Lake Tawakoni: A Premier Destination for Outdoor Recreation in East Texas

Located just an hour east of Dallas and 7 miles east of Quinlan, Lake Tawakoni is a favorite spot for boating, fishing, and all-around lake life. Spanning 36,700 acres with approximately 200 miles of shoreline, it offers endless opportunities for recreation. Whether you're into swimming, boating, water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, picnicking, or even duck hunting, there's something for everyone. It's also a great place to own a summer lake home, with scenic views and direct water access.

Nicknamed the “Catfish Capital of Texas,” Lake Tawakoni is renowned for its exceptional catfishing. But the angling doesn’t stop there — the lake also supports strong populations of striped bass, white bass, largemouth bass, hybrid bass, sand bass, and crappie. Hybrid striped bass average 7–8 pounds, and the lake record for a striper stands at 22.5 lbs, caught in 2004 by Tim Austin.

Lake Tawakoni State Park

For those who prefer a mix of water and land adventures, Lake Tawakoni State Park is a 376-acre park offering 5.2 miles of shoreline. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing, as well as sandy beaches, picnic areas, and boat docks. The park features three scenic nature trails winding through both open spaces and wooded areas, offering beautiful views of the lake and its natural surroundings.

Lake Tawakoni spans three counties — Rains, Hunt, and Van Zandt — and is fed by the Iron Bridge Dam, located in Van Zandt and Rains counties. This rolled-earth embankment dam includes an ungated concrete spillway and stretches a total of 5.5 miles in length.

While you're in the area, take a short drive to Edgewood, Texas, and visit the Edgewood Heritage Park & Historic Village. Spanning parts of three downtown blocks, the Village recreates rural life in East Texas circa 1900. It’s operated by the Edgewood Historical Society, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving local history.

Lake Tawakoni Map