If you are looking for outdoor fun for you and your family, Kelly Armke can recommend the perfect place! Canyon Lake should be your next travel destination in the Texas Hill Country. It’s near New Braunfels, and just north of Spring Branch, Texas. In the summer, Canyon Lake is best known for river tubing down the Guadalupe River, but there are fun outdoors activities to do all year round.

Best Breakfast in Canyon Lake

For the best home-style meals, you need to visit Granny D’s Home Cookin! The Canyon Lake Diner is a local family owned and operated diner and is known for their delicious breakfast plates. They serve up a variety of breakfast items, as well as lunch and dinner options. Although they are known for their breakfast plates, you’ll want to come back for lunch. They have huge specialty sandwiches like the Granny D’s Club, and a large one pound BLT.

They have been serving up hot plates and great meals to the visitors and residents of Canyon Lake, Texas since 2009. Their menu comes straight from their family’s recipes used at family gatherings, holidays and everyday cooking. You’ll feel right at home in their rustic restaurant. This famous diner was featured on KENS 5, and ever since then their lines can go out the door. If you can’t dine in, take it to go! They also have pies and cakes available for purchase every day.

Their most popular items on the menu is their pancakes! The pancakes come in large sizes bigger than your hand! Kelly Armke recommends the cinnamon roll pancake. It has cinnamon, pecans inside the pancake, and a light glaze with pecans sprinkled on top.  It is a perfectly sweet treat to start your day, no maple syrup required!  Their hearty servings are perfect for sharing with your friends and family before a day out on Canyon Lake.

Best View of Canyon Lake

Take in the fresh air, and soak in the beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country at Overlook Park. This is a popular tourist destination for taking a dip in the lake. Bring a cooler, a canopy, and of course your family to the blue waters of the lake. There is no overnight camping allowed, but visitors are more than welcome to spend the day at the lake.

For the best view of Canyon Lake, you’ll want to go to the Canyon Lake dam at Overlook Park. The dam has breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding countryside. It’s a very picturesque, Instagrammable location, so don’t forget to bring a camera! For the best view, try to get there early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. This is a beautiful spot for photographs, and is a favorite amongst the locals for a daily walk. 

Overlook Park has free parking for everyone, but for the best spot, you will want to come early in the morning. There’s a parking lot at the top of the hill, but if all those spots are taken, the next available are parking down the hill. There are portable restrooms at the parking lot, and also a public restroom stop at the top of the hill.

Hiking Beside Canyon Lake at Madrone Trail

Walk off the food from Granny D’s at one of their many trails! Madrone Trail is the best place to hike in Canyon Lake. It is a 7.6 mile loop with sections overlooking the water. You can hike at your own pace, or take longer routes along the route. It’s also a great place for mountain biking in the Texas Hill Country. You’ll get a breathtaking view of Canyon Lake from Madrone Trail.

Stay cool while outdoors by walking through the lush forests. Kelly recommends hiking in a group! It’s a fun activity, and it’s safer than going alone. You can encounter lots of wildlife on the trail. Come back down from the trail and enjoy a refreshing dip in Canyon Lake.

Tree Haus Tavern Logo
Kelly recommends hiking in a group! It’s a fun activity, and it’s safer than going alone. Hiking is a great way to stay active during the summer, as well as see some beautiful wildlife! Come back down from the trail and enjoy a refreshing dip in Canyon Lake.

Get Out on the Water with Canyon Lake Marina

If you are looking to get out on the water, then you need to visit Canyon Lake Marina! They offer fishing, boating, and jet skiing. They have a boat ramp so you can get right into the water. If you don’t have a boat, you can rent your own personal watercraft for the day at the Marina! The Canyon Lake Marina is known as the Water Recreation Capital of Texas.

Visit Canyon Lake Marina for all your water sports needs. They have everything you need, from fishing, to boating, to jet skiing. When you rent any equipment, they come with life jackets included, so you are never without a safety precaution. In the Marina Ship Store, they sell everything from snacks and cold drinks, to sunglasses and sunblock. So if you are forgetting anything for your day out on the lake, check inside their store!

The Canyon Lake Marina also has a fantastic restaurant, the Baja Icehouse & Grill! The restaurant is located on the north shore overlooking the marina. They serve barbecue, seafood, burgers, tacos, and more. There is live music often at the event, and you can find their Baja Live Music Calendar on the Baja Icehouse website. The restaurant and bar close at different times, so also check the website for that information. Sit out on the deck with a hot plate of barbecue, and take in the spectacular sunset over the water. 

Inside Tree Haus Tavern
Whether you’re looking for a refreshing hike with stunning views or a challenging adventure with plenty of opportunities for discovery, Canyon Lake has something for everyone!