TexasWaterFrontRanches

Lake Travis

Central Texas boasts some of the most scenic lakes in all of the state. Several dams along the Colorado River form the Highland Lakes chain – a series of lakes that feature limestone canyons, big Hill Country views, blue waters and spectacular waterfalls. Check out the series of blogs on the individual lakes making up the Highland Lakes chain to learn more about each of these unique waterways:

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part Three: Lake Marble Falls

Highland Lakes Part Four: Lake LBJ

Highland Lakes Part Five: Inks Lake

Highland Lakes Part 6: Lake Buchanan

Bluebonnets on Lake Buchanan

The largest of the Highland Lakes chain, Lake Buchanan has 22,333 acres of surface water and over 124 miles of shoreline.  Over two miles in length, Buchanan Dam was completed in 1939 to form the lake, the first in the Highland Lakes chain.   The lake features a beach-like shoreline that is popular with sunbathers and swimmers.  Lake Buchanan is also well-known for its striped bass fishing and the lake is also stocked with white bass, largemouth bass and catfish.

The most famous of all Lake Buchanan’s residents is the American bald eagle which resides along the cliffs formed by the Colorado River Canyon upstream from the main body of the lake.  Guideboats take visitors along scenic tours to spot bald eagles and view the waterfalls spilling over the cliffs.

Public camping is available at 3 LCRA maintained parks – Cedar Point Recreation Area, Black Rock Park and Canyon of the Eagles.  Much of the land around the lake is privately owned and most lodging is through small, family run business renting out cottages, lodges and homes.

The oldest winery in the Texas Hill Country, Fall Creek Vineyards, sits at the confluence of Fall Creek and Lake

Fall Creek Spilling Into Lake Buchanan

Buchanan.   Visitors have a chance to sample award winning wines and see the dramatic 90 ft. waterfall as Fall Creek empties into Lake Buchanan.

Lake Buchanan is located in both Burnet and Llano counties with the towns of Tow, Bluffton and Buchanan Dam bordering the lake.  Located 60 miles northwest of Austin, Lake Buchanan offers real privacy and a sense of space.

Looking for real estate along Lake Buchanan?  Check out our spectacular 7 acre waterfront estate featuring an 8,000 sf home with 3 levels of phenomenal lake views.

Highland Lakes Part Five: Inks Lake

Highland Lakes Part Four: Lake LBJ

Highland Lakes Part Three: Lake Marble Falls

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

Located on the Highland Lakes Chain between Lake Buchanan and Lake LBJ, Inks Lake is a 4.2 mile lake formed by Inks Dam.  Inks Dam, constructed from 1936 to 1938, has no floodgates and the power plant is the smallest in the Highland Lakes chain. A small amount of water can be released through hydroelectric generation, but the bulk of floodwater passes over an uncontrolled spillway.  Buchanan Dam and Inks Dam work in tandem to release water downstream.
Inks Lake is the second smallest of the Highland Lakes, measuring 832 acres.   The lake maintains a constant level of 887 ft. above sea level and is 3,000 ft. across at its widest point.  Inks Lake State Park is 1201 acres along the lake and features camping, fishing, boating, backpacking and a 9 hole golf course.   The most famous feature of Inks Lake is “The Devil’s Waterhole,” a popular place for rock climbing and cliff jumping.    Texas Parks and Wildlife has a great video about the lake here.

Lake LBJ, originally known as Granite Shoals Lake, was renamed in 1965 for President Lyndon B. Johnson, in honor of his work on the project as a US Congressman and Senator. LBJ also owned a ranch on the lake, where he and his wife Lady Bird entertained foreign dignitaries during his vice presidency and presidency.

Created by the Wirtz Dam, Lake LBJ is fed by Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake upstream, as well as the unregulated Llano River. At its normal water level (almost constant), the lake is 6,200 acres at the surface and 21 miles long. The communities of Horseshoe Bay, Kingsland, Sunrise Beach and Granite Shoals are all communities on Lake LBJ. It is 45 miles from Austin, and is considered one of the most scenic and peaceful lakes in the Highland Lakes chain.

Highland Lakes Part Three: Lake Marble Falls

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

Created in 1951 by the Max Starcke Dam, Lake Marble falls is the youngest and the smallest of the Highland Lakes. But it is not without its own share of charm. Beautiful views accompany boating and water recreation. The lake is stocked with native fish and a great spot for fishing, boasting some Texas state record catches.

Double Horn Ranch

Every year in August, for three days the 611 acre lake is home to Lakefest, a quarter mile liquid racetrack for drag boats. Fans enjoy the festivities on shore and the exciting show in the water.

The whole Marble Falls area has some of the most beautiful land and houses to call home, in all of Texas. The Double Horn Ranch is 305 acres of unparalleled waterfront land on the Double Horn Creek for an amazing price. One look at the pictures and you see why this area has its great reputation.

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

Lake Travis

The next westernmost lake from Lake Austin is Lake Travis. Created when the Mansfield Dam was finished in 1941, Lake Travis has the most notoriety in the greater Austin area as a recreational destination spot. Lake Travis is a spot for beautiful restaurants and campsites, popular for marinas and watercraft, and waterfront homes are consistently in demand.

Lake Travis is fed by both the Colorado River (as with all the highland lakes) and the Pedernales River, which flows into the southwestern portion of the lake. It is known as one of the clearest lakes in Texas, with its beautiful aquamarine tint to the water. Lake Travis serves as not only the primary flood control reservoir of the chain, but also a major source of drinking water for Austinites.

View from Rancho Estacia

The bluffs of Lake Travis provide unparallelled views, and often privacy, in any Hill Country properties. Rivercliff and Rancho Estacia are both stunning waterfront estates on the Pedernales arm, each offering opportunities to own horses and land on this beautiful lake. Another property we just recently profiled, The Falls, is 315 stunning acres on a private cove of Lake Travis.

Part One: Lake Austin

On the chain of six lakes that officially make up the Highland Lakes, Lake Austin is the closest to downtown, sitting just northwest of the heart of the city. Created in 1939 by the LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) with the construction of the Tom Miller Dam, Lake Austin falls between the Mansfield Dam and the Tom Miller Dam. It provides flood control of the river, hydroelectric power, and recreation.

A great site for water sports, you can take one of the boat tours available, or bring your own. High cliffs provide shelter from the wind and make boating favorable, while also providing great sites for beautiful homes. It is also a spot for recreational fishing, stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish.

Mount Bonnell, the highest point in Austin, is a natural limestone feature, and has been a popular picnicking spot since the mid 1800s. From the brief hike to the top you can see over Lake Austin, the 360 Bridge (or Pennybacker Bridge), and to the downtown skyline.

Pictured: Private cove of Lake Austin from 1611 Westlake Drive