Lewisville Lake

Lewisville Lake is the big blue backyard of Denton County. More than 29,000 acres of water sit between I-35E and the Frisco side of the metroplex, ringed by Lewisville, Highland Village, Lake Dallas, Hickory Creek, Little Elm and The Colony. For North Dallas, Plano and Frisco it is the closest place to fill a surf boat with ballast and run long, wide-open laps, so a summer Saturday out here feels like the whole neighborhood came along.

Lewisville Lake Quick Facts

Where to Launch and Meet Up

Lewisville has public ramps on every side of the lake, so the right starting point usually comes down to which side of the metroplex your group is driving from. Most parks charge a day-use or launch fee.

• Lewisville Lake Park (Lewisville): the busiest and most developed park, on the south shore right off I-35E, with multiple ramps, a swim beach and a fishing barge.
• Copperas Branch and Pilot Knoll (Highland Village): west-shore parks that are handy for Flower Mound and Highland Village crews. Pilot Knoll also has campsites if you want to make a weekend of it.
• Arrowhead, Sycamore Bend and Point Vista (Hickory Creek): a cluster of ramps along the Hickory Creek arm, close to I-35E for Denton and Corinth.
• Little Elm Park (Little Elm): home of the sandy Little Elm Beach and the Lakefront district, a favorite meeting spot for Frisco and Prosper groups.
• Hidden Cove, Stewart Creek and East Hill (The Colony): east-shore parks that get Plano and Frisco boaters on the water fastest.

Where to Ride, Surf and Tube

The main lake. The wide water south of the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge, between Lake Park, Highland Village and The Colony, is where you want to be for surf sets, wakeboarding and long tube pulls. It is glassy early, then picks up chop by early afternoon as the south breeze builds and traffic grows, so serious riders head out first thing.

Under the bridge. The 1.7-mile toll bridge that carries Eldorado Parkway from Lake Dallas to Little Elm is the easiest landmark on the lake. North of it the lake narrows into arms toward Lakewood Village and Oak Point, with more coves and a little less boat traffic.

The coves. The coves along the Little Elm and Hidden Cove side are where boats drop anchor, toss out a floating lily pad and swim. On holiday weekends they turn social fast; on a weekday you may have one to yourself.

The upper arms. The Hickory Creek and Little Elm Creek arms get shallow, and the Corps lake map marks stump fields in parts of them. Keep to open channels, run them at a relaxed speed and save the hard riding for the main lake.

Rentals That Fit Lewisville Lake

• MasterCraft surf boats – Lewisville’s long, open runs are made for a ballasted surf wave. Choose a boat for 12 to 18 people, so the whole group rides together instead of splitting across two boats.
• Sea-Doo and Kawasaki jet skis – three-seat Sea-Doos are the fun way to explore the coves, run up toward Little Elm or pull a tube, and our Kawasaki stand-up is there for riders who want something sportier. Renting two or more keeps the group together.
• Water toys – wakeboards, surfboards, tubes, skis, paddleboards, floating lily pads and a 12-foot water trampoline can be added to any boat or Sea-Doo rental.
• Flyboard lessons and tours – an instructor gets you up and hovering above the water in a few tries. It makes a great add-on for birthdays and group days on the main lake.
• Captained boat charters – prefer to relax? Add one of our captains to drive, pull riders and pick the best water for the conditions.

Tips for a Smoother Lake Day

• Beat the rush. On summer weekends the popular parks fill and ramp lines grow by late morning. Arriving early gets you a parking spot and the smoothest water of the day.
• Pick weekdays for space. A Tuesday on Lewisville feels like a different lake than a Saturday in July.
• Watch the sky. North Texas thunderstorms build quickly on summer afternoons. If you see lightning, head for shore.
• Pack for the heat. Bring more water than you think you need, sunscreen, hats and a cooler. There is very little shade once you leave the dock.
• Plan lunch. The Lakefront at Little Elm sits right on the water, and the towns around the lake have plenty of places to eat before or after.

Rules on the Water

• Jet skis must be off the water between sunset and sunrise, and everyone riding wears a life jacket with the safety lanyard clipped to the driver.
• Stay at least 50 feet from other boats, swimmers, docks and the shoreline unless you are at idle speed.
• Children under 13 must wear a life jacket whenever the boat is moving.
• When towing a rider, have an observer on board watching them, and finish towing by a half hour after sunset.
• Respect the buoyed swim beaches, no-wake zones near ramps and marinas, and the restricted water around the dam.

Pair It With Another DFW Lake

Lewisville is one of several great boating lakes within an hour of downtown. Grapevine Lake is just southwest, Ray Roberts Lake sits farther north on the same river, just past Denton, and the east side of the metroplex has Lake Ray Hubbard and Lavon Lake. Fort Worth crews can try Eagle Mountain Lake or Benbrook Lake, and south Dallas has Joe Pool Lake. See every lake we serve on our destinations page.

Find Lewisville Lake on the Map