Location: Ennis, TX. Waxahachie Creek

Lake Size: 3,138 acres

Max Depth: 43 feet

Fishing: Hydrilla has moved into the upper end of the lake, improving the largemouth bass fishery. Catfish, white bass and stripers are also good fishing at Bardwell Lake. There are also crappie and sunfish found here.

Facilities

Love Park

A 439 acre day use area with a 4 lane boat ramp, covered picnic tables, bathrooms, a volleyball court, a horse-shoe pit, a swimming beach and a group shelter that can be used by up to 200 people. Facilities are available from April through September, except for the boat ramp which is open all year. Love Park is located along the southwestern shore of the lake.

High View Park

A ~ 150 acre park on the west side of the lake. Open all year.

• 39 campsites with water and electric hook-ups
• bathrooms, including one bathroom and shower facility for the campground
• 4-lane boat ramp
• 10 picnic sites
• full service marina
• swimming beach
• dump station

Mott Park

A west side park of 270 acres. Open from April through September.

• 33 campsites with water and electric hook-ups
• 7 campsites with water and electric hook-ups
• bathrooms, including one bathroom and shower facility for the campground
• 4-lane boat ramp
• swimming beach
• 2 designated fishing areas
• group camping shelter
• dump station

Waxahachie Creek Park

The park is in the upper reaches of the Waxahachie Creek arm. The park is ~ 200 acres and is open all year.

• 69 campsites with water and electric hook-ups
• 7 campsites with water and electric hook-ups
• bathrooms, including 2 shower facilities for the campground
• 13 picnic sites
• 2 boat ramps, each 4-lanes
• group camping shelter
• nature trail
• dump station

Little Mustang Creek Park

A boat ramp with a courtesy dock. Open all year.

Meadowview Nature Area

Formerly Bluebonnet City Park. Northeastern shore location, 20 covered picnic tables. No bathrooms. The park is only open for April and May.

More about Bardwell Lake: The dam for the lake was begun in September 1963, with water first being held behind the impoundment in November 1965. Bardwell is 5.4 miles long by 1.2 miles wide with 25 miles of shoreline. The project cost $12,630,000 to complete and is part of a broader Trinity River Basin flood control management plan that includes a number of other nearby lakes: Lewisville, Ray Roberts, Grapevine, Lavon, Navarro Mills, Bardwell and Joe Pool.

The dam is a dirt filled embankment that is 15,400 feet long. There is a 350 foot spillway for overflow and an outlet for controlled releases of water. In addition to flood control, Lake Bardwell was also built for water conservation use. It currently provides water to the cities of Ennis and Waxahachie.

Corp of Engineers Bardwell Lake Webpage