Lake Tawakoni State Park is a peaceful escape located an hour east of Dallas, TX. The park has about five miles of hiking trails, several campsites and a beach where you can swim and relax.
One interesting fact about Tawakoni is that it was the home of the largest spider web ever documented. It is no longer there, but there were still a lot of huge webs throughout the park. They look like white nests surrounding tree branches and create an eerie feeling when you’re journeying through the forest trails.
Please make it a priority to Leave No Trace when exploring the outdoors. This includes leaving nothing behind, respecting wildlife, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting those around you, planning ahead and traveling on durable surfaces. For more details, read about the seven principles at lnt.org.
Camping at Lake Tawakoni
Lake Tawakoni has two different camping loops with several full hookup campsites; the Spring Point Loop and the White Deer Loop. The Spring Point Loop has quick access to the Spring Point Trails and the beach. There is also a primitive group camping site that you can rent for up to 48 people.
Lake Tawakoni Hiking
Lake Tawakoni has several short and mostly flat trails.
The White Deer Trail is a 0.4 mile wooded loop next to the White Deer camping area. It’s a quick and easy trail. I actually took this loop to test out my new backpack for an upcoming backpacking trip!
The Spring Point Trail and Spring Point East Trail take you on a journey through a pasture and a forest with lake views along the way. In the first quarter mile of the trail, there is a field with Chickasaw Plum Trees. They were in bloom with bees buzzing all around when I visited in late March.
At other times of year, they bear fruit. Further into the Spring Point Trail loop, you’ll see the impressive tree where the world’s largest spider web used to be. It is no longer there, but there is a descriptive sign and the tree is beautiful to see. This trail is mostly flat and has a lot of informative signs describing the plants along the trail.
The Spring Point Trails felt full of life in the early spring and buzzed with insects and birds. At the same time, the trail was a little bit spooky with webs and trees with gigantic thorns. The contrast was beautiful and fascinating.
In the southern part of the park, there are four more trails that go through the forest; the Farkleberry Trail, the Osage Orange Trail, the Red Oak Trail and the Blackjack Trail. These trails are slightly more technical with tree roots on across the path, but still easy. Combined, they are a total of 3.2 miles.
Water Activities at Lake Tawakoni
Lake Tawakoni has five miles of lakeshore, making it perfect for swimming or fishing. The park has a nice beach area where you can swim, build a sandcastle, lay out and relax in the sun. Fishing in the lake is also an option and you do not need a fishing license if you fish from the shore.
Nearby Lake Tawakoni
Terrell
The town of Terrell is located 30 minutes away from Lake Tawakoni and has a variety of restaurants and activities. If it is summertime, visit Ham Orchards to taste fresh peaches, jams, peach ice cream and even peach BBQ. Year round, you can see the historic homes in town, visit the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum and stop at the local Buc-ee’s for treats and gifts.
Canton
Canton is another small town 30 minutes from the park. Canton hosts the world’s largest flea market once a month (typically the first weekend). The flea market is gigantic and you can find pretty much anything; furniture, food, livestock, clothes and decor. It’s a great place to visit at least once if you love hunting for great deals.
Dallas
If you are traveling through Texas, be sure to visit nearby Dallas! This major city (where I call home) is an hour away and has so much to see and do. My favorite activities are to visit the Dallas Arboretum, visit the Dallas Farmers Market and shop in Bishop Arts District.
Check out my guide to visiting Dallas for more information!
Piney Woods
This park is right at the edge of the Piney Woods, a region known for its tall trees in temperate coniferous forests. The North Texas Piney Woods is home to many other incredible state parks, like the mysterious Caddo Lake and the forest filled Tyler State Park.
Check out my list of ten things to do in the Upper Piney Woods to learn more!
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