Lake Palestine, Texas, USA

Just 10 miles from Tyler, Texas (the Rose Capital of World) is Lake Palestine, a water playground dedicated to recreation, water conservation, and wildlife preservation. This 25,000+ acre lake was created by the Upper Neches River Authority in 1962 by damming the Neches River; the earthfill dam is 5,720 feet long and 345 feet above sea level. Located on the border of the Prairies and Lake region…
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    • All About Lake Palestine, TX

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Texas - Piney Woods Region, TX - Prairies and Lakes Region, TX -

    Just 10 miles from Tyler, Texas (the Rose Capital of World) is Lake Palestine, a water playground dedicated to recreation, water conservation, and wildlife preservation. This 25,000+ acre lake was created by the Upper Neches River Authority in 1962 by damming the Neches River; the earthfill dam is 5,720 feet long and 345 feet above sea level. Located on the border of the Prairies and Lake region and the Piney Woods region of east Texas, Lake Palestine is surrounded by native pines and hardwoods. Shoreline development is extensive with residential development, businesses, campsites, and parks in the area. Jet skis and power boats are permitted on the lake, but public access is limited. Boat rentals are available at marinas and boat services around the lake. Public boat ramps, private marinas, campgrounds, and motels provide lake access.

    Lake Palestine is close to Purtis Creek State Park and Tyler State Park. Purtis Creek State Park offers camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, and hiking. Located in Henderson and Van Zandt Counties, the park is just minutes from Lake Palestine. Camping facilities range from primitive campsites to sites with water and electricity. Tyler State Park has picnicking, birding, hiking, boating, camping, fishing, mountain biking, swimming, and nature study. In addition, the Upper Neches River Authority offers primitive camping below the dam; the camp area has restrooms near the ramp and offers picnic tables. The maximum stay is two weeks. Other private campgrounds around Lake Palestine offer camping and RV facilities. Vacation rentals are also a popular choice for a visit to Lake Palestine.

    One of the more popular fishing lakes in Texas for the months of February and through the spring, Lake Palestine is rated as excellent for catfish, white bass, and hybrid striped bass by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and good for largemouth bass and crappie. Contact an area fishing guide to assist in finding the best fishing spots on the lake. Largemouth bass tournaments are held regularly at Lake Palestine due to the consistent success. White bass are particularly prevalent in the spring. Most vegetation and inundated timber are located above the Texas Highway 155 bridge in the main lake. The bridge also provides an excellent fishing structure.

    Other points of interest near Lake Palestine include the Texas State Railroad Historical Park, Fairfield Lake, First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, Kilgore Oil Museum, Tyler Zoo, and Brookshire World of Wildlife. Cities near Lake Palestine include Tyler, Flint, Bullard, Henderson, and Jacksonville.

    Lake Palestine provides a beautiful recreation area within an easy drive to Tyler and Dallas-Fort Worth. So, come on down for a visit; you may decide to make Lake Palestine your permanent home.

    Things to Do at Lake Palestine

    These are some activities in the Lake Palestine, TX area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Fishing Tournaments
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Jet Skiing
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • Museum
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Palestine?

    Lake Palestine has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • White Bass
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Palestine

    If you’re considering a Lake Palestine lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Palestine Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Palestine lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Palestine Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Upper Neches River Authority

    Surface Area: 25,560 acres

    Shoreline Length: 135 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 345 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 342 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 364 feet

    Average Depth: 16 feet

    Maximum Depth: 58 feet

    Water Volume: 411,290 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1962

    Lake Area-Population: 6,000

    Drainage Area: 839 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Hypereutrophic

    Lake Palestine Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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