Over 300 miles of shoreline await at Possum Kingdom Lake. Located a short road trip away from Dallas, or an hour west of the DFW metroplex, the North Texas hidden gem offers a summer oasis of blue waters, scenic coves, and dramatic limestone cliffs 300 million years in the making.
Tucked away in the community of Caddo in Palo Pinto County, Possum Kingdom State Park spans 1,530 acres along Possum Kingdom Lake, a roughly 18,500-acre body of water with over 300 miles of shoreline. For more details, continue below!
Boasting some of the clearest blue water in the Southwest, Possum Kingdom Lake is understandably a very popular swimming destination. There are designated swimming areas all around the lake – most of which are located on the southern side.
Favorite swimming spots at P.K. Lake include:
- Sandy Beach/BRA Area #6: large, popular beach with peninsula and roped-off swimming areas; features restrooms and covered picnic tables; requires admission fee between June 28 — July 7, but is otherwise free
- Possum Kingdom State Park: clear water and scenic views at the southwest shores; slightly rocky in some places
- Bug Beach/BRA Area #5: big park and campground with designated swimming area; features fishing pier, campground, picnic areas, and restrooms
- Turtle Beach: roped-off, kid-safe swimming area; less crowded during peak season
Possum Kingdom Lake is also a big draw for cliff diving. Its most dramatic drop is that from the 80 – 90-foot cliffs at Hell’s Gate; however these cliffs are strictly reserved for professional events. This is PK’s most famous landmark.
Two towering, limestone cliffs form a narrow strait between the mainland and Devil’s Island. It is a massive gathering spot for boaters, the premier location for cliff diving, and hosts a legendary fireworks show every Fourth of July. You can only get up close by boat or personal watercraft – there is plenty of room for wakeboarding, water skiing, and tubing without feeling completely crowded out by other boats.
Legally-speaking, the park allows cliff diving from anywhere 20-feet-or-below around the lake. Visitors can find jump points in the 10-20 foot range at Devil’s Island near Hell’s Gate.
PK is one of the few Texas lakes popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. Visibility is best near the Morris Sheppard Dam, where water is the deepest and clearest. Divers frequent “The Wall,” a vertical rock drop-off that plunges up to 150 feet deep.
Fro all your anglers out there, the lake is heavily populated with largemouth, striped, and white bass, as well as channel catfish and white crappie. If you fish from the shore within Possum Kingdom State Park, you actually don’t need a state fishing license.
The lake itself does not have operating hours and is accessible 24/7 for boating and fishing. That said, the Possum Kingdom State Park grounds are open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Other beaches have their own hours of operation.
