Stillhouse Park
Belton, Texas · on Stillhouse Hollow Lake · Stillhouse Recreation Area
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Swimming and picnic areas are posted as open March 1 through December 1; general park hours outside that window are listed as 8:00 am-8:00 pm with most facilities (other than the boat ramp/marina) closed October 1 through the end of February.
About Stillhouse Park
Stillhouse Park is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use area on the northeast shore of Stillhouse Hollow Lake near Belton, Texas, with a designated official swim beach, more managed lakefront than backwoods swimming hole. It sits near the dam and includes picnic areas, a boat ramp, and the Stillhouse Marina.
The park sits on the northeast shore of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, a 6,430-acre Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir near the dam, within Bell County a few miles from Belton and Salado.
Swimming at Stillhouse Park
Swimming is at a designated beach within the day-use park, suited to families and casual lake swimmers rather than swift-water or adventure swimming. The Corps allows swimming, wading, snorkeling, or diving at one's own risk anywhere outside restricted areas (boat launches, docks, mooring points), but recommends using the marked swim beach.
How to get to this swimming hole
From IH-35 near Belton, take US 190 west about 2 miles to FM 1670, then follow Corps of Engineers signage toward the Stillhouse Hollow Lake recreation areas; Stillhouse Park is on the lake's northeast shore near the dam (exact turn-by-turn to the park entrance was not published on the pages checked).
The hike in
Dana Peak Trail (accessible from Stillhouse Park, trailhead outside the gatehouse)
The swim beach itself is a drive-up/short-walk-from-parking spot - no hike is needed to reach the water. Stillhouse Park separately provides access to the Dana Peak hiking trail (trailhead located outside the park gatehouse) as an optional add-on activity, but that trail is not on the way to or required for the swim beach.
Prior enrichment already confirmed hike_required = false; this pass only adds that Dana Peak Trail's trailhead sits outside the gatehouse as a separate, optional hiking option for visitors who want to extend their trip.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated swim beach with gently sloping shoreline typical of Corps reservoir beaches, but no lifeguards are posted anywhere on Stillhouse Hollow Lake; USACE rules state swimming/wading is 'at one's own risk' outside restricted areas, so supervision is needed.
Parking
Paid
Entry is first-come, first-served based on parking availability in the designated day-use areas; as of the current Recreation.gov Activity Pass listing, visitors must pay for an Activity Pass (scanned via QR code in the Recreation.gov app, or covered by an America the Beautiful / USACE annual pass) - no dollar amount is published on the page. Parking outside designated areas is discouraged and can result in citation or towing. Re-entry is not guaranteed if the park closes for overcrowding.
Restrooms
Yes
Restroom facilities ('waterborne restrooms') are listed among the on-site amenities in the day-use beach/picnic area at Stillhouse Park; exact building location on the grounds is not detailed on the official page.
Hours
Day-use hours are 8:00am-8:00pm; boat ramp/marina access is 6:00am-8:00pm daily year-round. Season dates differ slightly between official USACE pages: the Swimming page lists the swim/picnic area as open March 1-December 1, while the current Recreation.gov Activity Pass page lists the day-use season as March 1-September 30. Most non-boat-ramp facilities close October 1 through the end of February.
On the water
Restrictions: A 4-lane boat ramp with courtesy dock is on-site for visitor-owned watercraft. Small personal swimming pools are capped at 5in deep / 7in high / 48x48in; larger inflatable structures (e.g., inflatable water slides) require a Lake Activity Permit (contact 254-939-2461), and waterborne structures like water slides are not permitted outright. No explicit ban on personal kayaks/canoes/paddleboards/motorboats was found - general Corps lake rules apply (no-wake near swim beach/docks implied but not explicitly quoted).
Swimming, wading, snorkeling, and diving are allowed at one's own risk everywhere except boat launches, mooring points, and public docks; jumping/diving from trees, bridges, or structures is banned lakewide.
Backstory
Stillhouse Hollow Lake's dam was built 1962-1968 under the Flood Control Act of September 3, 1954; the reservoir was renamed from 'Lampasas' to 'Stillhouse Hollow' by Public Law 86-307. These are lake-wide history facts, not specific to the Stillhouse Park facility itself.
Stillhouse Park: FAQ
Does Stillhouse Park charge a fee?
No entrance fee is stated for general day use; the two pavilions on site (Island View Pavilion and Tear Drop Pavilion) require paid reservation through Recreation.gov.
Is Stillhouse Park kid friendly?
Designated swim beach with gently sloping shoreline typical of Corps reservoir beaches, but no lifeguards are posted anywhere on Stillhouse Hollow Lake; USACE rules state swimming/wading is 'at one's own risk' outside restricted areas, so supervision is needed.
Do I need to hike to reach Stillhouse Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Stillhouse Park?
Entry is first-come, first-served based on parking availability in the designated day-use areas; as of the current Recreation.gov Activity Pass listing, visitors must pay for an Activity Pass (scanned via QR code in the Recreation.gov app, or covered by an America the Beautiful / USACE annual pass) - no dollar amount is published on the page. Parking outside designated areas is discouraged and can result in citation or towing. Re-entry is not guaranteed if the park closes for overcrowding.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Stillhouse Park?
Swimming, wading, snorkeling, and diving are allowed at one's own risk everywhere except boat launches, mooring points, and public docks; jumping/diving from trees, bridges, or structures is banned lakewide.
When is the best time to visit Stillhouse Park?
Swimming and picnic areas are posted as open March 1 through December 1; general park hours outside that window are listed as 8:00 am-8:00 pm with most facilities (other than the boat ramp/marina) closed October 1 through the end of February.
What are the rules at Stillhouse Park?
Swimming, wading, snorkeling, and diving are permitted at one's own risk outside restricted areas; prohibited at boat launch sites, designated mooring points, and public docks. Diving or jumping from trees, bridges, or adjacent structures is banned. An international diver-down flag must be displayed during underwater activities, and the Corps advises wearing a life jacket.
What water body is Stillhouse Park on?
Stillhouse Park is on Stillhouse Hollow Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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