Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach
Wichita Falls, Texas · on Lake Arrowhead · Lake Arrowhead State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $4 per person
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach
Lake Arrowhead State Park is a 524-acre Texas state park in Clay County near Wichita Falls, centered on Lake Arrowhead, an artificial reservoir formed when the city dammed the Little Wichita River for its water supply. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lists swimming as a designated park activity and maintains a specific 'swimming beach' area with a nearby wheelchair-accessible restroom, so this is a sanctioned lake to swim in rather than an informal swimming hole.
The park sits on the shoreline of Lake Arrowhead, a large municipal-supply reservoir (about 16,200 surface acres, 106 miles of shoreline) in the semi-arid rolling terrain of north-central Texas near Wichita Falls. The park itself covers 524 acres and includes about 5 miles of hiking trails alongside its lakefront facilities.
Swimming at Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach
Swimming takes place at a designated lake beach within the park, distinct from the boat ramp and fishing pier areas; TPWD provides an accessible restroom specifically at the swim beach. Beyond confirming the beach's existence and general activity listing, official sources do not describe water clarity, depth, or bottom conditions in detail.
The hike in
The swimming beach is a drive-up day-use facility, not reached via any of the park's roughly 5 miles of hiking/biking trails (Dragonfly Trail 0.5 mi easy nature loop, Onion Creek Trail 4.4 mi easy, Mesquite Ridge Trail 0.6 mi moderate connector to an overlook). Those trails are separate recreational features, not access routes to the swim area.
No hike is required; the beach is accessed directly from a day-use parking area per TPWD facility descriptions.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated swim beach in a state park with an accessible restroom nearby, but TPWD's own materials never mention on-duty lifeguards (typical for Texas state park beaches, which are unguarded), and the lake's normal water clarity is only 1-2 feet of visibility, so submerged drop-offs or debris near the swim area wouldn't be visible from the surface. No official hazard/depth info specific to the beach was found.
Parking
Free
No dedicated swim-beach parking page was found. The day-use area is covered by the standard park entrance fee ($4/person, ages 13+); TPWD separately charges a $4/day fee only for excess (extra) vehicles at the day-use area, implying a normal single-vehicle visit has parking included in the entrance fee. Lot vs. roadside parking at the beach specifically was not documented by TPWD.
Restrooms
Yes
A wheelchair-accessible restroom is located at the swimming beach itself (confirmed on TPWD's park accessibility page); additional restrooms exist at the boat ramp and campground, with one campground restroom also having showers.
Water clarity
Often murky
TPWD's official lake page for Lake Arrowhead lists 'Normal Clarity: 1-2 foot visibility,' consistent with a wind-exposed, semi-arid North Texas reservoir with a soft, silty watershed. No visitor-reported clarity commentary has surfaced.
On the water
TPWD's park overview lists paddling, boating, and water-skiing among the lake's core activities, and the state fishing/boating page for Lake Arrowhead notes nine boat ramps. No lake-specific horsepower, no-wake, or electric-only restriction was found on TPWD pages; general Texas boating laws would apply by default. Jet ski allowance was not explicitly confirmed.
Backstory
Lake Arrowhead is an artificial reservoir created when the city of Wichita Falls dammed the Little Wichita River to secure a municipal water supply. The state acquired the surrounding 524 acres from the city under the State Parks Bond Program and opened Lake Arrowhead State Park in 1970.
Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach: FAQ
Does Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach charge a fee?
Daily entrance fee of $4 per person for ages 13 and up (free for 12 and under); $1/person for approved groups of 13+; a $70 annual Texas State Parks Pass covers unlimited entry to this and 80+ other state parks.
Is Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach kid friendly?
Designated swim beach in a state park with an accessible restroom nearby, but TPWD's own materials never mention on-duty lifeguards (typical for Texas state park beaches, which are unguarded), and the lake's normal water clarity is only 1-2 feet of visibility, so submerged drop-offs or debris near the swim area wouldn't be visible from the surface. No official hazard/depth info specific to the beach was found.
Do I need to hike to reach Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach?
No dedicated swim-beach parking page was found. The day-use area is covered by the standard park entrance fee ($4/person, ages 13+); TPWD separately charges a $4/day fee only for excess (extra) vehicles at the day-use area, implying a normal single-vehicle visit has parking included in the entrance fee. Lot vs. roadside parking at the beach specifically was not documented by TPWD.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach?
TPWD's park overview lists paddling, boating, and water-skiing among the lake's core activities, and the state fishing/boating page for Lake Arrowhead notes nine boat ramps. No lake-specific horsepower, no-wake, or electric-only restriction was found on TPWD pages; general Texas boating laws would apply by default. Jet ski allowance was not explicitly confirmed.
What water body is Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach on?
Lake Arrowhead Swimming Beach is on Lake Arrowhead, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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