Lake Whitney State Park
Box 1175
Whitney TX 76692
254/694-3793
History: The 955-acre Lake Whitney State Park was acquired in 1954 by a Department of the Army lease and opened in May 1965. The park is along the east shore of Lake Whitney west of Hillsboro in Hill County, and after the changing of the lake level, totals 955 acres.
The park is located on Lake Whitney near ruins of Towash, an early Texas settlement inundated by Lake Whitney. Towash Village was named for the chief of Hainai Indians, who moved into the area in 1835.
Activities: Activities include camping; hiking; mountain biking; picnicking; boating; fishing; swimming (buoyed area - no life guard on duty); scuba diving; water skiing; nature study; and excellent birding. Tours/Events: An annual youth fishing tournament is held on the first Saturday in June, and "aircraft fly-ins" are held at various times.
- Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months.
- Detailed fishing & lake information for Lake Whitney
- More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page
Area Attractions: Nearby points of interest include Cleburne State Park, Meridian State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park, and Mother Neff State Park; The Confederate Museum; Texas Ranger Hall of Fame; and Fossil Rim Exotic Wildlife Ranch.
Campsites & Other Facilities: Facilities include restrooms with and without showers; picnic sites with and without shade shelters; campsites with water, with and without shade shelters; campsites (pull-through) without shade shelters, with water, electricity, and sewer; campsites (pull-through) with and without shade shelters, with water and electricity (special rates available); an airstrip (2000-foot paved runway - unlighted, unattended, left hand pattern, call traffic on 122.9 MHz); a trailer dump station; a group recreation hall with a kitchen, attic fans, central heating and air-conditioning; a group camp with a dining hall and 8 screened shelters; a Texas State Park Store; a youth group area with a large fire ring and picnic tables - no drinking water or restrooms near; a fish-cleaning facility; a launching ramp; a playground; and 2 trails of approximately 1 mile each - one for hikers only and one multi-use trail for hikers and bicyclists.
- Fees
- Map
of Park
(PDF 115 KB)
Check
availability/make reservations for Lake Whitney S.P.
You can also make e-mail reservations, fax
reservations or phone reservations.
Natural Features: The park is located in the Grand Prairie subregion of the Black land Prairie natural region. It has open disturbed tallgrass prairie remnants with scattered groves of live oak and a small area of post oak/blackjack oak woodland. In the spring, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, and over 40 species of wildflowers cover the roadside and landscape. Common animals include white-tailed deer, raccoons, and squirrels with fox, coyote, and bobcat occasionally being spotted. 194 species of birds have been spotted, including wild turkeys and bald eagles.
More information on the wildlife mentioned here:
Elevation: Elevation ranges
from 533 to 574.
Weather: January average 46.2 degrees, July average 85.9 degrees;
first/last freeze; November 20/March 11
Schedule: Open 7 days a week year-round, except for Public Hunts. Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months. Gates are locked at 10 p.m. and open at 8 a.m. Busy Season: March through October.
Directions: To reach the park from Interstate 35, take the
Hillsboro exit. In Hillsboro take State Highway 22 west to Whitney; then follow
the signs to Lake Whitney State Park. The park is located 3 miles west of Whitney on FM
1244 on the shore of Lake Whitney. Location Map
(PDF 55.4 KB)
Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744