Lake Conroe

Lake Conroe is a reservoir on the West Fork of San Jacinto River in Montgomery County, Texas, held back by a dam of the same name. The water surface covers around 85 square kilometers (33 square miles), and the deepest spots reach about 24 meters (79 feet) below the waterline.

The San Jacinto River Authority began building the dam in the early 1970s to secure water supply for Houston. The reservoir reached its final water level in October 1973 and has provided drinking water to the metro area ever since.

The reservoir takes its name from the nearby town of Conroe, and along the shore you find private docks standing beside wooden vacation homes. Many locals from the surrounding area drive out on weekends to take motorboats or water skis onto the open water, getting away from routine.

Around the west shore and near the northern coves you find several public boat ramps where you can launch watercraft. The reservoir remains open all year, but summer afternoons on the water can get very hot under full sun.

A section of about 20 square kilometers (5000 acres) lies within Sam Houston National Forest and forms a natural boundary between two counties there. This forested stretch of shore draws fewer visitors and keeps a quieter feel than other parts of the waterfront.