There’s nothing better in the summertime in Hill County, Texas than splashing and floating on Lake Whitney. Or, tanning and relaxing, or even playing a rowdy game of volleyball on the beach.
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Swim Beaches
The U.S. Corp of Engineers manage two swim beaches at Lake Whitney. There are no lifeguards, These two beaches charge a day use $1 fee per person, but not more than $4 per vehicle. McCown Valley Day Use and Loafer’s Bend Day Use. Both parks charge day use fees. There is also East Loafer’s Bend and West Loafer’s Bend. Loafer’s Bend Day Use is a separate park area.
McCown Valley Day Use off of FM 1713 has a long Swim beach in McCown Valley Park. Its beach is almost a mile long with covered picnic tables, but parking is not right near the beach. Loafers Bend Day Use Park off of State Highway 22, which is adjacent to the dam, has plenty of room for beach games and swimming fun. There are a few covered picnic tables, and some parking right near the beach.
Kimball Bend Park
Kimball Bend Park is located on the north end of the lake off of State Highway 174 on the Brazos River. It has a swimming area, but no beach, and it is not a day use park, it is camping only with tent or RV. It is six miles north of Lake Whitney’s northern border, but it is still considered Lake Whitney.
Lake Whitney State Park
Almost all of the campsites and RV sites are on the waterfront at Lake Whitney State Park located on FM 1244 on the southeastern side of Lake Whitney. The swim beach is long with lots of coves, covered picnic tables, and parking. The beach is a mixture of sand and red clay. Parts of the beach are rocky. You can reach this park from FM 933 from either the north or the south and go west on Lee Avenue which turns into 1244.
Plowman Creek Park
Plowman Creek Park is beautiful and has a great swim area, but not a beach. It has a pavilion and covered picnic tables, and there is a day use fee along with camping fees. It is located on the Brazos River four and half miles north of Lake Whitney’s northern edge, but it is still considered Lake Whitney.
Steele Creek Park
This park has two areas, but the one on the Brazos River channel side has a good natural swim beach below the campsites. Everything is free, but this is a remote area patrolled by the local sheriff’s department. The other side of the park has a swim area, but it is not as nice as the river channel side. Steele Creek Park is located on the northwestern border of Lake Whitney on FM 1304.
Thousand Trails Lake Whitney RV Campground
Thousand Trails is a membership park with a swimming areas and a swimming pool. It is located in the middle of the eastern side of Lake Whitney, and non-members pay higher fees than members. There are few places in the park with short beaches, but there is plenty of room to swim.
Cliff Jumping Sites
People love Lake Whitney for jumping off the cliffs and bluffs into the lake that are so common at Lake Whitney. The following are some of the popular cliff jumping sites. These are the two most popular jumping cliffs on Lake Whitney.
Walling Bend Park
Walling Bend Park on FM 1624 on the southwestern side of Lake Whitney does not have a swim beach, but it has bluffs to jump off of with swimming, and it is free.
Soldier’s Bluff Park
Soldiers Bluff Park is located on the west end of the Whitney Dam on State Highway 22. There is not a swim beach, but you are sure to be cooled off after jumping off the bluffs at this park. Everything is free, and it has one pavilion, but the only picnic sites are at the campsites.
