Getting outside and enjoying the local waterways is a great way to introduce kids to the natural world around them. Whether your family wants to go fishing, kayaking, or canoeing, have fun exploring these five waterways and parks in the Cedar Park, Texas, area.

Devine Lake Park

Concentrate! by Claire Gillman is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Grab your fishing poles and bring your gear to Devine Lake Park to cast your line for fish. This 45.5-acre park offers visitors numerous recreational opportunities including fishing and non-motorized boating. The shallow lake within the park is ideal for trying to catch channel catfish, sunfish, bluegill, or largemouth bass. The staff at the Texas Parks and Wildlife stock the lake throughout the year for your angling enjoyment.

After a fun few hours using your fishing pole, you can take a stroll on the short asphalt path and enjoy a picnic or grilling in one of the picnic areas. Everyone in the family can rest or play ball in the open green space and the youngsters will get a kick out of exploring the playscape. You’ll have access to restrooms and drinking water when you spend the day at Devine Lake Park. Be sure to bring your fishing license with you to fish in Devine Lake and any Texas waterway.

Location: 1807 Waterfall Drive, Leander.

Hours: Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Brushy Creek Lake Park

Brushy Creek Lake Park is one of Cedar Park’s premier parks for recreation, including fishing and kayaking. It’s easy spending the whole day at this 90-acre park right in Cedar Park. Brushy Creek Park has a 38-acre lake where you can fish for bluegill, channel catfish, and largemouth bass under Texas State Law. The lake is the perfect place to launch a non-motorized boat like a kayak or canoe as well as stand-up paddleboards. If you don’t have your own watercraft, you can rent canoes during select months of the year.

Before heading over to Bushy Creek Park, stop by any of these family-friendly restaurants in the Cedar Park area to grab some food to go for a picnic under one of the shaded pavilions. After your meal, you and the family can play a game of sand volleyball, hike the nature trails, or get a workout at the fitness stations. When the weather turns warm, the kids will get a kick out of playing in the water playscape located near the playground area.

Location: 3300 Brushy Creek Park, Cedar Park.

Hours: Daily from a half-hour before sunrise to 10 p.m.

Blue Hole Park

Anyone can enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, and splashing in the clear water at Blue Hole Park. This unique park has a striking waterfall that rolls over limestone cliffs into a shallow pool ideal for the kids to swim and play in. The family can wade in the pool below the waterfall, kayak and fish on the South Fork of the San Gabriel River, and enjoy a picnic under a shady tree that lines the shore of the river.

After playing in the water, you can stroll along the nature trails to look for wildlife or birds, and your furry friend is welcome to come along as long as they are on a leash. If you decide to go fishing at Blue Hole Park, you can try your hand at catching rainbow trout or channel catfish stocked by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Please note there is no jumping from the top of the waterfall into the pool below allowed, and pets are not allowed in the water.

Location: 100 Blue Hole Park, Georgetown.

Hours: Daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Lake Pflugerville Park

No place has more fishing piers near Cedar Park than at Lake Pflugerville Park. This 180-acre reservoir has seven fishing piers to cast your line from, and miles of shoreline to fish from. During the summer months, you can rent kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards to explore the lake or fish. There’s also a hiking trail that goes around the lake, and kids can play in the playground after a day on the water or fishing.

Hikers will appreciate the 3-mile nature trail where you may get lucky and see local wildlife as well as migrating birds like the vividly colored purple martins. You’ll find bird observation houses at both ends of Lake Pflugerville Park to observe the habits and patterns of these beautiful birds. This park is also the perfect spot to hold a special event, like a birthday or anniversary, in the pavilion area that can hold up to 125 people. Simply contact the park to make reservations for your special event.

Location: 18216 Weiss Lane, Pflugerville.

Hours: Dawn to 10 p.m.

Cedar Breaks Park

Cedar Breaks Park is the ideal location to take the family on a camping trip. This park has 59 reservable campsites with flush toilets and electric hookups to help make your camping experience comfortable. You’ll find Lake Georgetown within the boundaries of this park, where anglers can catch black bass, white bass, crappie, and catfish. Bring your kayak or canoe along to explore the lake and access remote shorelines and fishing spots along the way.

Hikers can get exercise while looking for wildlife as they walk the 26-mile San Gabriel River Trail that wanders through juniper and hardwood forests and also lets you experience Texas prairie grasslands. If you decide to camp at Cedar Breaks Park, you’ll have a covered shelter equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and barbecue grill to make your dinner on. The campsites also have drinking water, flushable toilets, and hot showers.

Location: 2100 Cedar Breaks Road, Georgetown.

Hours: Day use area closes at sunset.

There you have our team of Crème de la Crème of Cedar Park (Lakeline Blvd.) recommendations for waterways around our gorgeous area. What is your favorite place to bring your family to explore lakes, rivers, or ponds? Do you have a suggestion for other waterways near Cedar Park? If you know of a cool spot, let us know and we’ll go check it out.