White Rock Lake, Reservoir in northeast Dallas, Texas, US
White Rock Lake is a reservoir in northeast Dallas County, Texas, that winds through residential neighborhoods and serves as a recreational area. The water is surrounded by a trail that passes through parkland with mature trees and open meadows along the shore.
Construction started in 1910 to address water shortages in Dallas and was completed in 1911. For decades it supplied drinking water to the city until shifting to primarily recreational use in the mid-20th century.
The lake takes its name from White Rock Creek, which feeds it and continues south to the Trinity River. Rowing is the activity it is best known for: the White Rock Boathouse dates from 1930, and the Corinthian Sailing Club, chartered in 1939, holds weekend races. Since 1971 a December marathon has followed much of the western shore.
A trail of about 9 miles circles the shore and is open to walkers, runners, and cyclists. Access is available from several parking areas along the waterfront roads, with shaded sections under trees offering relief on hot days.
At Winfrey Point a camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps formed in the 1930s to help develop the shoreline. Workers built paths and planted trees whose canopies now shade much of the park.
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