The Highland Lakes are one of Texas's best-kept secrets — at least outside the state. Within Texas, anyone who has spent time on this chain of six reservoirs stretching along the Colorado River through the Hill Country knows exactly what the fuss is about. Clear water, dramatic granite and limestone shorelines, abundant wildlife, and enough surface area and variety to keep water enthusiasts busy for a lifetime.
Marble Falls sits at the geographic heart of the Highland Lakes chain, making it the ideal base for exploring everything the system has to offer. Whether you're a serious angler who wants to chase largemouth bass before sunrise, a family looking for a safe swimming beach, a kayaker who wants to paddle through pink granite canyons, or a boater who wants to open the throttle on Lake LBJ, the Highland Lakes have what you're looking for — and most of it is within 30 minutes of downtown Marble Falls.
Here's your guide to the Highland Lakes, lake by lake, activity by activity.
The Six Highland Lakes: An Overview
The Highland Lakes were created between 1937 and 1951 when the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) built a series of dams on the Colorado River to control flooding, generate power, and provide water to the growing communities of Central Texas. The six lakes they created, from northwest to southeast, are:
Lake Buchanan — The largest of the Highland Lakes, covering about 22,000 acres and straddling Burnet and Llano counties. Remote, scenic, and famous for striped bass and crappie fishing.
Inks Lake — Small (803 acres), shallow, and spectacularly beautiful, with pink granite outcrops rising from the water. The most popular for paddling and swimming.
Lake LBJ — A "constant level" lake (meaning its water level is kept stable year-round), which makes it one of the most developed and boating-friendly lakes in the chain. Home to Horseshoe Bay Resort.
Lake Marble Falls — The smallest of the six, running through the town of Marble Falls itself. More of a wide river section than a traditional lake, but beautiful and accessible.
Lake Travis — The largest lake south of Lake Buchanan, popular with Austin boaters and home to significant resort and real estate development. About 45 minutes from Marble Falls.
Lake Austin — The most urban of the chain, flowing through the western edges of Austin.
For visitors based in Marble Falls, the most relevant lakes are LBJ, Inks, Marble Falls, and Buchanan — all within a short drive.
Boating
Lake LBJ
Lake LBJ is the boating destination of the Highland Lakes. Because it maintains a constant water level (unlike most Texas lakes, which fluctuate with rainfall), it's reliable year-round for boating of all kinds — wakeboarding, water skiing, tubing, pontoon cruising, and sailing. The lake covers about 6,375 acres with 100+ miles of shoreline and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful Hill Country scenery in the region.
The Horseshoe Bay area offers boat rentals, marina services, and launch facilities for those who don't have their own watercraft. For families visiting Marble Falls who want to spend a day on the water, renting a pontoon boat on Lake LBJ is one of the most satisfying options available.
Lake Buchanan
Lake Buchanan is a different kind of boating experience — bigger, wilder, and more remote. The lake's size (it's the largest of the six) and relative lack of development give it a spacious, almost wilderness quality that the more developed lakes don't have. Fishing boats are common, and the deeper sections of the lake hold striped bass that serious anglers pursue seriously.
Canyon of the Eagles, located on the shores of Lake Buchanan, offers boat tours that provide access to parts of the shoreline that aren't accessible by land — including dramatic cliff sections and areas frequented by bald eagles during winter months.
Swimming
Inks Lake State Park
For swimming, Inks Lake State Park is the premier destination near Marble Falls. The lake's pink granite bottom and clear water give it an almost Caribbean appearance in full sun, and the designated swimming areas are safe and well-managed by the park. The combination of swimming, cliff jumping from the granite outcrops (in designated safe areas), and the visual drama of the pink stone against blue water makes Inks Lake a swimming experience unlike anything else in Texas.
The park is enormously popular in summer and requires reservations for day use during peak season. Book through the Texas State Parks system as early as possible for summer weekends.
Johnson Park, Marble Falls
Right in town, Johnson Park on Lake Marble Falls offers a more casual and accessible swimming option. The park's position on the lake makes it easy to combine a swim with picnicking, fishing from the pier, or a walk on the park's trails — a good choice for families who want lake access without the drive to Inks Lake.
