Covering about nine square miles, including 67 miles of shoreline, and situated within gently rolling grasslands and hardwood forests, Pat Mayse Lake in the Red River Basin is a premier RV holiday destination. Located about 12 miles north of Paris, Texas, off US Highway 271, this US Army Corps of Engineers park can be easily accessed by RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles via highways, major roads, and local access roads.
Opportunities for recreation at Pat Mayse Lake include boating and skiing on the lake’ waters; fishing for largemouth bass, white bass, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish; hiking and mountain biking on a series of trails; hunting for game species in public hunting lands and many more. Wildlife and bird viewing opportunities also abound in this lake park for enthusiasts, and so do swimming opportunities. Sightseers and adventurous campers can take short trips to Hugo Lake and Cooper Lake State Park for additional fun.
RV and tent camping options are available at Pat Mayse Lake for vacationers within campsites that are equipped with electric and water hookups. The campgrounds also feature amenities such as showers, flush and pit toilets, potable water, boat ramp, and dump station.
Pat Mayse Lake is located about 12 miles north of Paris, Texas, off US Highway 271, and is easy to access by vacationers driving there in their RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles. A number of major and local access roads lead to the park, and navigation within the park is also easy. There are no driving restrictions within this COE park. Equipment rentals are available at Cooper Lake State Park south of this lake park.
There are parking spaces available for vacationers and visitors at and around Pat Mayse for RVs, trailers, and cars. The campgrounds and also have parking pads for vehicles. Moreover, overnight parking is also available.
There are no direct public transportation services to Pat Mayse Lake.
Pat Mayse West campground, sitting on the banks of Pat Mayse Lake, is a pet-friendly campground that is open year-round, but available by reservations between March and October (peak season). Picnicking, boating, swimming, and fishing are some of the outdoor recreation activities in the campground.
At this campground, there are 88 campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers. All the campsites have water hookups, but only 83 have electric hookups. Amenities include showers, flush and pit toilets, potable water, boat ramp, and dump station.
The maximum RV/trailer length at this campground is 90 feet.
Sanders Cove campground, located on the banks of Pat Mayse Lake, is a pet-friendly campground that is open year-round, but available by reservations between March and October (peak season). Picnicking, boating, swimming, and fishing are some of the outdoor recreation activities in the campground.
At this campground, there are 89 campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers. All but two campsites have electric and water hookups. Amenities include showers, flush and pit toilets, potable water, boat ramp, and dump station.
The maximum RV/trailer length at this campground is 80 feet.
Pat Mayse East campground is a pet-friendly campground that is open year-round and available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Picnicking, boating, swimming, and fishing are some of the outdoor recreation activities in the campground.
At this campground, there are 26 campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers. All the campsites have electric and water hookups. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, potable water, boat ramp, and dump station.
The maximum RV/trailer length at this campground is 40 feet.
Exciting boating opportunities are available at Pat Mayse Lake for RV campers and visitors who come along with their watercraft. There are a number of boat launch ramps available, where boaters can kickstart their adventure and exploration of the lake. Safety is paramount on the lake, so all boaters are required to abide by certain rules. Each boat is required to have a Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device and all children under 13 years of age must wear them when on boats.
Fishing is a popular activity at Pat Mayse Lake as the reservoir contains various fish species. The predominant fish species available in the lake include largemouth bass, white bass, spotted bass, crappie, and catfish. White bass is abundant in the open water areas while crappie is mostly caught in the standing timber in the lake. The spotted bass in the lake aren’t generally big. All anglers are required to keep clear of boat channels on the lake, as well as skiing and swimming areas.
The Barber Hills Mountain Bike and Hiking Trails at Pat Mayse Lake feature a series of trails that run through various parts of the park offering exciting adventures to campers and visitors. The trails run from the parking area at the Overlook to Sanders Cove campground and have something for everyone. Whether you’re a novice hiker or biker, or a skilled hiker and mountain biker, you’ll find suitable trails for you at the park. What’s interesting to note is that the park’s trails are constructed and maintained by volunteers.
Hunting opportunities abound at Pat Mayse Lake, as the park consists of public hunting land areas that feature upland game species and white-tailed deer, fox, squirrel, and bobwhite quail. Other wildlife present in the park that hunters go after are mourning dove, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, as well as furbearers such as beaver and mink. Texas hunting regulations are in force in the park. Hunters are required to keep their guns well-kept and always treat them as if they are loaded
A wide variety of bird species are present at Pat Mayse Lake to be seen by bird watchers and visitors at the park. The most commonly seen bird in the park by observers is the Caspian Tern, which is large and has a black-crowned head. Other bird species commonly spotted in the pack include Forster’s Tern, American Crow, dark-eyed junco, and eastern meadowlark. You may be lucky to see turkey vulture, red-shouldered hawk, red-bellied woodpecker, loggerhead shrike, and blue jay too.
Pat Mayse Lake offers exciting swimming opportunities for campers and visitors who fancy the water sport. The lake is open to swimming, but caution is advised for all who wish to take a dip in the park’s water.
Campers and visitors should only swim in areas where the water depth is familiar to prevent dangerous incidents. Also, it is advisable to not swim alone. It is recommended that divers verify the water depth to ensure that it is deep enough for diving.
