Are you looking for some dog-friendly camping places within a short driving distance of Austin? If so, there are several LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) parks which just might fit the bill, including Turkey Bend, where we recently camped with our dogs. Turkey Bend Recreation area is 1,146 acres and most of the park remains undeveloped, except for the camping area that fronts Lake Travis. While you’ll still see “civilization” in the form of a few stately homes just across the lake from the campsites, the park itself is still mostly wild and is home to numerous species of animals. (We saw a fox, lots of deer, hawks, coyotes and an armadillo).
What Are The Campsites Like at Turkey Bend Recreation Area?
Depending on what the level of Lake Travis is at any given time, you may have a waterfront site, or one that has a long grassy area between you and the lake. When we visited Turkey Bend, the lake was very low, water was confined to the old Colorado river channel, and there was a wide grassy meadow between our campsite and the lake – which was perfect for walking dogs. We enjoyed our stay at site #18, which was nice and private, backing up against the woods and some large oak trees.
Campsites 11 through 17 are fairly close together and out in the open, but when the lake level is at a normal level, these sites provide easy access to the water. The Tonkawa camping area offers several nice sites that are under large oaks for shade, which is especially nice to have during the summer months..
All of the campsites we saw at Turkey Bend Recreation Area had fire rings, BBQ grills and even metal poles with hooks for hanging trash bags or camping gear. There is one vault toilet with one stall and several very clean porta-potties at Turkey Bend Recreation Area. There’s a flushing toilet at the park entrance; however, it’s normally closed during the off-season.
Is Turkey Bend Recreation Area Dog-Friendly?
Most of the LCRA parks and recreation areas are very dog-friendly. Be sure to bring your own poop bags and pick up after your pet. Dogs must be kept on a 6′ or shorter leash at your campsite and never left unattended. Off-leash play is allowed outside of your campsite, as long as your dog is under your verbal control and not creating a nuisance to other campers. (We had a couple not-so -friendly, unattended dogs come up to us at our campsite and upset our leashed dogs, so unfortunately not everyone follows the rules).
There’s lots of room for walking dogs and playing fetch and Frisbee here, and most campers do a good job of keeping their dogs well-behaved and under control.
There were some grass burrs or “goat heads” in some areas off the main roads and we had to remove a few from Lizzy Lou’s feet. Because of the large deer population, your dogs may pick up a tick or two here, so you’ll want to avoid taking pets through tall grass and weeds.
Other LCRA Parks On the North Shore of Lake Travis
There are two other LCRA parks on the north shore of Lake Travis where camping is allowed. These are Camp Creek Park and Shaffer Bend Recreation Area. Camp Creek Park has 9 campsites and 6 “glamping” sites, which feature a canvas shelter on a platform, a fire ring and BBQ grill for new campers who don’t own a tent. Both Camp Creek Park and Shaffer Bend Recreation area have vault toilets, with one flushing toilet at the entrance to Shaffer Bend; however, it’s closed during the off-season.
Camp Creek Park is much smaller than Turkey Bend and Shaffer Bend, but it features lots of large, very old native pecan trees along with a picturesque stretch of the upper Colorado River. Camp Creek Park is very popular with anglers, especially during white bass spawning season that occurs here around February. Both parks are normally quiet and peaceful and a great place to relax and enjoy nature without the constant sound of power boats and personal watercraft that you’ll often find farther down the lake.
Camp Creek Park
Shaffer Bend Recreation Area
Shaffer Bend Recreation Area is our favorite LCRA park on the north shore of Lake Travis. At 508 acres – just under half the size of Turkey Bend Recreation Area – this park seems much larger in size, which is largely because of the openness and rolling elevation. Atop some of the hills in Shaffer Bend Recreation Area, you can see for more than 40 miles. You’ll also find several miles of hiking and equestrian trails here, along with the rugged granite boulders and sandy shores of the Colorado River where Lake Travis begins. Fishing can be excellent at Shaffer Bend and there’s always lots of wildlife to see, including whitetail deer, hawks and if you’re lucky – even a bald eagle, which have been seen in the area lately.
Plan Ahead and Book Your Campsite Early!
All the LCRA parks on Lake Travis can reach capacity during the warmer time of the year, so plan ahead and book your site early if you want to go camping here in the spring and summer. During late fall and winter, you’ll have a much easier time of finding a camping spot at most of the LCRA park, including Turkey Bend Recreation Area. There were only two other campers when we visited on a December weekend!
There are also several nice LCRA parks on the south shore of Lake Travis, including Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, a 654 acre park that features 41 campsites and several miles of hiking and biking trails in a wooded area that borders Lake Travis and Grelle Recreation Area.
For more information on LCRA parks and recreation areas, see their park locator page here.
