We had a great time here! We opted for the guided "behind the scenes" tour and we were so glad we did. We had a shuttle ride to the top of the gorge with a fantastic view of the lake. That's where we started the tour with some great dinosaur fossil prints. From there, we had a great hike down to the bottom of the gorge with some fantastic views of wildlife and the gorge. I think this is one of the best family oriented tours we've seen. There's plenty of history and views for everyone as long as they can hike it on their own! There was a family hiking with us that had ages from probably 8 up to maybe 70. The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and it was worth every minute!!

About an hour driving from Austin, Overlook Park consists of a short trail that lead to a "beach". Even though that's not a real beach, you can still enjoy sunbathing, fishing, swimming, and even canoeing or taking tons of pretty photo shoots here. That's such a great place to get fresh air and refresh yourself. There's also a grass field right next to the parking which is a nice place for picnic and photos of nature. The "beach" was sort of crowded when I was there since it's summer, so I spent most of my time there to take photos around the grass field instead. The flowers were great for portraits. Restrooms are located around the parking lot, make sure you have some paper lol The dam is opened. I heard that's a nice view of sunset but I was leaving too early that day unfortunately. Definitely come back for the dam some days. Recommended.

One of my favorite places to walk and watch the sunset! I wish visitors would be more mindful of their trash and litter, especially along the lake coastline as you walk around the lake edges. It's simple, take your trash when you leave!!

Great place with a lot of Beauty to absorb. Relaxing and entertaining. Not every day you get to hike across a dam.

Views are amazing. It's must visit place. You will not be let down. Perfect for a long walk and also has a walking trail. Will be back soon to bring the family.

BEAUTIFUL Area with the Dam Walk and nice benches underneath the Trees to overlook the entire Canyon Lake from this Higher Place!!! Very Romantic for a nice GETAWAY for young Lovers , old Lovers😉and for a Family with Kids, Dogs and Friends!!.. The Beach Access is right at the Food of this Park and close to the Dam!!.. Clear nice fresh Water and if you like swimming, kayaking and Paddle Boards or any other Water Sports , this is just a Paradise for every Ages!!!... Pack your Baskets or Coolers, but always clean after your Picnic to leave it Beautiful for the next VISIT 🙂😁!!

The hike down to the water was everything I remember it being. The slippery rocks, the clear beautiful cool water- I love this place. The hike back up w/ a baby on one hip & bags weighing me down, was a bit much. I'm sure I'll feel the burn tom. I love it here.

A beautiful sunset place by water near San Antonio. They have limited parking so they may close gate early on popular days and especially summer. Come in with boats, tubes, tents, and enjoy a beautiful time with friends family and kids. Also, there is backwater trail and you can enter the water and enjoy tubing. There is RV park by the dam.

Beautiful stop while in the area!! Glad I found it to get it and stretch and take some pictures. ‐The ladies bathroom was a little creepy due to the light being placed outside of the stall, which made it dark and ominous near the toilet. But hey... it was still a bathroom. The views from the different stops along the road are all beautiful. The walk along the dam is also 100 percent worth it, as long as it's not super windy.

Nice place to visit on a good weather day. There are some very small hiking trails. It's one of those few places where you can walk on the dam. It's scenic during spring as the terrain offers beautiful spring flowers. There's some seating but couldn't find any BBQ or picnic spots.

This park is absolutely amazing on many levels. Well maintained and gorgeous trees on the east side is the view of the lake that is better than the Oasis on Lake Travis. Always free always free and a perfect spot for families or couples. The children love it and you can see the entire panorama of Canyon Lake. Everyone is always happy there and there is a special feeling about the place of freedom. It truly makes it a joy to be an American and to have such special peaceful and accessible spots for the ones you love. Often views of sailboats and skiers in front of the backdrop of a glorious Hill country sunset with beautiful Cascades of Guadalupe hills rolling into the lake. The park is well maintained and safe. Parking is sometimes a walk because it is such a popular location for everyone from college students to children and senior citizens walking along the dam for exercise. The spot is truly a joy that should be embraced by everyone in Central Texas. To the east you have a view of the gorgeous Canyon valley and the activity below on the river. Oftentimes you will see fly fisherman in the river which is remarkable for the ambiance of Central Texas and quite a pleasant surprise. Put this location on your list for a beautiful spring day and make some memories with your family!

So beautiful. Guess it gets packed on the weekends but we came for the weekday vacation and it was pretty reasonable until 5pm when people got off work i guess. Beautiful and the kids had fun. Need to "hike in" not something I would do when my knee is hurting but we made it in and out with no issues and a 7 year old who had never navigated "hill country" terrain before.

