LAKEBARDWELLRESERVOIR

Ellis County is home to one of the largest recreational facilities in North Texas – Lake Bardwell Reservoir. It is one of the most visited tourist spots in the county.

Thousands of residents and tourists visit the 3,500-acre lake each year, enjoying fishing, boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, biking, and just about any other outdoor activity within and along its 25 miles of shoreline. It is more than 5 miles long and more than 1 mile wide at its largest point.

Both the lake and surrounding campgrounds are maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which features a marina and several boat ramps. You can reach the marina at 972-646-5330.

Camping reservations or additional information is available at 972-875-5711 or recreation.gov.

Congress authorized construction of the reservoir of the Bardwell Reservoir on March 31, 1960. Construction began in September 1963. Impoundment of water at the lake, which provides flood control and conservation platform for area water, began in November 1965. It cost more than $12 million to build.

Bardwell is known for its fishing, with bass, catfish and crappie the most-targeted catches.