DANA PEAK

Aside from two campgrounds and a nearby day-use park, very little of the lakeshore is developed. The edges consist of rocky beaches and sandy bluffs. Much of the lake area is forested, though the campground is mostly grassy, flat and open with little to no shade. Most campsites are right along the water's edge; others are within a short walk. The lake has noticeably clear and deep water inhabited by largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. A man-made wetland was constructed on the south shore of the lake, providing an additional 10 acres of wildlife habitat in the area.

Recreation: With 58 miles of shoreline, Stillhouse Hollow Lake is an often uncrowded haven for boaters and fishermen. The campground has a four-lane boat ramp, and visitors who do not have motor boats, canoes or kayaks can rent them nearby. Families can enjoy soaking up the sun, swimming at the beach or exploring the Dana Peak Trails (located just outside the main entrance to the park) by foot, bike or horseback. Birding is a favorite pastime for many visitors with hawks, Great Blue herons, ducks, geese, many species of songbirds, bobwhite quail, Rio Grande turkey and even an occasional bald eagle, yielding year-round opportunities for bird sightings.

Nearby: Within a short drive, the Village of Salado offers golf, art galleries and shopping, among other pastimes. Chalk Ridge Falls Environmental Learning Center is below the Stillhouse Hollow Lake Dam. The center has about five miles of hiking trails, including a one-mile nature trail along the Lampasas River, a spring-fed creek, a waterfall, bridges and several wildlife viewing points. Stillhouse Hollow Lake is located near the Fort Hood Army Base, which has several points of interest for the military buff.