Medina Lake, Texas, USA

Also known as:  Lake Medina

Located in Texas Hill Country, Medina Lake is 40 miles northwest of San Antonio in Bandera and Medina Counties. Controlled by the Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Agricultural District (BMA), Medina Lake is a clear-water residential lake with depths up to 152 feet. It is a reservoir on the Medina River that was created to provide irrigation water for local agricultural use. Communities around the lake include Mico, Lakehills, Bandera,…
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    • All About Medina Lake, TX

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Texas - Hill Country Region, TX -

    Located in Texas Hill Country, Medina Lake is 40 miles northwest of San Antonio in Bandera and Medina Counties. Controlled by the Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Agricultural District (BMA), Medina Lake is a clear-water residential lake with depths up to 152 feet. It is a reservoir on the Medina River that was created to provide irrigation water for local agricultural use. Communities around the lake include Mico, Lakehills, Bandera, Helotes, and Lake Medina Shores. The lake is 18 miles long and 3 miles wide at its broadest point.

    Medina Lake, which was constructed as an irrigation reservoir in 1911-1912, was the biggest irrigation project west of the Mississippi. The lake was constructed partially on the Edwards limestone outcrop referred to as the Edwards Aquifer. The lake contributes large amounts of water to the Aquifer. Water levels can fluctuate by as much as 40 feet, depending on area rainfall.

    Due to the clear water and limestone bluffs of Lake Medina, scuba diving is a popular activity. It is a Hill Country getaway for fishing, picnicking, swimming, kayaking, boating, jet skiing, and water sports such as water skiing and wakeboarding. It is best known among fishermen for its large yellow catfish. Other fish in Medina Lake include largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, and walleye. The populations of largemouth bass and hybrid striped bass are rated very good by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

    Bandera County Park at Medina Lake has a boat ramp, swimming area, picnic tables, and restrooms. There is no camping in the county park, but there are several private campgrounds in the area. Activities in the area include visiting Bandera, “The Cowboy Capital of the World.” It is home to the Frontier Times Museum, Lone Star Motorcycle Museum, and Bandera Music History Hall of Fame Project. There are ranch tours, dude ranches, horseback riding, and rodeos just to name a few. San Antonio, less than an hour away, is home to the Alamo and the famed Riverwalk. Visiting San Antonio is like traveling to another country. The food is fantastic, and the atmosphere is very south of the border.

    Just south of Medina Lake is Castroville, “The Little Alsace of Texas.” The town was founded in 1844 by a small group of colonists from Alsace, France. It offers self-guided walking tours, hiking trails, fine dining, and historic homes.

    The cool, clear waters of Lake Medina can’t be beat on a hot summer day in Texas Hill Country. Vacation rentals are available on Medina Lake, so pack your bags for a romantic weekend getaway or a relaxing, extended family vacation.

    Things to Do at Medina Lake

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

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Wakeboarding
    • Scuba Diving
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Museum

    What Kind of Fish Are in Medina Lake?

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

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Blue Catfish
    • Bluegill
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Flathead Catfish
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
    • White Bass
    • White Crappie
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    Find Places to Stay at Medina Lake

    If you’re considering a Medina Lake 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.

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    More Sites to Book a Medina Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Medina Lake 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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    Medina Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Agricultural District

    Surface Area: 5,426 acres

    Shoreline Length: 110 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,072 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,084 feet

    Average Depth: 46 feet

    Maximum Depth: 152 feet

    Water Volume: 254,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1913

    Lake Area-Population: 5,000

    Drainage Area: 653 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Medina Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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