Lake Travis, Reservoir near Marble Falls, United States
Lake Travis is a reservoir in Travis County and Burnet County within the Texas Hill Country, stretching across rolling terrain with numerous coves and rocky shorelines. The deep central section narrows into shallow arms that thread between forested slopes and dry grassland.
Lake Travis was formed in 1942 when the Lower Colorado River Authority completed Mansfield Dam on the western edge of Austin. The dam was built to contain floodwaters in a flash-flood-prone region, and its height was raised after a severe flood in July 1938 to add storage capacity. The reservoir stretches 65 miles upriver to Max Starcke Dam, southwest of Marble Falls.
Hippie Hollow Park, near the lake's eastern end, is the only legal clothing-optional park in Texas. The lake is also a stocked fishing destination, with largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, white bass, striped bass, catfish and sunfish among the species present.
Public access points such as Johnson Park and Lakeside Park offer ramps and facilities without admission charges. Water levels fluctuate with rainfall, so checking current conditions before a visit helps plan activities accordingly.
On 5 September 2020, a boat parade in support of Donald Trump took place on the lake. The sheriff's office received multiple calls about boats in distress, and at least five sank in calm weather when the boats' combined wake washed over them; the hashtag #dumbkirk trended afterwards.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,658 contributors worldwide.
