Lake Buchanan

Lake Buchanan is ten miles northwest of Burnet in Burnet and Llano counties.  It was created by the construction of Buchanan Dam, operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority.  The dam was completed in 1938 and was originally known as Hamilton Dam.  The name was changed to honor Texas Congressman James Paul Buchanan.  Lake Buchanan is one of the largest of the Texas lakes, measuring thirty-one miles long and as many as five miles across and encompassing 23,060 acres.

Along the lakeshore there has been considerable residential and recreational development.  Resorts and subdivisions have been built on both the Burnet and Llano sides of the lake.  Lake Buchanan is blessed with numerous cascading waterfalls.  The American Bald Eagle winters along its shoreline. 

Scenic drives on either side of the lake will yield many opportunities to stop and explore nature�s granite sculptures or take pictures of deer and other wildlife.

Inks Lake

Located west of Burnet, Inks Lake boasts one of the most popular state parks in Texas. .Inks Lake is a reservoir on the Colorado River. The reservoir was formed in 1938 by the construction of Inks Dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The lake serves to provide flood control in tandem with Lake Buchanan and features the smallest hydroelectric power plant on the Highland Lakes chain. Inks Lake was named for Roy B. Inks, one of the original board members of the Lower Colorado River Authority.  It serves as a venue for outdoor recreation, including fishing, boating, swimming, camping and picnicking. 

The boating and water skiing are fantastic on Inks Lake.  The view of the bridge that spans the lake and the view of the dam are very appealing.  

Inks Lake is well-known for its bass, crappie and catfish.

Lake Marble Falls

Lake Marble Falls is on the Colorado River in Burnet and Llano Counties, near the town of Marble Falls. Lake LBJ is just upstream; Lake Travis is just downstream.  It is the smallest of the Highland Lakes at 780 acres.

It winds its way along six miles of steep limestone cliffs and hills in the City of Marble Falls. Named for a series of waterfalls that have since been inundated by the lake waters, the marble part of the name comes from a great granite dome used for quarrying in the area. The view from the dome, off of U.S. 281, gives a great overview of Lake Marble Falls.

Lake Marble Falls is popular for boating, sailing, water-skiing and swimming. Boat ramps give access to the water, which is otherwise surrounded by steep cliffs and not easily accessible. However, just below Max Starcke Dam there are wide, flat rocks and a decent swimming hole.

Lake LBJ

Lake LBJ starts near Horseshoe Bay, 45 miles from Austin, and goes all of the way to Kingsland.  Beautiful Lake LBJ is a magnet for all types of summer water sports, including fishing, boating, water skiing and swimming.

Wirtz Dam and the lake originally were called Granite Shoals.  The dam was renamed in 1952 for Alvin J. Wirtz who was instrumental in Lower Colorado River Authority's creation and served as its first general counsel. The lake was renamed in 1965 for another advocate of LCRA, President Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Lake LBJ is fed by the Llano and Colorado Rivers and is 22 miles long, 10,800 feet wide at it's maximum point, and is a constant level lake varying less than a foot or two annually.

The shoreline surrounding Lake LBJ is highly developed. Several creeks wind back off the main lake.  There are a few coves and one sandy beach for anchoring, swimming, and rafting.