Temples Lake
Temples Lake Park is a day-use facility with over 60 picnic sites and one reservable group area on the southern shore of Belton Lake. The lake provides some of the best fishing and boating in Central Texas and the park offers amenities for large groups of up to 80 people, such as flush toilets, showers, a playground, a swim beach and two two-lane boat ramps.
Belton Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the construction of Belton Dam in 1954. The 12,300-acre lake is located on the Leon River, just upstream of the confluence of the Leon River and the Little River.
Facilities List:
1 Gatehouse (Months, days, hours, and pass availability subject to change)
On-Site Park Hosts/Maintenance Volunteers
62 Covered Picnic Sites (w/ grill)
3 Restroom Facilities (w/ sinks and flush toilets)
1 Outdoor shower
1 Vault Restroom Facility
2 Boat Ramps (Multi-lane) (*1 Seasonal)
1 Courtesy Dock
1 Playground
1 Basketball Court
2 Volleyball Courts
1 Pavillion (Reservable on rec.gov)
1 Swimbeach (Seasonal)
Facilities Description:
Temple's Lake Park boasts excellent water access and convenient amenities, including flush toilets, drinking water, and outside shower. Launch your boat on either of the two multi-lane boat ramps, one with a courtest dock for easy loading. Let the kids enjoy the swim beach area and playground or volleyball and basketballl courts while you relax! This park is seasonal, and all but the main road and main boat ramp will close Oct 1 - March 1.
Need to Know
Day Use: Temple's Lake Park has Day Use areas ONLY. No camping is permitted. Parking is based on first-come, first-serve. Day Use hours are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily *Day use fees apply* (No cash ). Visitors are required to physically arrive at the park to claim a parking space and pay the fee. Once on-site, follow the posted instructions to pay via QR code or from pay machine at the swim beach. For additional information, you can download and sign into the free Recreation.gov Mobile App on Android or iOS prior to your arrival to make sure you can access the site when you scan the QR code to pay your fee.
Gatehouse: NEW FOR THE 2025 SEASON - Live Oak Ridge Park will have a gatehouse attendant available Thursday-Sunday during check-in times beginning March 2025. *Months, hours, and pass availability to be announced and are subject to change*
Park Specifics: Temple's Lake Park is open year-round with partial closures from October 1 to March 1 (South boat ramp and beach parking areas are closed, but the entrance road and north ramp remain open for boat launch. Pavillion will also be available for reservations).
Parking on grass or roadways is prohibited.
Glass containers are not allowed in Temple's Lake Park.
Due to the area's popularity, the park may temporarily close early each day due to overcrowding. Visitors to the pavilion are encouraged to arrive early to avoid park closures that would prevent their entry until the closure is lifted.
Dumping: Dumping of household trash (to include vehicle/boat/trailer parts) on USACE properties/parks is prohibited, including park dumpsters. Violations of the aforementioned rules may result in a citation.
Rules & Regulations: Title 36 CFR (EP 1165-2-316) governs the public use of water resources development projects administered by the Chief of Engineers. Visitors to any Corps project are bound by these Title 36 regulations, which are enforced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visit the Title 36 section of this website for a copy of the rules and regulations or visit the local lake office.
Swimming Pools/Inflatables/Bounce Houses/Etc.: Please be advised, waterborne structures such as water slides are not permitted. Also, new lake policy requires a lake activity permit for the use of inflatable structures such as inflatable slides, bounce houses, or moon bounces. Lake activity permits can be requested through the Belton Lake Office Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm at 254-742-3050.
Small swimming pools are permitted in the park. Swimming pools may not exceed a water depth of 5 inches, height of 7 inches, width of 48 inches and length of 48 inches. Swimming pools must be moved to a new location each day to prevent damage to the ground surface.
Events/Pavilion: Pavilion requires a reservation prior to use. Reservations can be made for Belton Lakeat Rec.gov or call l 877-833-6777. Fishing tournaments, events/parties, especially those with inflatables or special equipment, require an approved Lake Activity Permit from the Belton Lake Office.
Please do not occupy pavillion prior to 8 a.m. to allow for cleaning services.
Temple's Pavilion users must see the gate attendant upon arrival for the combination to the pavilion gate
Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information. Cutting of trees for firewood on USACE property is prohibited.
For More Information: For more information, call the Belton Lake Office at 254-742-3050 Mon-Fri (8a-430p) or visit the Belton Lake Website .
ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE-JACKET!
Natural Features
The facility is directly on the shores of Belton lake with mostly open sunny spaces, occasionally dotted with trees.
Deer, turkey and other small game are commonly seen, and a man-made wetland on the opposite side of the lake was constructed to provide an additional 25 acres of wildlife habitat in the lake area.
Nearby Attractions
Belton Lake is located adjacent to the Fort Hood Army Base, which has several points of interest for the military buff.
The mural painted on the spillway wall of Belton Dam depicts the history of the Bell County area.
Recreation
With 136 miles of shoreline, Belton Lake offers a wide variety of recreation activities, including camping, water recreation, picnicking, and nature trails. Temple's Lake Park is a destination for families, boaters, and anglers alike. Temple's Lake Park offers two multi-lane boat ramps (1 seasonal). Popular fish species include hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and sunfish. Visitors can also make use of the many picnic table sites and cook up lunch on the available grills while their friends and family enjoy the park's swimming beach, volleyball and basketball courts, and playground. Reserve the Pavillon for a private event!
White-tailed deer, hawks, great blue herons, ducks, geese, many species of songbirds and even an occasional bald eagle visit the lake area, yielding year-round opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts and kids alike!
Changes & Cancellations
Changes and cancellations are subject to a $10.00 administrative fee. Refund requests are processed through recreation.gov website or app.
Contact Information
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14190 FM 2305 BELTON TX 76513
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 254-780-2461
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Interstate 35 in Temple, Texas take the Farm-to-Market Road 2305/Adams exit. Travel west on 2305 to the park.