This park is awesome, down side is you have to be prepared to walk downhill and walk uphill when leaving. The park entrance is free, but I recommend you arrive early if you want to get good parking spots because it does get filled around 11am-3pm. Make sure you bring a canopy, camping chairs, and a cooler with refreshments because it does get really hot and there’s hardly good shading areas. If you do come prepare you’ll absolutely enjoy it, the water is very clear and they have great spot for pictures!

Crystal clear water in the heart of Texas.... 1. ample parking spots 2. does not require reservations 3. You can get your kayaks and floats to chill in this lake or the Guadalupe river close by. 4. People can bring their own boats.

Very beautiful park. Great view of the lake. It's just a very exhausting walk up and down if you want to go swim haha but it's definitely worth it! The water is so nice and beautiful.

I always enjoy coming here in the cooler months. It's clean and has lots of trails to explore and not crowded. It does make me sad to see the water level so low.

I could not have chosen a better place to sight see the sunset. My kids had a good hour in the water which was nice and clear. Only downside of this, is the up and down climbing we had to do to get there. I had a toddler and had to carry her up and down. It was truly a workout! Again, beautiful sunset though!! You also have the option to walk across a wall to see the lake!! We didn’t go there cause my kids wanted to get on the water.. Beautiful place for picture!!

An amazing place to visit with friends and family. The lake is free to visit and has a nice dam to walk on and take beautiful shots. The lake is clean and perfect for relaxing and enjoying the water.

Easily the best lake in Texas. The water is clean and blue. The water is perfect temp. And the edge cliffs are very california/Hawaii like. Great place for the dogs. Only thing is there is almost no shade anywhere so bring an umbrella cause the sun is aggressive on this lake

Awesome place!!!! The water was refreshing and easy to hangout on the rock ledge. The rocks is slippery so be careful going in and out of the water. The kids had a lot of fun jumping from the rocks into the deep clear water. What a fun place. There is a younger crowd that were drinking and playing their music. Nothing wrong just making mention. There also was people fishing on the rock ledge. Bring your own toilet paper. There wasn't any in the women's bathroom. There's also no shade so be prepared for that.

Great place to hike and enjoy the view of Canyon lake. Even when there's more activity of fellow hikers it's still a pretty place to sit on one of the several benches and just take in the fresh air and views

Very nice and beautiful place. Worth going to check it out. Free parking!

Super nice views. Get a guided tour of 2002 flood created Canyon Lake Gorge. $20 for 3 hours of geological history

Peaceful. Dogs on leashes. Friendly people. Great walk. Beautiful lake.

My husband and I just wanted to get away from San Marcos a bit and do something different. Instead of going tubing down the river and just enjoy ourselves at the lake. The water was wonderful. It was so nice to see people out and enjoying themselves. Having fun boating to jet skiing in the water. Hopefully next time we can get out on the boat.

This is a wonderful spot to take a refreshing dip in the lake. You will need a nice pair of water shoes or hiking sandals for the hike down to the water (and back up). Definitely recommend bringing goggles if you like to mingle with the fish and a tube to float and hang out.

Beautiful scene from atop Overlook park. The best seat in the house has overgrown trees blocking the view. The park closes at dusk but is free to access during the day. Many people enjoy strolling across the damn while everyone else heads to the water down below. Be prepared for a good climb back up.

Been coming here for ~15 years and it is just as beautiful and serene as I remember. The water is clean, clear, and cool, but beware of the steep drop off! This park is especially great for the secluded areas, spectacular views, and fun hike to and from the "beach". There were even people scuba diving the last time I went!

10-16-21 Visited Canyon Lake Dam, beautiful views of the hill country & lake, along with an amazing sunset. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. Thank You for taking time to read this review, Please give me a Thumbs Up, and Follow Me on my Google Reviews

What a gorgeous lake with white sand! You may see the beauty of surrounding areas from different angles: dam walking, city overlooking, tree shadowing lake view. It was windy and cold on the dam but worth the walking.

This is a free park with nature trails, covered picnic areas, tables and access to the lake down by the Canyon Lake Dam. One of the best things about this park is the view of the lake and surrounding Hillcountry. There is only one bathroom per sex Male/Female, so try to use the bathroom at home, before you come here. The picture is of us on the walkway on top of the Canyon Lake Dam. Beautiful views from this walkway!

We found this while looking for a great place to let our service dog play in the water and also cool off. Nice shirt who down to the water, lots of area to spread out with others enjoying the water as well. We could tell the water was lower than normal because of the drought, but we really enjoyed it all the same! Remi really loved her swim!

