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Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
100 Park Road 71
Mineral Wells TX 76067
940/328-1171
08/10/2011- Due to low lake levels, the boat ramp may not accommodate boat launch. Contact the Park for more information.
A special 2-night screen shelter Texas Outdoor Family workshop will be held at this park on Friday - Sunday (March 23-25, 2012).
Join the Texas Outdoor Family at Lake Mineral Wells for a special 2-night screened shelter event. Each family will have their own enclosed shelter to spend the afternoon and overnight. The shelters provide more privacy and protection from the elements. Tents will also be provided for those looking for the tent camping experience.
History: Lake Mineral Wells State Park, located east of Mineral Wells in Parker County,consists of 3282.5 acres, encompassing Lake Mineral Wells. The City of Mineral Wells donated 1095 land acres and the 646-acre lake to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1975. The U.S. Government transferred some of the remaining acreage from Fort Wolters Army Post to the State of Texas for use as parkland. The park was opened in July 1981.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is located along Rock Creek, a large tributary of the Brazos River. This area was an early home to several Native American tribes including the Comanche.
White settlers began arriving in the early 1850s, and intermittent warfare occurred until the late 1870s. Rugged terrain and lush native grasses attracted many early-day ranchers to this area, including Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving and C. C. Slaughter, who ran large herds of Longhorn cattle. Ranching continues to be an economic mainstay of this area.
In 1877, James Alvis Lynch settled this area on the spot of land that is now Mineral Wells. In 1880, a well was drilled on the land. Mrs. Lynch suffered from rheumatism, but after drinking the water from the well, she was not bothered with rheumatism any more. The well water seemed to have "curative powers". This began Mineral Wells' tumultuous affair with water and quickly became a world renowned health resort. The purported curative effects of the local well water brought people from all walks of life to bath and take "the cure."
The city of Mineral Wells became too large for Lake Pinto, the town water supply, so in the late 1910's plans were laid for another lake East of town. In 1922 Lake Mineral Wells was completed.
World War II demanded an increase in activities at Fort Wolters, a military base located adjacent to the lake. This, coupled with the growth of the city of Mineral Wells, required the city to raise the height of the dam and thereby, increasing the water supply in the lake.
In 1963 the city of Mineral Wells found a better water supply and ceased using Lake Mineral Wells as the main city water supply.
In 1975, after the closer of Fort Wolters, the city of Mineral Wells and Fort Wolters donated the lake and acreage around the lake to the Texas Parks and Wildlife. On July 1, 1981 Lake Mineral Wells was opened as Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
Activities: Activities include camping; lake swimming (unsupervised); fishing; boating (no skiing/tubing, or jet skis permitted); rock climbing (climbers and rappelers must check in at headquarters); mountain biking; equestrian camping, horseback riding (visitors must provide their own horses); and hiking. Note: Trails may be closed during wet weather. Climbing is prohibited when the rock formations are wet (Call the park to verify climbing area is open, if it has rained in the last 48 hours of your planed arrival.) More information on the Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway.
Watch
YouTube video of the Park.- Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months
- Detailed fishing & lake information for Lake Mineral Wells
- Fishing
Tip Sheet for Lake Mineral Wells State Park
(PDF 124.2 KB)
- More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page
Store / Boat Rentals: The park has a privately operated store for the convenience of visitors. The store offers groceries, ice, deli, firewood, souvenirs and T-shirts, fishing and camping supplies, and a variety of bait. Canoe rentals are available. The store gladly accepts checks, Mastercard and Visa. Store hours vary with the seasons. Please call 940-325-7152 for additional information.
Interpretive Programs: The new “Lone Star Amphitheater” provides a great venue for a variety of natural and cultural interpretive programs, which includes Cowboy History through Music and Poetry, Astronomy programs, Storytelling, Ranger Talks and other programs. The park also offers programs like Kid’s Wilderness Survival, Guided Trail Walks, Wildflower Walks and other nature programs. We provide talks and activities to school, scout, and church and youth groups. Arrangements can be made by contacting David Owens, Park Interpreter.
Area Attractions: Nearby points of interest include: Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site & the Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway, Possum Kingdom State Park, Cleburne State Park, and Dinosaur Valley State Park, Clark Gardens, the Brazos River, and Possum Kingdom Lake. Activities in the Mineral Wells area include the Ranch Rodeo and Cowboy Gathering in April, Pro Rodeo in May, and the Crazy Water Festival in October. Activities in the Weatherford area include, the Peach Festival in July, First Monday Trades Day, and the Texas Opry.
Campsites & Other Facilities: Facilities include restrooms with showers; picnic sites (tables, grills, water faucets, and lake access by trails); backpack campsites (primitive 2.5-mile trail; no ground fires; no sanitary facilities; no water); campsites with water (equestrian use permitted); campsites (back-in) with water and electricity (premium sites are available); screened shelters; a park store; a boat ramp; fishing piers; a trailer dump station; and the new “Lone Star Amphitheater”. Horseback riding, hiking, and bicycling are permitted on the main trail (9 miles); hiking trails (lake trail 5 miles) and backpacking/hiking trail (2.5 miles) do not allow horses or bikes (There is a total of 16.5 miles of trails.) Note: Trails may be closed during wet weather.
- Fees
- Map
of Park (PDF 208.4 KB)
- Map
of Trailway (PDF 100.7 KB)
Natural Features: Lake Mineral Wells State Park is located in the Western Cross - Timbers of Texas, which supports such plant life as: Post Oak, Live Oak, Blackjack Oak, Box Elder, Sumac, Ash Juniper, Mesquite, Pecan, Walnut, Mulberry, Texas Ash, Wild Plum, Willow, Cedar Elm, American Elm, Hackberry, Milkweed, Engelmann Daisy, Sunflower, Coreopsis, Indian Blanket, Mexican Hat, Golden Rod, Spiderwort, Morning-glory, Bluebonnet, Wild Onion, Yucca, Prickly Poppy, Standing Cypress, Indian Paintbrush, Prickly Pear, Horsecrippler cactus, Lace Cactus, Maiden Hair Fern.
Wildlife observation includes white-tailed deer, turkey, raccoons, waterfowl, squirrels, and a variety of songbirds. Popular fish include bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill and sunfish.
More information on the wildlife mentioned here:
Elevation: Elevations ranges from 718 ft to 1235 ft.
Weather: July average high is 98 degrees, January average
low is 32 degrees. April/May are wettest months; first/last freeze; November
15/ March 20.
Schedule: Open: 7 days a week
year-round, except for Public Hunts. The gate is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Busy
Season: Mid-March through mid-November. Check
the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next
3 months.
Directions: Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway is
located 4 miles east of Mineral Wells on US Highway 180 or 14 miles west of
Weatherford on US Highway 180. Location
Map (PDF 29.2 KB)
Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) N: 32° 48' 53.28"
Longitude (degrees, minutes, second) W: 98° 02' 18.96"
Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.
