Discover The Most Dangerous Lakes In Texas

Summer is here which means time on the lake is pretty much mandatory but there are a few lakes in Texas you might wanna steer clear of, just in case! Here are 5 of the more dangerous lakes in The Lone Star State!

Lake Livingston

Wikimedia

About 70 miles from Houston is Lake Livingston, the second largest lake in the state. The amount of debris washed into the lake from floodwaters often makes Lake Livingston a bit of an iffy lake to navigate. Reports claim at least 20 people have died since the year 2000 in boat accidents on Lake Livingston. The Texas Department of State Health Services also found that fishing on this lake could prove fatal as fish here carry high levels of environmental pollutants like Dioxins.

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Cedar Creek Lake

About 50 miles from Dallas sits another of Texas' biggest lakes, Cedar Creek Lake! 2000-2015 state records have shown that at least 15 people have died from boating accidents on Cedar Creek. The lake is dangerous specifically because the water becomes placid black at night, you cant see through the water whatsoever and the lake has areas that are not nearly as deep as they look, causing boaters to hit things like tree stumps sitting just beneath the surface of the water.

Joe Pool Lake

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library

Aerial view of Joe Pool Lake and Dam in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area between Dallas and Fort Worth. Joe Pool Lake is mostly fed by Mountain Creek and Walnut Creek and drains north into Mountain Creek leading into Mountain Creek Lake. Joe Pool lake impounds water in two arms formed by Mountain Creek and Walnut Creek. The lake serves as a reservoir for the City of Midlothian. View is to the east.

Joe Pool Lake has reported about 14 deaths from 2000-2014 and there was another body found in 2022 of a man who had not worn a life-vest. Joe Pool was once considered one of the most dangerous lakes in Texas. It has since gone through many safety changes to try and make the lake safer for visitors, including adding more lifeguards to the 12.1 mile lake area.

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Lewisville Lake

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library

Aerial view of Lewisville Lake and Dam on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River in Denton County, Texas, USA. The lake is located near the town of Lewisville about 20 miles (32 km) north of Dallas. The dam was constructed in 1954 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and water supply. View is to the north. Original image rotated and cropped by contributor.

Lewisville Lake has a pretty rough reputation as one of the most dangerous lakes in Texas. Aside from the 87 accidental deaths on the like, 21 of them water related, the lake also has a huge history of boating accidents and is one of the most alligator infested lakes in Texas.

Lake Conroe

Since 2000, Lake Conroe has topped the list for the most dangerous lake in Texas. The Parks and Wildlife Department reported 26 boat and drowning related deaths from 2010-2020. Figures show about 85% of these deaths in the boating accidents specifically were caused by boaters not wearing safety vests. The majority of these incidents were also caused by alcohol!

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Lakes are great fun in the summer but ya gotta remember to keep those safety precautions on you. Also, maybe be careful if youre going to a lake that is notoriously infested by alligators.