Lake Whitney State Park

Our final stop on our return from the Big Bend area was at Lake Whitney State Park near Whitney, Texas. The State Park covers 775 acres along the east shore of Lake Whitney. The lake itself covers 237 square miles with over 225 miles of shoreline and holds over 2 million acre-feet of water at flood level. Lake Whitney was created when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Brazos River in 1951. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Division ("TPWD") leased the 775-acre Lake Whitney State Park from the Department of the Army in 1954 and the park opened in May 1965.

As described by the TPWD:

"Lake Whitney State Park lies on the Wa­shi­ta Prairie, which is the eastern edge of the greater Grand Prairie that stretches from the Red River south to the Colorado River. The Washita Prairie fea­tures gently rolling grasslands of little bluestem and Indiangrass."

"Isolated trees and oak mottes crown the hilltops. Ribbons of woodlands follow the creeks and streams feeding the Brazos River."

As seen on our previous stops, wildflowers were everywhere. Many different birds were about, including wild turkeys that could be heard in the woods along the hiking trails.

Here are some photos taken at Lake Whitney: