenic park, good hiking

On a motorcycle road trip with my dad and we decided to spend a night here.  It was a weeknight so there were available sites upon arrival. I’d recommend reserving in advance just in case. I hadn’t ever really considered staying at the lake until we saw that it was near us on our trip. The park is huge. They have a playground, fishing piers, snow cone stands, and so much more that I probably didn’t even notice. We stayed on site 346 which is on the far tip of the park on a peninsula. Had the whole peninsula to ourselves. Best site! At the other end of the park is a great swimming area with cliffs of all heights to jump from. 

Perfect lake

Inks Lake SP

Visited with many friends here. BIG campground! I like how you have easy access to the lake from many of the camp sites. There’s also a boat ramp near the camp store with rentals available. 
The showerhouses were VERY nice! Modern, well maintained and HEATED! Yeah! There were a few showers that needed some adjustments, cold water only. 
Nice group picnic area near the cabins and the playground with food truck (wasn’t open when we visited). The Rangers had an interesting Cowboy Coffee demonstration there. 
The sites were separated into several loops, most convenient to the several different showerhouses. Some of the sites were more secluded then others but all were good size with picnic table and room for tents and possibly hammocks. 
Near the front gate/Ranger office there is an amphitheater for demonstrations/presentations and near the camp store there was a nice, covered picnic pavilion by reservation. 
Burnet, TX and Longhorn Cavern State Park are nearby. 

Winter at the Lake

Camped here this weekend and it was enjoyable! Plenty of amenities, including restrooms with showers, a general store, and firewood vending machines (which were all empty, but still cool!)

Tent camping lot was near the restrooms but booked too late to be on the water. Staff was friendly and helpful! Definitely planning to return. 

Great RV park with tent camping and amenities 

Absolutely fun! We stayed for one night but wished we stayed a couple more! Went kayaking and fishing. Definitely recommending to friends! 

Beautiful 

We arrived in the heat of the day. Briefly parked next to the pop up to unload the heavy coolers since we were overheated. Within minutes we were “greeted” by a park ranger issuing a warning for a citation if we didn’t immediately move the truck back on the pavement. Also this park sits next to the highway so there was a constant influx of sirens and traffic taking away from the peaceful setting we were hoping for. Other than that it has beautiful scenery 

Not very welcoming 

I stayed here one night on my way back to Dallas after viewing the eclipse in south Texas.

Beautiful State Park

Inks Lake SP:  The campground is okay.  Get a site that has a water view.  The hiking was great.  
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer.)
Overall Rating:  Campground only a 3.5 for the campground layout. If you like hiking, then bump up to a 4.5. Amazing 
Security:  Locked gate in the evening 
Usage during visit: Very  full over the nice weekend. Less during the week. 
Site Privacy:  None.  
Site Spacing:  Close. 
Pad surface:  Blacktop 
Reservations:   Yes
Campground Noise:   Pretty quiet even when full. 
Road Noise:  None
Through Traffic in campground:    No
Electric Hookup:  Yes
Sewer Hookup:  No
Dump Station:  Very nice one.  
Potable Water Available: At the site. 
Bathroom:  Clean flush toilets
Showers:  Clean and private. 
Pull Throughs: Some
Cell Service (AT&amp;T): 2 bars. 
Setting: Under open wooded area along Inks Lake
Recent Weather: We had a tornado warning and fierce thunderstorm while there. 
Rig Size: Some sites handle large rigs 
Sites: See pics for some sites I thought were better than many.  I did not evaluate the entire cg.  218 is not a water view, but private 

Fabulous Fishing and Great Hiking

Stayed in mid March, site 62. Nice site with lots of tree cover. Only downside was the multiple squirrels that drove our dogs nuts. Hiking trails are very well maintained, and there’s plenty variety in difficulty level / length. We’ve never seen so many wildflowers, especially bluebonnets. The display was stunning. Facilities at the park were very clean, and it really has everything that you need.