Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch
Montgomery, Texas · on Lake Conroe · Sam Houston National Forest
Verified · 3 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5 per vehicle
- SEASON
- September
About Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch
Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch is a U.S. Forest Service day-use site on the west/northwest shore of Lake Conroe within Sam Houston National Forest, about 2 miles north of FM 1097 on Forest Service Road 212 near Montgomery, Texas. An officially designated swim beach paired with a public boat ramp, it is one of the sanctioned places to swim on Lake Conroe, a managed beach rather than a wild swimming hole, open seasonally (April through September) for a $5 per vehicle day-use fee.
The site sits on a piney, forested stretch of Lake Conroe's shoreline inside Sam Houston National Forest, with shade trees along the shore and a sandy swim beach adjacent to a boat ramp used for lake access.
Swimming at Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch
A designated, roped-off swim beach on the reservoir shoreline suited to casual family swimming rather than a natural creek or spring experience; the Forest Service explicitly bans paddleboards and kayaks from the swim zone to keep it clear for swimmers, and pets are not allowed in the water area.
How to get to this swimming hole
From I-45 take exit 94 (FM 1097) and head west about 8.5 miles to Scotts Ridge Road; turn right (north) about 2 miles on Forest Service Road 212 to reach the recreation area.
Parking: On-site parking at the day-use area (fee station applies); exact lot capacity not documented in sources found.
The hike in
Drive-up day-use site: the parking lot sits directly adjacent to the swim beach and boat ramp, with only a short walk (well under a couple minutes) from car to water. No trail or hike is involved.
Official USFS and tourism-bureau descriptions both frame this as a vehicle-accessible beach/boat-ramp site, not a hike-in swimming hole; no trail listing or trip report describing a hike to this spot was found.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy USFS-designated swim beach with shoreline shade trees suited to casual family swimming, but it's open reservoir shoreline (not a shallow spring/creek) with a public boat ramp immediately adjacent and boat traffic nearby; no lifeguards are documented at this day-use site, and Lake Conroe overall has documented alligator sightings (not tied specifically to this beach, per lake-conroe.org).
Parking
Paid, $5 per vehicle/day
On-site day-use parking lot with a fee station at the entrance; exact lot capacity is not documented in sources found.
Restrooms
Yes
Vault toilets at the day-use area; no potable water on site, per the official USFS Scott's Ridge Swim Site page.
Water clarity
Varies with season and flow
Texas Parks & Wildlife's official Lake Conroe fishing page lists the lake's normal water clarity as 'slight to moderate algal staining' rather than clear, and notes past heavy hydrilla infestations now controlled via a grass-carp permit. No source graded clarity specifically at the Scott's Ridge beach itself, and no visitor trip reports describing this exact spot's clarity were found.
Hours
6:00 am-10:00 pm daily, open seasonally April through September (exact annual open/close dates set by the Sam Houston NF district office, 936-344-6205); the adjacent boat ramp operates year-round even when the day-use swim/picnic area is closed for the season.
On the water
Restrictions: Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are explicitly prohibited within the roped-off designated swim area itself (official USFS rule, confirmed in prior research). The adjacent public boat ramp allows motorized boat launching onto Lake Conroe generally, for a launch fee.
Visitors wanting to paddle a kayak or SUP near this site should launch from the boat ramp and stay outside the marked swim zone, or rent gear and put in elsewhere on Lake Conroe (e.g., via a marina on the south shore).
Rentals nearby
Kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, jet skis, pontoon/tritoon boats, party barges, water skis, tubes, kneeboards, plus guided pirate-ship and sunset cruises
Prices: Kayak $25+, paddleboard $32+, canoe $32+, water ski $45+, towable tube $35+, kneeboard $45+, deluxe jet ski $80+, pontoon boat $135+, tritoon $150+, party barge $390+; Jolly Pirate Adventure cruise $34, Sunset Pirate Cruise (adults only) $54 (all for stated rental-hour blocks, e.g. 1-8 hrs depending on item)
14970 Hwy 105 W, Montgomery, TX 77356, on the Hwy 105 W corridor of Lake Conroe's south side; exact driving distance from Scott's Ridge (accessed via FM 1097/FSR 212 on the northwest shore) not documented.
Sit-on-top kayaks, youth kayaks, fishing kayaks, and touring kayaks
North Lake Conroe area (no street address published; phone-only contact suggests a small/mobile operation); the 'North Lake Conroe' name suggests proximity to the north shore where Scott's Ridge sits, but this is not confirmed.
Boat rentals (ski boats, pontoons, party barges) and paddleboarding through multiple independent operators based at the marina; fishing charters and yacht charters also available
15264 Hwy 105W, Ste 220, Montgomery, TX 77356, described by the marina itself as on the 'southern shores' of Lake Conroe, i.e. the opposite side of the lake from Scott's Ridge.
Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch: FAQ
Does Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch charge a fee?
$5 per vehicle per day (Forest Service day-use fee), per fs.usda.gov.
Is Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch kid friendly?
Sandy USFS-designated swim beach with shoreline shade trees suited to casual family swimming, but it's open reservoir shoreline (not a shallow spring/creek) with a public boat ramp immediately adjacent and boat traffic nearby; no lifeguards are documented at this day-use site, and Lake Conroe overall has documented alligator sightings (not tied specifically to this beach, per lake-conroe.org).
Do I need to hike to reach Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch?
On-site day-use parking lot with a fee station at the entrance; exact lot capacity is not documented in sources found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch?
Visitors wanting to paddle a kayak or SUP near this site should launch from the boat ramp and stay outside the marked swim zone, or rent gear and put in elsewhere on Lake Conroe (e.g., via a marina on the south shore).
When is the best time to visit Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch?
April through September, matching the official operating season of the swim beach; closed in fall/winter.
What are the rules at Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch?
Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm, seasonally April through September (exact annual open/close dates set by the district office). Pets, paddleboards, and kayaks are prohibited in the designated swimming area; leashed pets/service animals are allowed outside the swim zone per 36 CFR 261.16.
What water body is Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch on?
Scotts Ridge Swim Area & Boat Launch is on Lake Conroe, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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