Lake Georgetown

This place is amazing with tons and tons of BEAUTIFUL meandering trails and scenery. The wild flowers are amazing and the history is incredible. I love the signs. The only thing about the trails around the lake is that they have sharp rocks in them and it’s easy to twist your ankle.

Lovely Park for hikers with beautiful views of the lake all the way around on the San Gabriel trail. The intensity level is moderate given a rolling landscape with places you need to watch footing due to rocky formations. You can enjoy endless hours of hiking around the lake with beautiful views. We saw a lovely variety of animal and insect life including clustered communities of butterflies.
The plant and floral life are great showing promise of spectacular wildflower displays during this early spring. Part of the trail edges up next to private property where you can see iconic Texas longhorns lazily graze on a sunny day. There are beautiful sites including a small waterfall. This hike is ideal for anybody who has a love for nature photography. Peaceful and beautiful hike, I’ll be back…

Fav hiking spot. Sunny/​shady hiking/​biking trail around the lake is longer than you think! Take snacks, water and sturdy hiking shoes – sometimes the trail is very rocky. I don’t get in the water, but there is a new place on Williams Drive on the way to the lake that rents canoes and kayaks, and will bring them to the lake for you!
Bonus: the spring wildflowers are amazing.

Beautiful Lake. Not too crowded. Great place to take the kids/​family boating, rafting etc.

Beautiful Lake!

This is a great park. There were no kids in sight getting high and drunk, which must be imaginary unless you are a bored high school student posting Unilocal reviews (look at her other reviews). It is mostly families camping.
The sites are designed more for RVs than tent camping, especially near the front. Spots 38 through 50 are your best bets for tent camping, and they also back up to the trails. There are some right along the lake with a lot of flat ground for tents, but the wind right off the water could prove challenging. The trails are rocky and flat at different intervals, and there are not as many mile markers as other trails, but it is well maintained and runs alongside the water for much of the walk. You can do a 26 mile loop if you’re camping in.
Yes, they are rocky and somewhat challenging, but not super challenging. It’s a hiker/walker’s responsibility to understand the trail before they bring several toddlers out and then complain about the rocks. If you are not physically fit or have leg problems, you may have some issues as it is a bit of a rugged trek, but fun. 2.5 miles in is Crockett Gardens Falls, which is a tiny water fall over a cliff. Especially on a hot day, it’s worth it to go a little extra to take in the falls and maybe cool yourself off with a spritz. We will be back!

Lake Georgetown is my happy place. There are over 20 miles of hiking trails to explore – some more rugged than others, but all beautiful and well-​maintained. Try starting at Overlook Park if you want an easy hike or Cedar Breaks Park for a more challenging hike (but not really) with lake views and a waterfall about a mile or two in. The hiking trails never seem to be crowded, even when the weather is nice. Lake Georgetown is also great for kayaking, it is easy to launch from the boat ramps at Cedar Breaks Park, Russell Park, and Jim Hogg Park, or the swim beach at Russell Park. Lake Georgetown is definitely not NEARLY as packed as other Austin-​area lakes and rivers. I was shocked at the lack of people at the swim beach on the weekends in July and August compared to Lake Pflugerville. If you don’t live in Georgetown, the lake is definitely worth the trip to visit! They have plenty of camping, too.

Went backpacking around the lake for a day and ended up at Cedar Hollows campground. I have to tell you that it was only 4.5 miles away and it took us over 2 hours to get there. You must have sturdy hiking boots as the trail is mostly covered in craggy limestone rock so your ankles will twist and turn. Also, that campground is near the water (barring some significant bushes in the way) which has a nice view. There are basic picnic tables, crude firepits, poles for hanging supplies, no toilets but a remnant of one. The ground is noticeably slopped. There is plenty of fallen wood around for a fire. The lack of signage is an issue so you could spend some time searching for it which was our only major complaint.

If your local this is a great place to go on a short hike. I’ve been on the trail many times and its never been over crowded an the people who you do see are always friendly

We went around 5 pm and it was not crowded. If you like cliff jumping and swimming in lakes then this is your place. There are no lifeguards on duty, and the website and signs will tell you that cliff jumping is not suggested. So, jump at your own risk!

My friend and I wanted to spend some time catching up, exercising, and hanging out with our pups. She had been out there a couple of times and suggested we go out there for a morning hike. Being one of those Austinites that usually doesn’t go anywhere north of Braker and 183, it was difficult to think that there was something as beautiful and nice as this in Georgetown! The trails are a bit rocky but manageable. Our pups had such a blast! We did a few trails and then ended up by the lake and let them swim for a bit. It was so nice to see something so pretty that was just outside of Austin. I’ll definitely return.