Lake LBJ Public Beaches
Several public access points on Lake LBJ offer swimming beaches that are popular with families, particularly in the Kingsland area north of Marble Falls. These beaches are generally less crowded than Inks Lake during peak season and offer a good combination of calm water and pleasant surroundings.
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Inks Lake
Inks Lake is the single best paddling destination in the Highland Lakes chain. The lake's manageable size, clear water, pink granite shoreline, and extensive no-wake zones create ideal conditions for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Paddling along the granite outcrops, exploring the coves and inlets, and watching the Hill Country wildlife from the water level is one of those experiences that doesn't require any expertise — just a paddle, a boat, and a willingness to move slowly.
The park rents paddle boats, canoes, kayaks (single and double), and stand-up paddleboards from the park store, making this accessible even for visitors who don't have their own equipment.
Colorado River Below the Dams
The sections of the Colorado River between the dams offer flatwater paddling through genuinely beautiful Hill Country scenery. Several outfitters in the Marble Falls and Burnet area offer guided paddle trips and rentals on these stretches. The experience of paddling through limestone and granite canyon walls with the Hill Country rising on either side is different from any lake paddling and worth seeking out.
Fishing
The Highland Lakes are among the best freshwater fishing destinations in Texas, with a variety of species, environments, and fishing styles to suit every approach.
Largemouth Bass
Lake LBJ is consistently rated among the top largemouth bass fishing lakes in Texas. The constant water level maintains the aquatic vegetation that bass use for cover, and the structure along the lake's 100 miles of shoreline provides abundant habitat. Tournament fishing is active on Lake LBJ, and the lake produces trophy-class fish regularly.
Lake Marble Falls and the other smaller lakes in the chain also hold good largemouth populations, and the lower fishing pressure on these lakes compared to LBJ can make for more relaxed angling.
Striped Bass
Lake Buchanan is the destination for striped bass in the Highland Lakes. The lake's cooler, deeper water supports a healthy striper population that grows to significant size. Early morning trolling in the main body of the lake is the most productive approach, and guide services based in the Llano and Burnet area specialize in Highland Lakes striper fishing.
Crappie and Catfish
Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan both produce excellent crappie fishing, particularly in spring when the fish move into shallow water to spawn. Night catfishing on the deeper sections of any Highland Lake can be extremely productive, with blue catfish and channel catfish both present throughout the system.
Practical Fishing Information
A Texas fishing license is required for anglers 17 and older. License can be purchased online through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website or at local bait and tackle shops in Marble Falls. Several fishing guides operate on the Highland Lakes and can be booked for half-day or full-day guided trips — a worthwhile investment for first-time visitors who want to maximize their time on the water.
Water Safety on the Highland Lakes
A few important safety considerations for anyone spending time on Highland Lakes water:
Life jackets. Texas law requires life jackets for children under 13 while on a boat. Regardless of legal requirements, wearing a life jacket is the right call in all boating situations.
Weather awareness. The Hill Country is prone to fast-moving thunderstorms that can turn a calm lake into a dangerous one quickly. Check weather forecasts before launching, watch for developing conditions while on the water, and head to shore immediately if you see lightning or hear thunder.
Swim in designated areas. The areas below some of the Highland Lakes dams can have dangerous currents and cold water discharges. Stay in designated swimming areas and follow all posted signs.
Water levels. Unlike Lake LBJ, most Highland Lakes vary in water level with rainfall. Check current conditions before planning an outing that depends on specific water depths or access points.
The Bottom Line on the Highland Lakes
Few places in Texas offer the combination of water variety, natural beauty, and recreational accessibility that the Highland Lakes provide. From the remote wilderness feeling of Lake Buchanan to the perfectly clear paddling waters of Inks Lake to the world-class bass fishing on Lake LBJ, the chain has something for every kind of water person.
Based in Marble Falls, you have access to all of it. That's the case for using this town as your Highland Lakes home base — everything worth doing on the water is within reach, and when you're ready to come off the lake, one of the best small-town Main Streets in Texas is waiting for you.