Attractions - Canyon Lake Activities

Canyon Lake is a man-made flood control reservoir. It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s to span the Guadalupe River and was officially opened in 1964. The cost to construct the lake was $21 million. The Texas Hill Country surrounds the lake on all sides. San Antonio is 30 miles to the south and Austin is 68 miles to the northeast.
In geographical land mass, Comal County is .002% of the State of Texas. The area of the Canyon Lake community is 35% of Comal County.

Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park at Canyon Lake

The Canyon Hydro-Electric Plant supplies electricity to the city of New Braunfels and an estimated 1.1 million visitors use the Lake for recreation each year. An estimated $54 million in flood damage has been prevented by the flood control features of Canyon Dam since its construction.
Canyon Reservoir has 80 miles of shoreline. To drive all the way around the lake on state and county highways requires 60 road miles.

Comal County is the 48th largest of the 254 counties in Texas.

The Guadalupe/Blanco River Authority first suggested that a flood control lake be constructed on the Guadalupe River in July of 1938. Construction of the Canyon Dam and Reservoir project was authorized by congress in 1945 and construction began in September of 1960.

At Conservation Pool Level, Canyon Reservoir has a capacity of 382,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 8,231 acres of water.
Startz Summit is the highest point within the Canyon Lake geographic area and affords a spectacular view of the lake and surrounding valley, a view that has been featured on Japanese television. A small public park is located at Startz Summit on FM 3159, one mile from downtown Startzville.

Canyon Lake has many water activities....As the crow flies, the Canyon Lake community is 16 miles across, a ten minute airplane ride from border to border. The state-protected turkey vulture can make the flight in some 90 minutes and is often seen circling overhead, riding thermals and searching for carrion. A large community of these important birds lives at the mouth of Canyon Reservoir.

The terrain of Canyon Lake is between approximately 350 and 1200 feet above sea level. The record low lake level was 899 feet in the 1980’s, and the record high was 950.32 feet on July 6, 2002.
The population growth at Canyon Lake has been dramatic, as expected, since the construction of the dam. The U.S. Census Bureau did not recognize Canyon Lake as a distinct community until 1980, so the initial growth was not tracked. However, the 42% growth within the county between 1980 and 1990 is largely due to the increase in population in the Canyon Lake area. That growth is expected to continue, with the lake area population doubling every two decades.

With an estimated 1.1 million visitors each year, Canyon Lake is a showcase that causes many prior visitors to return upon retirement to become permanent residents.

Library

  • Tye Preston Memorial Library - Canyon Lake - 830.964.3744
    • www.tyeprestonlib.org
    • Our Library has much to offer! We have Computer Services, Internet Services, and we also offer Homework Help. We have Kid's page and a Teen's page and a Community events page. We also loan out Audio Books, Books and CD, DVDs and Videos. Check our website for more...
  • New Braunfels Public Library - New Braunfels - 830.221.4300
    • www.nbpl.lib.tx.us
    • The mission of the New Braunfels Public Library is to provide access to informational, educational, cultural, and recreational library materials and services in a variety of formats and to be responsive to the public library needs of the community.
    • Join one of our OnLine Book Clubs and start reading books in your email. Each week new books are featured. The library will have copies of each featured book available for check-out.

Restaurants

  • VFW Post 880 in Startzville
    • 7755 FM 2673 - 830.899.7774
      • Toobing the Guadalupe River is our favorite past time!
    • Call for current hours
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Hill Country
  • Comal Cafe in Startzville
    • 8555 FM 2673 - 830.899.6199
    • Hours of operation: 6am-2pm
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park
  • The Kitchen in Startzville
    • 10103 FM 2673 - 830.899.5546
    • Hours of Operation: Wed-Fri - 11am-9pm & Sat-Sun - 7am-2pm
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park
  • El Zarape Mexican Restaurant in Startzville
    • 8100 FM 2673 - 830.899.5381
    • Hours of operation: 7am-2pm 7 days a week
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park
  • The Market at Rivers Edge - Corner of 306 & FM 2673 -Sattler
    • www.canyonlakehomemadepizza.com
    • 145 FM 2673 - 830.964.4410 - fax - 830.964.4246
    • Hours of Operation: Mon. 4:30-9pm; Tues-Fri 11am-2pm //4:30-9pm; Sat - 11am-11pm; Sun - 11am-9pm;
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park
  • Ninfa's on River Road (Corner of 306 and FM 2673)
  • The Garden Gate Cafe in Sattler - Corner of FM 2673 and Skyline Drive, Canyon Lake - 830.964.3710
    • www.gardengate.bravehost.com
    • Hours of Operation: 11am-9pm - 7 days a week
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park
  • Cedar Swings Cafe in Sattler - 830.964.3530
    • Downtown Sattler on FM 2673 - across from the First State Bank
    • Hours of Operation: Sunday-Monday 7am-2pm
  • Jay's BBQ - Real Pit BBQ in Sattler - 830.964.2619
    • Corner of FM2673 and the South Access Road
    • Hours of Operation: Tues-Sun 11am-8pm
    • Menu available in office at Yogi Bear Jellystone Hill Country Park

Other Canyon Lake Activity Links: Toob (Tube) Rentals & Outfitters, Fishing, Aerial Maps, Guadalupe River Flow Report and more on the History of Canyon Lake.