Eagle Mountain Lake sits about 12 miles from downtown Ft. Worth in northwest Tarrant County. Even though Eagle Mountain Lake is so close to a big city, it remains uniquely rural. From its southern shore, you can see the city lights of Ft. Worth at night, but as you travel north around the lake, the lights fade into starry skies.
There are 7 major parks you can use to experience Eagle Mountain Lake: South Wise County Park, Eagle Mountain Park, Twin Points Park, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Ash Creek Park (Azle City Park), Shady Grove Park, Pelican Park.
From Ft. Worth, take I820 to either SH 199 on the west or County Road 1220/Boat Club Road on the east to access Eagle Mountain Lake. The following parks are in order from the northeastern shores around to the northwestern shores of Eagle Mountain Lake.
South Wise County Park
Newark, Texas, is on the northeastern shore of Eagle Mountain Lake, and the South Wise County Park is on the far western edge of Newark. It is a fairly small park and has a free public boat ramp, a few picnic tables on concrete slabs, shoreline fishing, and access to the water, but it has no beach. It is located at 522 County Road 4873, Newark, Texas.
From I820, take County Road 1220/Boat Club Road north until it turns into Morris Dido Newark Road. Follow it to County Road 718/Avondale Haslet Road and go left or north one and a quarter mile to Central Avenue and go west. Follow it around as it turns north and then west. Go south on County Road 4856, which dead ends into County Road 4873, and follow it into the park.
Eagle Mountain Park
Eagle Mountain Park is a 400-acre nature wonderland with hiking trails. You can hike or run on the trails, but no bicycles or dogs are allowed. It has picnic tables, benches, water fountains, and restrooms at the park entrance. There are two pavilions. The trails are open from sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset seven days a week, and it is free. There are five trails and four of them fork off of the Main Park Trail, with a total of five miles of trails.
This park does have access to the lake, but no beach. From I820 take FM 1220/Boat Club Road north until it turns into Morris Dido Newark Road. Follow it about ten miles to the park entrance. The park entrance is just a little past Peden Road on the east and before Peden Road on the west. It is located at 11601 Morris Dido Newark Road, Fort Worth, Texas.
Twin Points Park
The Twin Points Park has a great beach and swimming area. The fee is $10 during weekdays and $20 on weekends, per vehicle. It offers a boat ramp, two large pavilions, several small pavilions, grills, picnic tables, weather alert systems, paddleboard rentals, and lots of shade trees, plus it provides life jackets. It is a well-maintained park with a volleyball court and clean restrooms. You can make reservations for the pavilions.
The boat ramp is open year round, 24/7, and the swim beach is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park will extend hours for special events. You must use onsite charcoal grills, or you can bring a propane grill. The park requires a parking permit purchased online prior to your visit. You cannot go in and out of the park during your visit. There are no refunds or rain checks.
Twin Points Park has special pricing for holidays, motorcycles, bicycles, passenger vans, minibuses, school buses, and coach buses. Permits are void if not placed face up with the expiration date and time clearly visible. The entire park can be rented at times for up to 1,500 people. From I820, take FM 1220/Boat Club Road north almost two miles and go west on Ten Mile Bridge Road into the park.
Twin Points Park is located at 10200 Ten Mile Bridge Road, Fort Worth, Texas, on Eagle Mountain Lake’s southern shore. The park strictly enforces its rules.
Twin Points Park Rules:
- No Pets
- No Smoking
- No Littering
- No Glass Containers
- No Personal Charcoal Grills*
- No Public Consumption of Alcohol
- No Discharge of Firearms
- No Open Fires
- No Rain Checks
- No Disturbing Noise
- No Commercial Photography
- No Soliciting or Panhandling
- No Bicycles or Skateboards
- No Vulgar or Offensive Language
- Canopies may not be used on the beach, but on the grass only
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge is a 3,621-acre preserve with 20 miles of hiking trails, a buffalo herd, an alligator compound, deer, and a myriad of birds. It is located at 9601 Fossil Ridge Road, Fort Worth, Texas. The nature center is located just south of Twin Points Park. The Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R) is a natural park comprising forests, prairies, and wetlands. It is ADA accessible.
You can step back in time and experience what the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex was like in the early 20th century at the FWNC&R. Its Hardwicke Interpretive Center is the main visitor center where most activities and tours originate. This facility has wildlife viewing opportunities, interpretive animal exhibits, bird watching, restrooms, and water. The staff will provide general information and answer questions.
Education is one of FWNC&R’s most important missions. It offers group field experiences for school children, an outreach program where staff will visit schools and home school groups, community events, summer camps for kindergarteners through fifth graders, and holiday and summer programs, which can include can include specialty hikes, canoeing, and their famous Bison Feeding Hayrides.
Staff members offer many programs throughout the year providing opportunities for visitors to learn about the natural world. It offers self-guided or staff-guided hikes. Refuge hours are September to April, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and May to August, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no entry after 4 p.m. The Hardwicke Interpretive Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fees are:
- $6 Adults aged 13 to 64
- $2 Children aged 3 to 12
- Children under 3: free
- $3 Seniors aged 65+
- $1 Discount with military ID-active or retired
- $1 Dogs
- Dogs Free with Friends of the Ft. Worth Nature Center Membership (FONC)
Ash Creek Park / Azle City Park
The Azle City Park is within the Ash Creek Park and located on the southwestern tip of Eagle Mountain Lake at 605 Southeast Parkway, Azle, Texas. Ash Creek flows into Eagle Mountain Lake and meanders through these parks. These parks are wheelchair accessible. They are well-maintained with a friendly staff.
Ash Creek Park is popular with remote control airplane and model rocket enthusiasts. It offers an 18-hole disc golf course, baseball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, two volleyball courts, playground equipment, picnic areas, three community buildings, restrooms, and a pavilion.
There is access to Eagle Mountain Lake on its southeastern tip but no beach. From I820 take SH 199 north to either Denver Trail, which cuts through the parks, or North Stewart Street to Park Street, and go east on both roads. Both parks are free, but facility usage fees may apply.
Shady Grove Park
Shady Grove Park is a 31-acre park with a small beach. It can get crowded. It is located at 1000 Stribling Road, Azle, Texas, which is on the southwestern shores of Eagle Mountain Lake. It offers a walking trail, a children's playground, a volleyball court, lighted tennis courts, lighted softball fields, picnic tables, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, restrooms, pavilions, and a roped off beach area for public swimming.
Shady Grove Park rents the pavilions and sports courts and fields. Everything else is free. If the water is low, the boat ramp may be on dry land. From I820, take SH 199 north to Boyd Road north to Stribling Road. Go right or east on Stribling Road and follow it into the park. It is open from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Pelican Park
Pelican Park is located just east of Azle at 1602 Liberty School Road, Azle, Texas, in the City of Pelican Bay, and open 24/7 year round. It has a two-lane, concrete boat ramp with maximum parking capacity for 25 vehicles. It has a playground, a swim beach, and a fee-based boat ramp. The Pelican Bay police will fine visitors for every violation.