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Acres Of Water & Miles Of Shoreline
23,000 acres and 30 miles of shoreline
Links
Brief Overview:
Lake Buchanan is the highest and broadest (maximum width is 4.92 miles) lake in the Highland Lakes chain. The eastern shore is rugged and hilly with granite cliffs and deep water while the western shore has nice beaches (granite pebbles) for swimming, fishing, skiing or boarding, windsurfing, and picnicking. There are plenty of different types of lodging ranging from camping at public and private RV parks to waterfront cabins or houses. In 2006, due to the lack of rain, the water level is down over 20 feet which means there are lots of natural hazards (some marked, some just under the surface) that can cause severe damage to your boat so be very careful. The lack of water means that many of the boat docks, marinas, and ramps are out of commission. For example, when we visited the lake in July 2006, only two ramps were open, one of which is near the dam at Big Chief RV Resort. Check with the Chamber of Commerce at 800 524-4599. To find Texas waterfront property on Lake Buchanan click here.
A Typical Texas Outsider Day
Start the day with some calm water in one of the coves (Morgan Creek or Beaver Creek or by the damn) for skiing or boarding. After skiing, cruise the far north end of the lake for some pretty scenery -- you might get luck and spot a bald eagle (the season is early November through mid March).
Other Cool Things To Do:
We haven't found a lot to do on the lake besides fish, ski, or cruise. The North end of the lake is very pretty and worth visiting. We heard rumors about a restaurant on the Lake, but we never found it.
What To Do If No Boat:
If you don't have a boat, depending on the water level, there are several places to rent watercraft. You can also take a tour on Vanishing River Cruises or Lake Buchanan Adventures provides wildlife encounters and adventure tours.
Nearby Activities:
There are plenty of things to do near Lake Buchanan, some of which include: visit the local wineries; golf in Burnet or Inks Lake; enjoy a guided tour of Longhorn Caverns; or take your boat and explore Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, or Lake Marble Falls which are all within a 30 minute drive. Visit the golf, lakes, and discover Texas section of Texas Outside to find more to do near Lake Buchanan.
Restaurants, Bars, & Music:
Canyon of the Eagles has a fantastic restaurant on a bluff overlooking the lake and surrounding hills. You can park the boat and take a small hike to the lodge to enjoy some great food.
Wake Boarding & Skiing:
You should be able to find some smooth water near the dam or in one of the coves. Watch out for hazards if the water level is still down.
Fishing:
Lake Buchanan is noted for its excellent striped bass and white bass fishing. It also contains under-rated largemouth bass and Guadalupe bass populations. White bass and striped bass runs occur in the spring (February-May) with most of the fishing occurring from Beaver Creek up into the Colorado River. Striped bass do not naturally reproduce in the reservoir and are stocked by Texas Parks and Wildlife. A low-density white crappie population is present. The upper end of the reservoir produces many large white crappie each year. Blue, channel and flathead catfish occur throughout the reservoir.
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*Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
Camping, Waterfront Lodging, and Day Use Parks
There are a number of options for lodging and camping. We recommend Big Chief (click here to read the review) for RV camping or their cabins which are on the water (when the water level is up). Canyon of the Eagles Lodge and Nature Park is a great place to spend some time hiking, exploring the lake, kayaking, or just relaxing by their beautiful pool. The food is excellent, the lodging is very nice, and the service is outstanding. They also have RV and primitive camping - but not on the water..
Ramps & Marinas
Texas Parks & Wildlife has a listing of public facilities -- click here. If you are going to Lake Buchanan during the summer of 2006, call ahead to check for ramps that are open and what size boats they can handle.
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Texas Outside Lakes Rating Scale
Texas Outside rates lakes on a 1 to 10 scale based on:
- Beauty: high scores are given for lots of trees, hills, or pretty houses
- Water Clarity: if you’re standing in two feet of water and can’t see your toes or the water has a deep brown color, we’re talking a 1
- Water Conditions: rough water with waves over a foot (good for PWCs or surfing) due to consistent wind or boat wakes don’t rate high on our scale
- Skiing & Board Conditions: on the weekends if you can typically find a good cove or part of the lake with glass, we’re talking a 10
- Beaches: don’t you hate those beaches when you step into the water you sink in mud up to your knees and loose your flip-flops or it’s all slime and weeds or small rocks – if so, that’s a 1
- Fun Scale: lakes scoring a 10 have fun restaurants and bars, great coves for raft ups or swimming, and fun rental toys
- Cruising & Touring: if you can cruise the lake and look at beautiful houses, nice marinas, pretty coves, or anything similar it will score high
- Restaurants & Bars: nothing better than cruising over and having some good food and listening to some great music on the deck of a fun restaurant – the ride back with smooth water and a fun moon is also pretty cool – we’re talking a 10
- Safety Level: lakes with lots of wild and crazy jet skiers or fast cigarette boats will score low
- Camping: we’re looking for beautiful spacious sites right on the water with a nice sandy beach to swim and park the boat
- Fishing: the bigger the better and they have to be easy to hook
*Fishing information was provided with permission of the Texas Parks and Wildlife (www.tpwd.state.tx.us) in 2006. Texas Parks and Wildlife does not endorse Texas Outside or information presented on texasoutside.com. ©Copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
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