White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas

WHITE ROCK LAKE & PARK IN DALLAS

In the year 1910 the town of Dallas, Texas was suffering from a water shortage. So a dam was built across White Rock Creek creating White Rock Lake. The lake was also used to cool the condenser at an electric steam generating plant. During World War II, after Rommel's Afrika Korps was routed in North Africa, German prisoners of war were held in barracks at Winfrey Point on White Rock Lake. By the 1930s the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) began turning the land surrounding White Rock Lake into a park. The area around the lake became prime Dallas real estate with highly desired residential areas including Forest Hills, Little Forest Hills, Lakewood, Old Lake Highlands, Casa Linda and Lake Park Estates. Current day White Rock Lake Park is surrounded by a 9.33 mile biking, hiking and running trail. A section of the trail runs by the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. You can fish and float your boat in the lake, but swimming is not permitted. Why we do not know.

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Here we are looking at some big white birds in the trees above the lower part of the White Rock Lake dam's spillway. White Rock Creek continues on to eventually meet up with the Trinity River.

After a hard rain this is a spectacular site with water falling over the length of the dam's spillway. This view is from the recreational trail's bridge across White Rock Creek.

A sign for the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden which is on the other side of the fence.

Dave of Dallas YouTube Video of White Rock Lake

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A couple guys fishing on one of the numerous fishing piers located throughout the park. The downtown Dallas skyline is in the distance.

A flock of geese appear to call this part of White Rock Lake home.

Some areas of the trail are nicely shaded.

The park is very dog friendly with water provided for canines at several locations.

A pair of kayakers paddling south.

One of the marinas, all of which are located on the east side of the lake.

A couple of kayakers heading north up White Rock Creek, paddling under the Northwest Highway bridge over the lake. The bridge used to also be the crossing for bikers, hikers and runners.

Here we are looking at the new bridge that now takes bikers, hikers and runners across to the west side of White Rock Lake, letting them now avoid crossing on busy Northwest Highway.

Now we are on the new bridge. This bridge has greatly improved the experience of pedaling around White Rock Lake.

It does not appear to be as large as Fort Woof, but the White Rock Lake Dog Park does have one thing Fort Woof does not have, that being a water feature. While humans are not allowed to swim in the lake, apparently dogs are.

A short distance from the new bridge this boardwalk now takes you across a section of the lake.

We needed a break from the biking and this looked like a nice spot to stop and do some reading. So we did.

A look across the lake at the marinas on the east side.

One of the mansions that are on the west side of White Rock Lake.

This boathouse has now been restored and is full of kayaks securely behind a sophisticated lock system. Previously this boathouse was empty and you could go inside.

The wheelchair friendly switchback trail up to the top of White Rock dam.

Looking south from the top of the dam. We have now almost come full circle from our starting point.

Below is a video of another great Dallas attraction, the Katy Trail

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