Grapevine Lake
9 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near Carrollton
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Carrollton for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
29places to see wildlife
9 mito the closest
5within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
Lewisville Lake
9 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers
Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.
Lavon Lake
24 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.
Map of all 29 places
Map of 29 places loads as you scroll.
Within 30 miles (5)
Grapevine Lake
Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Lewisville Lake
Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Lavon Lake
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Ray Roberts Lake
This 29,350-acre rural lake is just a few minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is a great place to get away from city life.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
30 to 75 miles (10)
Benbrook Lake
Benbrook Lake is located in the scenic open countryside of rolling hills and prairie meadows southwest of Fort Worth, Texas.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Longhorn
Longhorn Park Picnic Area overlooks Benbrook Lake & Dam in north-central Texas, easiley accessible from the Chisholm Trail Parkway and southwest Fort Worth.
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
North Holiday Park
Holiday Park dayuse area (North Holiday Park) is on the west side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas, accessible from US Hwy 377.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Rocky Creek Park (Benbrook Lake)
Rocky Creek Park is on the east side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas, accessible form Granbury Road or McPherson Road. Day Use picnicking, hiking & horseback trails, and fishing are available.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Holiday (Texas)
Holiday Park campground is on the west side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas and accessible from US Hwy 377. Camping, hiking & horseback trails, boat launch, fishing & wildlife viewing are available.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Wildlife viewing
Bear Creek
Bear Creek Campground is on the south side of Benbrook Lake in north central Texas, accessible from Ben Day Murrin Road. Individual & group camping, along with boat launching, is available.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Wildlife viewing
Bardwell Lake
Bardwell Lake is located in the Blackland Prairie region of southwestern Ellis County. Built in 1965 for flood control by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bardwell Lake is located two miles southwest of Ennis off of State Highway 34.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 to provide habitat for migratory birds, wildlife, and plants native to the area. The 11,320-acre refuge is an overlay of the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
- Nature education
Lake Texoma
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites you to visit Lake Texoma, the largest lake in capacity in the Tulsa District and the twelfth largest in the United States.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Off-highway vehicles
Navarro Mills Lake
Navarro Mills Lake holds the state record white crappie at 4lbs 9 ounces.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water sports
75 miles and farther (14)
Aquilla Lake
This 3,280-acre lake is located on Aquilla and Hackberry Creeks.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Cooper Lake
When complete, will impound the South Sulphur River in Delta and Hopkins Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Whitney Lake
There are 10 Corps of Engineers parks, one state park, and three additional parks managed by Hill County or private individuals. Equestrian riders have a great place to explore rolling hills and woods in the McCown Valley Equestrian Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 560 national wildlife refuges that form a network of United States lands and waters managed specifically for wildlife.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
Pat Mayse Lake
Pat Mayse Lake is located in the Red River Basin in Lamar County, Texas. The damsite is on Sanders Creek (a tributary of the Red River) approximately one mile south of the town of Chicota, four miles northwest of Powderly and twelve miles…
- Boating
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Waco Lake
The largest lake in the United States to be located entirely within a single city's municiple boundaries.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Arbuckle Lake
Lake of the Arbuckles is forned by Arbuckle Dam which is a feature of the Arbuckle Project . The lake is located at the confluence of the Buckhorn, Guy Sandy, and Rock Creeks.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Springs, streams, lakes - whatever its form, water is the attraction at Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Paddling
McGee Creek Reservoir
McGee Creek Dam and Reservoir project includes water conveyance facilities, public recreation facilities, a wildlife management area, and a natural scenic recreation area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Picnicking
Waurika Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wishes you an enjoyable stay at the project. The lake offers the visitor extensive opportunities for a memorable outdoor recreation experience.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Hugo Lake
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation manages over 18,000 acres of land and water, which is open to hunting along with an additional 8,000 acres managed by the Corps.
- Boating
- Camping
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Proctor Lake
Located in historic territory of the Comanche Indians, Proctor Lake offers a wide variety of activities both on and off the water.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Pine Creek Lake
Pine Creek Dam is located on Little River, approximately eight miles north of Valiant in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The lake extends into Choctaw and Pushmataha Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Belton Lake
Historical sites include the old "Charter Oak" on the Leon River, near the City of Belton, and the Stage Coach Inn in nearby Salado. Tour Miller Springs Nature Area located below Belton Dam.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Carrollton. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Carrollton
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Korean festival in Carrollton's Koreatown
Food stalls and crowds at a Korean festival in Koreatown Carrollton. A Short shared by Carrollton City Limits.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Downtown Carrollton
A quick look around downtown Carrollton and its painted water tower. A Short shared by Texas Family.
Watch on YouTube ↗More outdoors near Carrollton
Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near Carrollton?
Grapevine Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 9 miles west of Carrollton as the crow flies. Next are Lewisville Lake (9 mi) and Lavon Lake (24 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.