Lake Whitney Reservoir lies 60 miles south of Ft. Worth, Texas, and 30 miles northwest of Waco, Texas, as the crow flies in the amazing Texas Hill Country. The easiest way to reach this lake on the Brazos River is to take I35W south from Ft. Worth and I35 north from Waco to Hillsboro, Texas, and then west on SH 22. Bosque and Hill Counties surround Lake Whitney. Hillsboro is the closest town with shopping. Its surface area covers 23,500 acres with a maximum depth of 108 feet and 225 miles of shoreline.
There is plenty to do and see at Lake Whitney. Lake Whitney State Park plus several other parks offer wonderful outdoor activities. The small town of Whitney, Texas, is located on Lake Whitney’s east side. Activities include fishing, boating, swimming, exploring nature trails, geocaching, hunting, golf, and camping. The U.S. Corp of Engineers manages Lake Whitney.
History of Lake Whitney
Rumor has it that Towash, Texas, is located under Lake Whitney. The Ioni Indians migrated to the area in 1835 from Louisiana, and the town was supposedly named for their Chief Towash. By 1850, the Indians had moved on, and white settlers replaced them. In 1854, two brothers named Simpson and James Dyer asked the State of Texas for permission to build a dam to power a grist mill. The mill processed grain and wool to produce blankets and clothing. At the beginning of the Civil War, women traveled for 100 miles to get their wool carded for blankets and clothing for Confederate soldiers. Towash had a post office for two years in the 1890s, plus a ferry, a blacksmith, and wagon yards. The town of Whitney was larger and more attractive to businesses and people.
The process of creating Lake Whitney began in the 1940s in response to serious flooding in the previous three decades. The U.S. Congress approved construction of the Whitney Lake Dam in 1944 for flood control and hydroelectric power. The severe drought of the 1950s added water storage usage of the Lake Whitney Reservoir. Impoundment began in 1951.
Lake Whitney Fishing
Predominant fish species in Lake Whitney are large, smallmouth, white, and striped bass, blue and channel catfish, crappie, plus limited sunfish. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department asks anglers to check their bloom status for golden algae at Lake Whitney. Golden algae is toxic to fish and can impact fishing. March and May are the best months for catching striped bass. Large schools of white bass surface chasing schools of shad. Spring is the best time to catch largemouth bass and crappie. Catch your limit of catfish year round. Anglers find sunfish during April and May. There is plenty of fish, so grab your poles and tackle and head on out to Lake Whitney. For hassle free fishing, explore our Lake Whitney Fishing Guides page.
Boating On Lake Whitney
Lake Whitney accommodates water sports of all kinds. Full service marinas have wet slips, dry storage, fuel, boat repair services, and boat ramps. Many businesses in the Lake Whitney area offer other boating or water sports products. There are canoe, kayak, and paddleboat rental businesses also. The Brazos river is known for its calm waters, and south of the Whitney Lake Dam is the perfect lake for canoeing and kayaking activities, especially for beginners. The waters are also calm north of Lake Whitney. Floating is also popular on Lake Whitney and the Brazos River.
Boaters and water sport enthusiasts will find plenty of places to stop and swim, picnic or camp along Lake Whitney’s shoreline. Many people love to sail on Lake Whitney. Airboat adventures down the Brazos River from Lake Whitney have become extremely popular. On Lake Whitney, people will see every kind of boat made for a lake from powerboats to pontoon boats. Buy and sell boats on our Lake Whitney Boats For Sale page.
Lake Whitney Marinas
There are four marinas located on Lake Whitney, one on the west side, two on the northeast side, and two on the southern end, plus boat ramps in the different parks around Lake Whitney. One unique marina, the Lake Whitney Marina Floating Ship’s Store, is just that, a store on the water open year round. The other three marinas are full service, so there is no scarcity of boating services on Lake Whitney, no matter what you may need. The different services offered by the marinas vary, but you can find camping and RV sites,, lodging, cabin rentals, parks, recreation areas, picnic spots, trails, shoreline activities, and food services. Find the perfect fit on our Lake Whitney Marinas page.
