Inks Lake State Park is a Highland Lakes destination in Burnet, Texas, for swimming, boating, fishing and hiking. From Llano, you can plan a day trip around the lake, its trails and its outdoor facilities, with advance planning recommended for park entry. For a closer-to-town outdoor outing, Llano River and Badu Park are another option.
What can you do at Inks Lake State Park?
Inks Lake State Park offers water activities, outdoor recreation and places to picnic or camp. The lake is one of the Highland Lakes, created in the 1930s by damming the Colorado River.
You can swim, boat, water ski, scuba dive, fish, hike, picnic, camp, backpack, geocache, play volleyball or observe nature. No lifeguards are on duty, so swimming is at your own risk.
At Devil’s Waterhole, Spring Creek meets Inks Lake at a swimming area. When Spring Creek is flowing, a waterfall is present upstream at Valley Spring Creek.
How do you get from Llano to Inks Lake State Park?
Inks Lake State Park is at 3630 Park Road 4 West, Burnet, TX 78611. From this Llano motel, the park is about 18.8 miles away.
The park headquarters phone number is (512) 793-2223.
For another outdoor outing from Llano, you could also plan an Enchanted Rock day trip from Llano.
For a different outing closer to town, consider Llano River and Badu Park.
How do reservations, fees and park hours work?
Reserve a day pass in advance if you want to guarantee entry. The park often reaches capacity, and day passes and camping sell out on weekends and holidays. Spring, summer and fall are listed as the park’s busy season.
Headquarters and the park store are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For current entry and park details, check the official site before you go.
Where can you access the lake, trails and facilities?
The park has a boat ramp, two fishing piers and fish-cleaning stations. You do not need a fishing license to fish from a pier or the shore inside a state park.
Trail options include the 1.5-mile Lake Trail, estimated at 45 minutes, and the 0.2-mile Devil’s Waterhole Nature Trail, estimated at 7 minutes. The Civilian Conservation Corps built roads, culverts, a boathouse and dock at Inks Lake during the 1930s, as well as parts of Park Road 4.
The park has nearly 200 campsites and 22 cabins, including two ADA-accessible cabins. Its two fishing piers are wheelchair accessible, with cement paths from designated parking and accessible restrooms nearby.
There are no completely ADA-compliant trails. The first 0.75 miles of Pecan Flats Trail is wide and level enough for strollers and some wheelchairs. The park also has two GRIT Freedom Chairs; contact the park to borrow one and ask which trails are suitable. An ADA kayak transfer bench and Chariot are available by request.
Weather permitting, the park store rents paddle boats, canoes, single- and double-person kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, life vests and paddles daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rentals cost $20 for the first hour and $10 for each additional hour, and boats must be returned by 4 p.m.
What should you know about weather, water and park rules?
Check lake conditions before swimming or launching a boat. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department advises watching for algae blooms in stagnant water. Zebra mussels have invaded the reservoir, so clean, drain and dry boats and gear; draining water is required by law.
Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while boating and be supervised by an adult. If you plan to fish, the piers and shore have different licensing rules from other fishing locations, so check the requirements for your activity.
FAQs
Is Inks Lake State Park open every day?
Yes. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Do you need a reservation for a day visit?
Advance day-pass reservations are recommended to guarantee entry, particularly because the park can reach capacity.
Can you rent kayaks at the park?
Yes. Weather permitting, kayak rentals are available from the park store during its daily rental hours.