Cleburne State Park
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Cleburne State Park
Swimming hole in Cleburne, Texas · Lake
Swim at the Cedar Lake beach in the Cedar Lodge day-use area — a clear, spring-fed, 116-acre lake ringed by cedar and oak woods, with no-wake boating only.
Typical season: Late spring to early autumn for swimming; the park’s busy season is spring and summer. Open daily 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
About Cleburne State Park
Cleburne State Park is built around one clear, spring-fed lake: 116-acre Cedar Lake, ringed by cedar and oak woods on the northern edge of the Hill Country, about 30 minutes southwest of Fort Worth. The swim beach sits in the Cedar Lodge day-use area, and the rest of the lake stays calm by design — boating is no-wake only and personal watercraft are banned, so paddlers, anglers and swimmers share quiet water. You can rent a single or double kayak from the self-service kiosk, fish from the ADA-accessible covered pier without a license, or borrow tackle from the park. On land, nearly 13 miles of trails run from easy strolls to strenuous climbs, including the Spillway Trail to the hand-carved three-tiered spillway the Civilian Conservation Corps built in the 1930s — after rain it resembles a waterfall. The CCC also built the dam, road and entry portals you still use today. With 58 campsites, screened shelters and cabins under the trees, this is an easy overnight escape as well as a day swim.
Key facts
Highlights
- 116-acre spring-fed Cedar Lake with a swim beach in the day-use area.
- Hand-carved three-tiered CCC spillway that resembles a waterfall after rains.
- Nearly 13 miles of trails through cedar and oak forest on the northern edge of the Hill Country.
Access & fees
Entry costs $6 per day for everyone 13 and older; children 12 and under are free, and a $70 Texas State Parks Pass covers entry for pass holders. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., about 10 miles west of Cleburne. Reserve day passes and campsites ahead of time — TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and highly recommends reservations for both camping and day use, especially in the spring and summer busy season. The swim beach is in the Cedar Lodge day-use area, an easy walk from parking.
Stay safe
- There is no lifeguard on duty at the swim beach — swimming is at your own risk, and children must be supervised by an adult who can swim.
- Always swim with a friend, and stay in the designated swimming area.
- Cedar Lake is a natural lake — watch for sudden drop-offs, changing bottoms and unseen objects below the surface.
- Boats keep to no-wake speed and personal watercraft are prohibited, but stay aware of paddlers and boats when you swim.
Map & location
FAQs
Can you swim at Cleburne State Park?
Yes. Swimming is one of the park’s listed lake activities, and the TPWD park map marks a beach in the Cedar Lodge day-use area on spring-fed Cedar Lake.
How much does entry cost?
$6 per day for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under are free. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) covers the entry fee.
Can I camp at Cleburne State Park?
Yes — there are 58 campsites (full-hookup and water/electric), 3 screened shelters and 3 cabins, plus a youth group camp with a dining hall and barracks.
Editorial review & methodology
Every listing is researched from official land-manager sources, including park, county and state pages, and each fact is re-checked against the named source before publication.
Each page shows its last-verified date, so you can see how recently the details were checked.
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Photo: ‘Cleburne State Park October 2020 01 (Cedar Lake)’ by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Last verified: 30 October 2026.
Safety
- There is no lifeguard on duty at the swim beach — swimming is at your own risk, and children must be supervised by an adult who can swim.
- Always swim with a friend, and stay in the designated swimming area.
- Cedar Lake is a natural lake — watch for sudden drop-offs, changing bottoms and unseen objects below the surface.
- Boats keep to no-wake speed and personal watercraft are prohibited, but stay aware of paddlers and boats when you swim.
At a glance
Fee$6 per day ages 13+; children 12 and under free
Nearest townCleburne
Best seasonLate spring to early autumn
GPS32.252365, -97.549617
Nearby spots
- Dinosaur Valley State Park — ≈16 mi
- Devil’s Waterhole (Inks Lake State Park) — ≈116 mi
Sources & updates
Last verified: 30 October 2026
Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Researched by: Swim Hole Finder team
Methodology: How we verify listings →
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