Great View from the top. We can walk on the Dam which is awesome. Had no trouble finding parking.

Great view . Good access

Perfect spot for the whole family

Beautiful park

Nice walk

Love to sit and watch sunset here while having a picnic w the kiddos

Such a nice place. Came here when it was cold and recently as it got hotter. Definitely better to do when it’s cold in my opinion. The only con is parking… there is not nearly enough parking and the cars go all the way to the highway. Not an enjoyable walk uphill in 100 degree weather. Otherwise, the lake is beautiful and so was the dam.

Crowded but it was a Saturday. Get there early and be prepared for a hike. Bring your cooler, bring your dogs, and bring your gear... it's not easily accessible but it is very nice. Just be ready... it's not park and play.

Great place to check out if you never been

Fabulous walk and view of Lake and surrounding hills and valley.

Make sure you walk the dam. It was a perfect length and then walk down to the waters edge. You can also walk around the corner for a rocky view of the shoreline.

Its a beautiful little hike down to the lake. But there are always tons of people, and the restrooms are always completely disgusting.

Beautiful park with lots of green and water. It was a great walk across the dam and there were easy trails with many different birds.

Long calm walk. Beautiful view. Can't wait to go back.

A nice spot by the dam to view Canyon Lake in Canyon Lake, Texas. We stopped by around 4:30 pm on a breezy, cold Sunday in March. The west sun sparked on the water and families enjoying a late afternoon stroll. We walked the path down to the water's edge. There are several paths you can take. Some are more rocky than others.

We wanted to visit the lake in Canyon Lake, but wanted to do a free activity. So we just walked along the dam and back. Then we hiked down to the lake along a trail right by the dam and then hiked back up along a different trail, but one that let out right where we parked. Very steep trails though. There are nice views of the lake from the parking spot too. We parked like a 5 min walk away from the dam because the closest spots were all taken, but we didn't have trouble finding parking. The restroom here is by the parking but is not recommended.

This is a great spot for a walk. The view from the dam is spectacular. The walk along the shoreline has lots of spots to enjoy the lake. The hike back up is steep in the area near the spillway.

Great walk on a beautiful dam! If you want to clear your head for a bit, go on a walk here or play on the beach down the way! The water is amazing!

Our family loved walking the dam and relaxing on the beach front. Highly recommend this beautiful area

One of the best views of Canyon Lake overall, hiking trails are nice and water is clear. Summer sunsets are the best.

Beautiful trail leads to a gorgeous Canyon Lake. Worth the trip to view the serene beauty

Visitors center is still closed but the overlook and the dam are open for visitors. The road/path along the top of the dam is a great place for a walk with a nice view of the lake and the river below the dam. It's a good outing and we are looking forward to getting back up there soon.

Great views!

Best place for sunrise and sunset, such a calm and serene one....

Wow, nice place. Thr suites get crowded but next time I am getting the private lake house next time going there. The view and the quietness to wind down from the busy and hectic ways of the city life is really peaceful and beautiful. Get away from all the noise and stress here.

Very nice place to visit on a clear day! Perfect location to relax!

Beautiful view of the lake.

Beautiful water and nice walking trials

So beautiful!

This Is The Place To Be..... So Relaxing...

Clean park and nice walking trails.

Best getaway place

Beautiful place.

I would rank this five stars if they actually cleaned the bathrooms more than once a week. Absolutely disgusting how little care visitors take of a public facility.

Nice place to socially distance on a walk and small trails. Can't beat free and beautiful views

clean. trails could be a little more clearly marked.

Nice place for a walk.

Beautiful

So fun!!! Beautiful view, clear water, even some spots to swim off some rocks. 10/10 would go again

This is my favorite place of solitude and zen.. as always, the trails offer the best views and brings a much needed place of peace to clear the mind..

Excellent place to walk and just relax. Wish more people would pick up after themselves and their dogs.

Such a gorgeous dam. It gives you certain calmness and peaceful feeling

The colors are so great, it will definitely make anyone speechless. The view from the dam is out of the world, true for both of the sides. The people came to visit the place and the locals were super friendly. Two local missionary girls came to us to chat and welcome; which felt good. I appreciate what they did with the place. The local PD will come in with their patrol car right after sunset so nobody can stay up on the dam when it's dark. I guess it is for your own safety. For the photographers, this will be your dream place to shoot some marvelous photos. Go for it!

Beautiful and peaceful

Beautiful park, brought the grandkids, walked a bit and took pictures. Lots of trees for climbing and picture taking.

Its beautiful..lots of walking Dam pics