A Guide to Visiting Lake Bastrop South Shore LCRA Park
You just made it back to camp near the shore of a glassy Lake Bastrop, watching the sun go down behind dark green pine trees. You stretch out your legs and reflect on all the kayaking and hiking you did all day. You feel fulfilled, and you’re ready for another day on the water tomorrow.
How does that sound? Well, Lake Bastrop South Shore can make that wish come true. It is an LCRA park located in the heart of Bastrop, TX, about half an hour East of downtown Austin, TX.
This guide will explain the park's history, break down things to do at Lake Bastrop South Shore, discuss the trails, and go over other amenities at the park. Let’s dive in!
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History of Lake Bastrop South Shore Park
Lake Bastrop South Shore Park has a rich history that dates back to the 1960s when the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) constructed the lake as a water supply reservoir. It is also considered a power plant cooling lake.
The park open to the public, providing recreational activities and a serene outdoor setting for visitors. Over the years, LCRA has made improvements to the park, including the addition of camping facilities, hiking trails, and other fun amenities!
What to Do at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park?
There is something for everyone at this LCRA park! If you love being on the water, bring a paddleboard. If you want to hike trails, bring your hiking boots. Let’s review all that you can do at Lake Bastrop Park.
Hiking on the variety of trails throughout the park
Mountain biking along the lake
Swimming in the designated areas for a cool-down
Bird watching at the bird viewing area
Fishing on one of the three fishing piers or on your watercraft
Kayaking/paddling on the lake (rentals available)
Mini Golfing your heart out at the Lake Bastrop Mini Golf course
Extend your stay by camping or staying at a beautiful cabin along the water
Fishing Tip: A valid fishing license is required at all LCRA parks.
What Can I Rent at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park?
South Shore has so many things you can rent to add a little more spice to your visit at the park! Costs can change, so make sure to check out their website for prices or call the camp store. Here’s all of the equipment you can rent from the Lake Bastrop South Shore camp store:
Pontoon Boat
Available daily
Visit Float On for details
Kayak, Stand-Up Paddleboard and Corcl
Half day (4 hours) – $49
Full day (8 hours) – $79
24 hours – $99
Tandem Kayak
Half day (4 hours) – $59
Full day (8 hours) – $89
24 hours – $109
Pedal Cart
30 min. – $8
Per hour – $14
Full day (8 hours) – $50
Lake Bastrop Mini Golf
9 holes (1 round) – $8
18 holes (2 rounds) – $14
Park Tip: If you need a bag of ice or to fill a water jug, there is a machine on the side of the camp store! Super convenient for those having a picnic or camping overnight.
Hiking Trails at Lake Bastrop South Shore
If you love hiking, I’m happy to report that this park has a little over 9 miles of trails to explore. Here are the trails in order from shortest to longest:
.4 miles - Fisherman’s
.4 miles - Lewis Point
.5 miles - Loblolly Loop
.5 miles - Loblolly
.6 miles - Buzzard Point
.9 miles - Gideon Loop
1 mile - North South Trailway - North Shore to Floating Bridge
1.4 miles - Swift
3.5 miles - North South Trailway - South Shore to Floating Bridge
Trail Conditions: The trails are very well maintained and there are signs posted along the route to indicate which trail you're on or which bridge you are crossing. It’s sandy/rocky in some areas and can be muddy if there has been recent rain. Make sure to check the weather and bring the proper footwear.
Maps: Here is the official park map for South Shore from LCRA. And if you love to use AllTrails to track your hikes, here are the trails listed for this park. Note that not all of them are there so you might have to map out your trails with a custom map like I did.
Camping at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park
This park is the perfect place to spend the night. It is very quiet, and you can get some great waterfront views depending on where you stay in the park. In total, there are 56 places to stay (counting up cabins and campsites together). If you are interested in claiming your spot, reserve your campsite here.
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There are 38 sites available here.
4 standard full hookups (20, 23, 26, 28)
32 standard electric and water (1-18, 21-22, 24-25, 27, 29-30, 32-38)
Park hosts are located at sites 19 and 31
There are restrooms available within the campground that require a code to access. You’ll get this code when you check in for your campsite!
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There are 12 cabins in this location.
Each cabin sleeps 5
Comes with:
A/C & heat
Ceiling fan
Light
Interior electrical outlet
Porch
Picnic table
BBQ grill
Lantern post
Potable water spigot
Fire ring
Sleeping Arrangement: Comes with 2 sets of bunk beds. One has a full-size bed on the bottom and twin on the top. The second has two twin mattresses
Bring your own blankets and sheets. No linens are provided
Cabins do not have a bathroom. Nearby park restrooms and showers are available for use.
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There are 6 cabins in this location.
Each cabin sleeps 5
Comes with:
A/C & heat
Ceiling fan
Light
Interior electrical outlet
Porch
Picnic table
BBQ grill
Lantern post
Potable water spigot
Fire ring
Sleeping Arrangement: Comes with 2 sets of bunk beds. One has a full-size bed on the bottom and twin on the top. The second has two twin mattresses
Bring your own blankets and sheets. No linens are provided
Cabins do not have a bathroom. Nearby park restrooms and showers are available for use.
My Camping Experience at This LCRA Park
My boyfriend and I decided to spend a night here in January 2024. It was a chilly one! We stopped in Bastrop to check out a bookstore called The Painted Porch Bookshop located on Main Street, which is actually owned by a popular author. I highly recommend stopping in town to explore this strip! There are so many cute shops and great places to eat (we loved Maxine’s Cafe)
After spending some time here and grabbing last-minute pasta supplies, we made our way into the pine trees and arrived at the park.
We stopped at the camp store to check in to our campsite and grab our car tag. It was fully stocked with some snacks, important camping supplies, and more.
Driving through the park, it was so cool to see all of the amenities like the cabins, mini golf section, rentals organized nicely near the water, the fishing piers, and all of the beautiful lake views no matter where you were in the park.
We were probably one of the only people that were camping in a tent among the RVers. We love to camp in cold weather (while it’s around in Texas). I’ve heard from a few people lately that it’s always quiet at LCRA parks, and we definitely got to experience it. I love a nice quiet camping trip!
We made dinner, enjoyed the sunset, and sat by the fire, eating cookies we had brought with us.
Overall, I had a blast at this park! It was my first time camping at an LCRA park, and although I haven’t experienced others, I would recommend coming here for the lake and trails. Next time, I’m bringing my kayak and planning to hike all up and down this park.
Lake Bastrop South Shore Park Details
Park: Daily (sunrise to sunset)
Camp Store: 8 am to 5 pm
Reserve your campsite: 855-392-7638
More park info: 512-498-1922
Other Parks in the Area
Exploring Lake Bastrop South Shore LCRA Park
This LCRA park offers something to every adventurer. From 9 miles of hiking trails to mini golfing with friends, Lake Bastrop South Shore will help you form the best memories in the outdoors.
If you are looking for other trails to hike in and around the Austin area, check out my guide on 21 trails you can explore.
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