Rental Cabins and Vacation Homes
Many of the parks have cabins for rent on Lake Whitney, right on the lake and close to the lake. They vary in size, price, and amenities, and you can rent them by the day or week. Vacation homes range from cozy cottages to large modern homes that sleep up to 14 people. Some are on the water, and others are near the lake. Numerous individual Lake Whitney vacation home landlords are gracious hosts who give great service. Lake Whitney is extremely popular in a beautiful rural area in the Texas Hill Country. You do need to call ahead to make sure there is availability whether you want a home, cabin, or cottage. Check listings and availability for your perfect getaway today on our Lake Whitney Cabins page.
Camping At Lake Whitney
Numerous campgrounds dotted around Lake Whitney offer camping with water and electric and RV sites. Many of them sit on acres and acres of property from 60 acres to 450 acres. Accommodations include BBQ pits, recreation centers and game rooms, swimming pools, laundry facilities, mini golf, tennis courts, picnic spots, nature and horseback riding trails to name a few, plus some welcome your pets on leashes. The Brazos River is one of the most beautiful Rivers in Texas, and the Lake Whitney Reservoir makes its Brazos River channel running through its core come alive with breathtaking scenery and nature. Explore your camping options on our Lake Whitney Campgrounds and RV Parks page.
Things To Do At Lake Whitney
If you love to eat out, the Lake Whitney region pops ups with that great Texas Hill Country cooking. Whitney, Texas, is only six miles from the southeast side of the lake with several restaurants. There quite a few more eateries, mostly on the eastern and southern sides of Lake Whitney offering all varieties of cuisine. Texas Hill Country locals demand great food, so they serve it up to visitors as well. Many of these establishments also serve beer, wine, and liquor.
The White Bluff Resort dishes up 36 holes of championship golfing greatness nestled in the famous Texas Hill Country limestone bluffs. Both of its 18-hole courses rate four stars. Lake Whitney State Park has some of the coolest hiking trails in Texas full of magnificent oak trees. You can bring your horses for great experiences with your equine family members at the Lake Whitney State Park and McCown Valley Park.
The Brazos Street Market in Whitney is one of the coolest indoor flea markets, ever, with one-of-a-kind items, vintage pieces and antiques, and handmade crafts plus friendly staff members. Visit the Big Rock Winery and find delectable snacks while they serve you their best wines looking over stunning views of sunsets and wildlife, and take a relaxing 20-minute tour of their vineyards.
You might need to run up to Hillsboro for supplies, so while you’re there, check out the Outlets at Hillsboro mall. You never know what deal you might find there. Hillsboro has the closest Walmart to Lake Whitney. Last, but certainly not least, Luxurious River Cruise in Waco is one of the best tours on the Brazos River in Texas. The Brazos River plays a huge role in Texas history, and when you take this tour on a gorgeous pontoon boat, you will hear wonderful historical stories about adventures of historical figures, see wonderful wildlife, and iconic Waco landmarks.
Explore more activities on our Things To Do At Lake Whitney page.
Lake Whitney Weather
Lake Whitney sees an average of 38 inches of rain per year with 0 snow and 228 days of sunshine. The winter low in January is 34 degrees and a summer high in July of 95 degrees. April, May, and October are the most comfortable months for this region. Stay up to date on our Lake Whitney Weather Report page.
Lake Whitney Real Estate
If you want a lake home at Lake Whitney, the price for one is much less expensive than on many other lakes in Texas. A modern lake home runs an average of $260,000. Normally, there are about 50 lake homes for sale and 120 lots or land for sale in the area. Clockwise from east to west, the school districts around Lake Whitney are Blum ISD, Hillsboro ISD, Whitney Elementary School, Aquilla ISD, Meridian ISD, and Kopperl ISD. The closest shopping center is in Hillsboro. Find an experienced real estate professional for your perfect lake home on our Lake Whitney Homes For Sale page.
Lake Whitney Zip Codes
Hill County:
76055, 76621, 76622, 76627, 76628, 76631, 76645, 76648, 76660, 76673, 76678, 76692, and 76055.
Bosque County:
76634, 76637, 76644, 76649, 76652, 76666, 76671, 76689, and 76690.