There’s a Devil’s Waterhole in Inks Lake State Park

“Wait! What? A devil’s waterhole in Inks Lake State Park?” you might wonder. You are right, but there’s nothing to worry about. It’s only a tiny part of the Inks Lake State Park where you can swim and jump from the cliff or row your canoe to this inlet. Sounds cool, right?

But why they named it Devil’s Waterhole? Well, legend has it that the land’s previous owner liked to curse – loudly – whenever his wagon got stuck crossing it.

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The first impression we got when we arrived at Inks Lake State Park was this park is for kayaking or canoeing.

We saw people paddling at every corner of the lake or kayaks/canoes rested by the campsites when the owner had their BBQ lunch. When we stopped at the store, people lined up at the kayak/canoe rental.

Later, I read that the lake’s level usually stays constant. So it is excellent for water sports. No wonder!

Our first visit was during Spring Break, and we visited again during Thanksgiving Break. These are two of their busiest season besides summertime.

Visitors to the park were kayaking/canoeing also during Thanksgiving because the weather was still pleasant.

Of course, that’s not the only thing you can do at this place. You can swim, boat, water ski, scuba dive, or fish. On land, you can camp, backpack, geocache, and observe nature.

If your family enjoys hiking, Inks Lake State Park has 9 miles of hiking trails through shady forests and rocky hills. Do the Pecan Flat trails, a self-guided 3.3-mile trail. It is perfect for the whole family.

But, either you stay for a night or two or just visit for a few hours on your way to Fredericksburg, a visit to Devil’s Waterhole is a must. You won’t regret your stop.

Devil’s Waterhole in Inks Lake State Park

Devil’s Waterhole, Devil’s watering hole, Devil’s Hole, whatever you call it, is located on the east side of Inks Lake State Park. It’s where Spring Creek and Inks Lake meet.

From the entrance, make a right and follow the road until you see a sign to the Devil’s Waterhole.

Even though the parking lot is spacious, I suggest you arrive early to secure a spot since it’s the most popular destination in the Park. If you stay in the Park, walk or bike to Devil’s Waterhole.

From the parking, you will hike on Devil’s Waterhole Nature Trail to the swimming hole. It’s an easy 0.18 mi trail with great lake views and access to several fishing spots.

When you get to the waterhole, you will see rocks that make you want to explore it immediately. It would be best if you climbed these rocks. But, not all sections of these areas are easy to explore. 

However, climbing the rocks is a fun way to explore the Devil’s Waterhole area. You will see the Devil’s Waterhole from above and more shallow swimming holes as you walk toward Valley Spring Creek Waterfall.

Remember! You do the rock exploration around Devil’s Waterhole at your own risk! Just like swimming in the waterhole or jumping from a cliff. No lifeguards on duty!

If you want to do more hikes, there’s a trail starting at Devil’s Waterhole, the Valley Spring Creek Trail. Another easy track, .84 mi, will take you along Spring Creek before looping around through oak, juniper, and mesquite woodlands.

Before you loop back on Spring Creek Trail, you will see another trail, the Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail. A moderate and a bit longer track, 1.15 mi, will take you across the creek to several beautiful vistas of Inks Lake as you walk along the north shoreline. You will stop at Devil’s Waterhole Scenic Overlook and a bird blind at the end of the trail.

In the springtime, the weather is usually warm for visitors to jump into the water. When we visited during Spring Break, teenagers were having a blast jumping from the rocks into the Devil’s Hole.

As our son was too young to jump from the cliff, we walked further to the bank and found a spot to watch him play in the water. It’s a perfect spot for families with little children.

Our son had fun playing in the water, and I felt guilty because I didn’t pack his swim trunks. I thought about jumping into the water, but I didn’t have clean clothes in the car. Oh, well.

When we visited during Thanksgiving Break, we didn’t see visitors swimming, but some of them were kayaking and fishing. I think the water temperature was not pleasant for swimming anymore.

Unique Geology of Inks Lake State Park

When exploring the Devil’s Waterhole area, I was struck by the beautiful pink rocks protruding through the limestone. It reminded me of Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg.

From the park’s brochure, I learned that they are metamorphic rocks called Valley Spring gneiss (“nice”). This gneiss is often mistaken for Town Mountain granite since they have similar color and texture. The small amount of granite in the park appears only as veins cutting through the gneiss.

Inks Lake State Park sits on the east edge of the Llano Uplift, the geologic heart of Texas. It has some of the best views of pre-Cambrian (more than 600 million years old) geology in the state; those pink rocks that you won’t miss seeing while in the park.

Snakes In The Park

Unfortunately, many snakes live in the park. The good thing is, that most of them are nonvenomous.

Water snakes like diamondback water snakes (or blotched water snakes) are the vast majority of snake sightings. These snakes are nonvenomous but can expel a very foul-smelling musk when bothered. Also, they are not afraid to strike.

Venomous snakes like western diamondback rattlesnake, western cottonmouth (or water moccasin), and Texas coral snake live here, but they rarely see these snakes.

So, what to do when we encounter a snake? Number one, leave them alone! Do not attempt to poke, prod, or move the snake. When you see them while swimming, just move away. Most snake bites occur when people go off the trail, stick their hands and feet under ledges or crevices, or try to move, touch, or kill the snakes.

We saw one when we were rock hopping around Valley Spring Creek on Thanksgiving Break.

Where To Stay in Inks Lake State Park

There are nearly 200 campsites and 22 cabins (with AC and two are ADA-accessible) in the park. You can choose from campsites with electricity, electricity for tents only, campsites with water, or primitive campsites (hike-in.) Many of them are lakeside or have easy access to the lake. If you come with a sponsored youth group, you can rent the park’s youth group camping area.

Newly renovated restrooms can be found at every loop, with flush toilets and hot showers in every one of them. Also, several camping loops have playgrounds.

Tips to know before visiting the park:

– The lake’s level usually stays constant.

– Book your site in advance, especially during peak season (summer, Spring Break, Thanksgiving Break.)

– Entrance fee: $6/adult (day use); kids 12 and under are free. Or use your Texas State Park Pass.

– The park store sells food, camping supplies, and souvenirs.

– Sweet Marley trailer, located next to the general store, offers snow cones, root beer floats, nachos, hot dogs, and more from Friday to Sunday.

– About 6.4 miles to the south is Longhorn Cavern State Park with its unique flow cave formation. Don’t forget to stop here while you are visiting Inks Lake SP.

Have you been to Devil’s Waterhole in Inks Lake State Park? Tell me about your experiences by leaving a comment below. I would love to hear that.

Location: 3630 Park Road 4 West, Burnet, TX 78611. Phone: (512) 793-2223.

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