First, we were charged $ 4 to enter the park and I find out later the trail is free. However, the worst part is the trail itself. As I entered, what I noticed the most was all the large rocks in the center of the path and large chunky slabs of concrete. Looked like they just threw it down and it was allowed to form itself. As we walked on (myself, 7 yr old, 6 yr old, 4 yr old, we met a lady who had just fallen on some rocks and was on her way to the emergency room. The entire trip we had to look at our feet because the rocks were sticking up and a couple of times the kids had tripped. We love nature outing but like my daughter said «How can I look at nature when I have to keep looking down at my feet?» I won’t go back… much nicer options available.

One of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in this area. Being from WVa, I love nature. There is some beautiful scenery going on here. A beautiful lake that is good for swimming and boating, great camping areas, beautiful parks for chilling and grilling up the «q», and, over 20 miles of hiking trails. Actually, they’re are many trails, and, lots of artifacts that you are not allowed to remove. I suggest that when you hike through here, you keep your head up. Otherwise, you will be tempted to «pick and pocket». This place would be great for Unilocalers to come and hang out or do a hike club! Just saying… Take I35N, exit Lake G-​Town (Williams Dr), go left, at the new HEB go left, turn right at scenic overlook park. All the other parks in the area, you have to pay to enter.

Easy to get to.
We took the dog for a walk along the lake and over the dam.

Lake G’town, and specifically Overlook Park, has quickly become my favorite haunt for hiking or walking the pooches. I was happily surprised to find such scenic hiking trails around the lake, going from the white limestone on the lake shore, the marshland with its abundant driftwood, and the cacti and woodlands further inland. The Army Corp of Engineers does a great job of keeping the trails maintained but not so sterile or paved to detract from the natural beauty of the land.
I haven’t made it all through the trails connecting to the other parks yet, nor taken advantage of the lake itself yet, but I fully intend to soon! This is a real gem of the area!

What? You mean there’s more in Georgetown than vacant-​eyed mothers with wailing offspring and vacant-​eyed fathers trudging their way into Dell? Alright, maybe that’s Round Rock, but it’s really all the same, isn’t it?
Kind of shocked at how good Lake Georgetown was. The hiking was slightly rocky, but the paths were well defined and partially shaded. We did a quick 6 mile hike that followed a peninsula (great lake views), went past a small waterfall, and ended in the ruins of an old farm.
The Army corps of engineers does a great job of maintaining the trails, and as an added bonus the lake looks much better than lake Travis. I hesitate to call a gigantic lake a «hidden gem», but Lake Georgetown is a great alternative for the greenbelt set.

So a year ago my husband and I bought this really cool hiking book of trails in and around Austin. We’ve had this one marked for a while and finally made our way out.
It’s not too far, just past the RR outlets off I35. The park itself is absolutely beautiful, peaceful, and well appointed.
There are camping grounds and boat ramps at an additional fee. We went just to hike. If you end up doing that you can park outside the gates and save yourself a parking fee. Walking in past the gate is free. The hike is about 6miles 3 in/​3out. The trails are a mix of paved rocks and dirt. It’s an easy hike… at least it was for us. No crazy inclines or unmarked trails. It’s all very straight forward. In the book it said «surprises around every corner» in my head I thought.“really? how so” book didn’t lie. So many great views of the lake and waterfalls. Probably one of the nicest hikes I’ve done here in Austin.
We brought lunch and had a picnic on one of the many benches throughout the trail. I highly recommend this hike. It took us a good few hours, but it felt like we were hustling and it flew by. This is definitely a family friendly trail.
Lake Georgetown… Who knew?! Tell yo friends.

HUGE fan of Lake Georgetown, I have not seen a review for the water yet, only the hiking and camping so here goes…
Specific to wakeboarding this is the best lake in the area, it is wide open for beginners and turns unlike Lake Austin, and has plenty of accessible boat ramps unlike Travis. The best place to board is either by the Dam or on the South shore, where it is often the least windy. If you have friends driving separately they can park at the Overlook for free.
An annual pass is only $ 30, worth the investment even if you only go a few times.
The reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is that sometimes one of the ramps, Cedar Breaks, will be «full» Saturday afternoons, usually after 2pm, but this summer it has only been a problem once, and there are two other ramps to choose from about 20 minutes away each.
Note there are no restaurants or service stations in the park so you need to bring in anything you need for the day. Also, be careful of the «island» at the far West end of the lake where it transitions from the river, more than a few friends have had expensive boat repairs as a result!

I have been taking advantage of the nice Fall weather and heading out to the trails of Georgetown in the evenings after work. Yesterday, I started out from Overlook Park and hiked across the dam and over to the south side of the lake. I have also hiked down the dam and over to Booty’s Road Park. These portions of the trail are paved and make good paths for biking or rollerblading. I have seen deer, birds and armadillos so far while trekking through these woods.
Apparently the US Army Corps of Engineers maintains these trails and there are a series of trails that makes an entire loop around Lake Georgetown. Plenty to explore as long as the weather stays nice.