Joe Pool Lake, reservoir in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties, Texas, United States

Joe Pool Lake is a reservoir in the southwest of Dallas, stretching across Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties. Several parks, boat ramps, sandy beaches, and campgrounds line its shores, giving visitors a range of ways to access the water.

Joe Pool promised flood control for the Mountain/Walnut Creek watershed in 1960, and Congress approved the Lakeview Reservoir project in 1965. Construction began in 1977, bridge work finished in 1981, and the lake was completed in December 1985. Impoundment started in January 1986 and the lake filled by June 1989; it was renamed Joe Pool Lake in 1982.

Joe Pool Lake draws families and groups from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, especially on weekends and summer days. Along the shore, people gather for fishing, cookouts, and time on the water, giving the place a relaxed, everyday feel.

Seven boat ramps are spread around the lake, located within different parks and marinas along the shore. Weekends and holidays draw large numbers of visitors, so arriving early helps find parking and access points before they fill up.

Unlike most lakes in Texas, the water at Joe Pool Lake flows northward, which runs counter to the usual drainage patterns of the region. This makes it one of the few lakes in the state with that kind of flow direction.