Looking for some family-friendly recreation on one of the prettiest lakes in all of Texas? Located around 10 miles west of Coleman, Hords Creek Lake is a superb lakeside holiday destination. The history of Hords Creek Lake dates back to the 1940s when Congress authorized the project. The U.S Corps of Engineers and the City of Coleman worked together to create the dam for flood control and water supply to the surrounding area.
An added benefit of Hords Creek Lake is that its creation also helped establish a great fishing, boating, and camping destination. For those wanting to get out on the lake, there are eight boat ramps for you to choose from that you can use to launch your watercraft. Fishing is very popular, whether from boats, piers, or the lakeshore. Bass over 10 pounds have been caught within the lake, along with some tremendous sized sunfish, catfish, and crappie. You can also go swimming in four designated areas around the lake that are marked with floating tubes. For recreation off the lake, there are three day-use areas (Lakeside Park, Friendship Park, and Flat Rock Park) that feature trails and picnic areas.
Hords Creek Lake is well equipped to handle your RV camping needs thanks to the two RV friendly campgrounds available on the banks of the lake. There is a total of 159 campsites for you to choose from, some of which have full hookups. Peak season at Hords Creek Lake is from the beginning of March until the end of September.
Driving to and from Hords Creek Lake is relatively easy as the lake is located nearly directly off the TX-153. There are two main entrances to the lake on the northern side that will allow you to access all of the day-use areas within the Hords Creek Lake project. If you need to get any supplies before your visit to the park, there are a few towns that you can stop at, including Coleman (around 10.5 miles away), Santa Ana (around 19 miles away), and Winters (around 26.5 miles).
All of the roads in and around Hords Creek Lake have been designed with large vehicles in mind, so you should have no trouble navigating any of the roads to the lake or campgrounds. Within the campgrounds, all vehicles must be legally registered, and no off-road vehicles can be used. The maximum amount of motor vehicles at each campsite is two, no matter the circumstances.
If you are just visiting the park, there are three parking lots that you can use for the day. All three are located on the north side of the lake and the maximum speed in and around the lake is 25 miles per hour.
The Lakeside Campground is the largest RV friendly campground available for you to call home at Hords Creek Lake. The campground is situated within the Lakeside Recreation Area and is known for its spotless conditions and large sites that have water views.
There are over 50 sites to choose from, some of which have complete full hookups. Six of the sites have the added bonus of featuring six screened-in shelters to help when the weather gets windy.
Other amenities within the Lakeside Campground include restrooms, showers, multiple swimming areas, boat ramps, and two dump stations. Pets are also allowed, but if you are looking for cell phone reception, it can be a little sketchy on some of the major networks.
Deer are also often seen hanging out in the campground without a care in the world.
The Lakeside Campground is available for you to enjoy all year round and reservations can be made online. Sites can be reserved up to six months in advance.
Another great RV camping option on the banks of Hords Creek Lake is the Flatrock Campground. Flatrock is another great COE operated facility that has paved roads, level sites, and is very clean and well maintained.
The Flatrock Campground also has over 50 sites available for you to enjoy that are a mixture of 30 amp, 50 amp, and full hookup sites. Most of the sites back up right onto the lake, but those that don't are only a short walk away. Other amenities included here are restrooms, toilets, boat ramps, swimming areas, and two dump stations. Like the Lakeside Campground, you may struggle to get cell phone reception on certain networks, and there is no WiFi. Pets are allowed.
Flatrock is only open during the peak season, so if you would like to stay here, you should visit Hords Creek Lake between the beginning of May and the end of September. Reservations can be made online up to six months before your arrival.
Hords Creek Lake is a wonderful swimming destination during the hot Texas summer days. There are four swimming areas on the lake available for you to enjoy, all of which are marked with floating tubes.
The beaches are a little different to the rest of the park as they have fine gravel rather than rock. Three of the four beach areas are only available for registered campers, so if you are camping by the lake, it's better to swim in one of these areas as they shouldn't be as busy as the public beach.
When you are ready to relax after your busy day out on or in the lake, why not consider having a picnic? There are three recreation areas for you to enjoy that feature some great picnicking facilities, such as picnic tables, grills, water collection points, and plenty of room to throw a ball around. There are no group shelters available for you to rent, so all picnicking at Hords Creek Lake is available on a first-come, first-serve basis only.
If you are lucky enough to be visiting Hords Creek Lake during June, you may also get to check out the largest attraction within Coleman County. The Coleman Rodeo is held across three days and attracts people from all over to experience the bull riding, music acts, and dances each and every year. Tickets to the rodeo can be purchased online before the event, which is an excellent idea so that you aren't waiting in lines upon your arrival.
There are no public transport options that will take you to and from Hords Creek Lake.
Thinking about traveling to Hords Creek Lake with a group? If so, consider reserving one of the many group campsites that are on offer. There are six group sites available within the Lakeside Campground that are suitable for groups of up to 200 people. All of these sites also come with electric hookups, so you will be able to use power when staying here. At the Flatrock Campground, there is one non-electric group site that has room for up to 80 people.
Reservations for all group camping sites should be made well in advance since there are not many available. The Lakeside group camping is open all year round, while the Flatrock Campground is open only during the peak season.
Getting out onto the lake is another great way to enjoy the warmer weather during the peak season of Hords Creek Lake. There are eight boat ramps for you to choose from and no restrictions on what watercraft you can take out on the lake.
Please note that there are no marina or boat rentals within Hords Creek Lake, so make sure you bring your own watercraft. Otherwise, you will be watching from the shore.
No matter the time of year that you intend to visit Hords Creek Lake, you can guarantee that there will be some keen anglers throwing a line out and trying to catch the big one. The lake is a great fishing destination and is stocked with a wide variety of fish, including bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish.
Since there isn't a marina or any other stores at the lake, you will have to bring all of your fishing gear to the park if you want to throw out a line. A fishing license will also be mandatory if you plan to catch anything lurking below the surface.
The open grasslands and fields surrounding Hords Creek Lake are home to many different animals of all shapes and sizes. Campers often note seeing deer and wild pigs scavenging around, but if you look up into the trees, you may be able to spot some beautiful birds, such as cardinals and scissor-tailed flycatchers.
If you do plan on doing some wildlife viewing, you can also head to one of the recreational areas that are on the banks of the lake.
