Kulas' dog, Nala, was playing in the water nearby while her husband, Ivan, used a GoPro to film their daughter’s first time in the water. According to Kulas, Devil’s Waterhole appeared in a search for the best swimming holes in Texas, and they chose to spend the weekend camping at Inks Lake State Park. I spoke with Kristin Kulas, who was visiting with her husband and daughter from the Dallas area. This is the sort of ideal setting I think everyone wants when they plan a day trip, whether it's a group of buddies seeking a place to hang or a family camping, Devil’s Waterhole seems to be the perfect venue. Everyone was able to tuck away into their own corner or mingle along the shoreline. Kids were goading each other into backflips while their parents relaxed on inner tubes or pop-up chairs, the roles occasionally reversed.Īlthough plenty of people were enjoying the ambiance, it never felt crowded. The shade of the surrounding trees, cool water, and copious amounts of granite high-dives create a perfect combination of relaxation and exhilaration. Once I arrived, I could see why this is a prime Highland Lakes destination. His foul-mouthed frustrations gave rise to the name Devil’s Waterhole.
Cursing and hollering could be heard in the distance while he worked to free the wheels. According to local lore, an old landowner used to have to cross the creek every once and awhile near the waterhole and his wagon would often get stuck in the treacherous terrain. While Devil’s Waterhole might sound ominous, the story behind the name is relatively ridiculous. Toward the end of the trail, exposed granite dominates the hillside, leading to a much longer trail system that continues around the lake via Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail and Valley Spring Creek Trail. Within 5 minutes, you’ll find yourself at splashdown. Cedars and oaks stretch their branches overhead and patches of prickly pear poke through the tall grass along the path. The trail to Devil’s Waterhole is a short but scenic trek along the lakeshore. On a busy weekend, you might want to arrive early to grab a convenient parking spot, but on a weekday, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a space. Once in the park, you can drive to the doorstep of Devil’s Waterhole. Or, you can be a good Texan and grab a Texas State Parks Pass, which covers everyone in your vehicle at all state parks for one whole year. Once you leave the highway, Park Road 4 takes you along the contour of Inks Lake, highlighting Hill Country grandeur along the way.Īdmission into the park is $7 for ages 13 and older and free for kids 12 and younger - a great deal for a day of fun. It is roughly 13 minutes from downtown Burnet and fewer than 30 minutes from downtown Marble Falls. Only 3.4 miles off of Texas 29, Inks Lake State Park is highly accessible.
Inks Lake State Park lies along the southeastern shore of the lake and has some of the best hiking and swimming areas in the Highland Lakes. Inks Lake is the second lake in the chain of Highland Lakes that begins with Lake Buchanan and ends with Lake Austin. This shady, secluded spot is surrounded by old-growth forest and gargantuan hunks of granite that create a hideaway from the rest of the park. I made the trip to Inks Lake State Park to hop in the hole myself and see what all the hubbub was about.ĭevil’s Waterhole is a deep pool tucked away on an eastern branch of Inks Lake where Spring Creek merges with the Colorado River. Despite its name, Devil’s Waterhole at Inks Lake State Park is a slice of swimming hole heaven, where Texans have been doing cannonballs and backflips off of a granite overhang into the water for decades.Ī small dam on the Colorado River, ancient volcanic rock, and the superb efforts of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have combined to create a pristine paradise for beating the summer heat.