Benbrook Lake offers large park areas for picnicking, swimming, hiking, birding and other activities. North Holiday Park , the Mustang Point Swimming Beach , Rocky Creek Park , Dutch Branch Park , Pecan Valley Park and Longhorn Park are set aside for day use activities. Click Here for Fee Information

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' parks are governed by regulations contained in Section 327 of Title 36 to the Code of Federal Regulations.

For the full text of these regulations, click here for Title 36 link .

Picnicking

Picnicking is allowed anywhere on the lake, except in the campgrounds and in prohibited areas such as near the boat launching ramps. Open spaces, lake shoreline, picnic tables and fire rings are located in all the parks.

Swimming

Swimming is allowed in all parks and areas of the lake, except in the boat ramp launching areas. Designated swimming beaches are provided in North Holiday Park and Mustang Point. The Baja Beach area of Dutch Branch Park also provides a swimming beach. A daily fee may be charged for use of the swimming beaches. All animals, pets, and all types of glass containers are prohibited in any swimming beach area.

Water Safety

Swimming is always an activity that involves risk and no lifeguards are provided at Corps of Engineers swimming beaches. The ability to swim is the very best safety precaution for all water-based recreation activities. Please learn to swim and teach your children to swim. Please watch young children continually while they are in or near the water, even if they know how to swim. Life vests (PFDs) are always a reasonable precaution for use in any water-based recreation, even for swimmers. For additional information on water safety, please click here .

Fishing and Boat Launching

Fishing from the bank is allowed in all park areas except campgrounds. Boat launching ramps are provided in all park areas. Click here for more information on boat launching ramps .

Night Entry/Exit of Parks

Several parks have gates that are closed to incoming traffic between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Beaches and some dayuse areas are completely closed after 9:00 p.m. Check when you enter a park to make sure you are able to leave by the closing time. Entering after closing hours through a one-way exit gates may be cause for a citation.

Firearms/Fireworks

For your safety and the safety of others, firearms, ammunition and fireworks may not be brought into or used in any park area. Hunting is permitted only in designated areas and only with a permit from the Lake Office.

Hunting

Hunting is allowed at Benbrook Lake with a permit form the Lake Office. Click here for more hunting information for the lake .

Fires

Please confine fires to grills, fireplaces or other areas provided for this purpose. You may bring your own covered cooker for fire building.

Pets and animals

Pets must be on a leash less than six feet in length or physically restrained in some other manner. This will help protect your pet from other animals. All pets and animals are prohibited in any swimming beach area. Livestock is prohibited in all park areas, excepting horses that are permitted only on the Horseback and Nature Trail.

Other recreational opportunities

Almost all other areas around the lake are open to pedestrian use. The one and one-half mile (2.4 km) long crest of the Benbrook Lake dam is popular for joggers and bicyclists, but walking on the grassy downstream slope of the embankment of the dam is not allowed. Birdwatching, hiking, bicycling and fishing are popular activities at Benbrook Lake. Hunting in season is also allowed with a permit from the Corps' office, but no shooting of any type of firearms is allowed at any time. Fireworks are not permitted anywhere on the lake. Other Special Events may be allowed with permission from the Lake Office.