Lake Austin
Written by Heather Calkins   

Lake Austin, Austin, Texas

Minutes from town, a whole new world.

Winding through the hills of west Austin, Lake Austin’s shores hold some of the most beautiful and desirable property in the city (as well as some of the most expensive homes). But the draw, of course, is the water. Formed by the construction of Tom Miller Dam and Mansfield Dam, Lake Austin is a nearly constant-level lake, which allows residents and visitors to enjoy it year round. And with an abundance of parks and restaurants lining the shores, there’s always something to do on Lake Austin.
 

Due to the high limestone cliffs lining the shores of the northern end of the lake, Lake Austin has long been a favorite with water skiers and wakeboarders. The waters remain cooler than other area lakes because it is filled through Mansfield Dam by the waters from the bottom of Lake Travis. An important little factoid once the Texas summer heat starts hovering around 100º.

In the early morning hours, you’ll find the waters dotted with fishing boats, as anglers patiently await the day’s catch. The lake contains healthy populations of catfish, sunfish, and largemouth bass, which are stocked fairly regularly. Due to the abundance of vegetation in Lake Austin, largemouth bass up to ten pounds are caught on a regular basis. There is a Triploid Grass Carp Permit in effect on Lake Austin, so if you catch a grass carp, you must toss it back.

Just trust us: it's a lake, not a river.
Pennybacker Bridge
Among the most photographed features on Lake Austin are the Pennybacker Bridge and the view from Mt. Bonnell. Pennybacker Bridge—often called The 360 Bridge—is part of North Capital of Texas Highway, also called Loop 360. (Detecting a theme?) The bridge was completed in 1982, connecting one of the most scenic drives in the Texas Hill Country to Austin. Located below the bridge is one of the most popular boat launches on Lake Austin. Other boat ramps are located in Quinlan Park and Walsh Landing.

A few miles downstream, Mt. Bonnell is a place for land lovers to soak in the beauty. The highest point within Austin city limits, the 100-plus steps to the top provide one of the most scenic lookouts in Central Texas.

Of course, this is only a snapshot of the 1600 surface acres Lake Austin has to offer. Navigating austin.com's Lake Life section will give you a few more ideas on what to do while navigating the waters.

Where to Play

Where to Eat