Our 4 Favorite Dallas Lakes to Swim with our Dogs

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I love being in the water with my dog and these Dallas lakes to swim with our dogs is our go to list for every weekend.

Be sure to hang onto this list since maybe you too have felt the crushing Summer heat already! It has really ramped up pretty quickly over the last week or so. PLUS you might have heard ERCOT’s announcement that came in yesterday, Eeks!! It’s over here and frightening.

So I want to cover a few things in this post.

Which lakes to go to
How to keep your dog cool
And a few prep items to deal with the ERCOT curve balls to help yourself, your family and your fur family

First up, LAKES!

Summer weather in North Texas waits for no one. And although June started out pleasantly cool, our hopes and dreams of a cooler summer came crashing down on us. Texas summer is definitely here.

One way to handle the heat this Summer is to take a dip into a cool body of water. Thankfully, we have lots of options to choose from!

Dallas Lakes to swim with your dog

🐶 Brockdale Park – Lake Lavon

Brockdale Park is a pretty small park on the north end of Lake Lavon in the Lucas/Allen area. It is mostly a horse riding trailhead that can also be hiked. If you hike, there is not much shade here and it takes weeks to dry up after the rain.

Head towards the boat ramp and to the right of the parking lot you’ll find some low key places to set up camp and swim.

1625 Brockdale Park Rd, Allen, TX 75002

🐶 Highland Park – Lake Lavon

Highland Park is located on the very north end of Lake Lavon, and down the road from Brockdale Park in Lucas.

We’ve hiked these trails often which we will probably avoid until after Summer.

This park is a bit more hidden and out of the way which makes it a perfect place to head out with your pup.

1925 Snider Ln. Allen, TX 75002

🐶 Horseshoe Trail – Grapevine Lake

The Horseshoe Trails are a perfect way for you to start your day at Grapevine Lake. If you choose to take your dog for a walk first, you’ll be able to get some beautiful views of the lake along this trail. Keep in mind, that there are some great swimming spots near the trailhead. In the Summer heat, you will want to keep your hike super short. And don’t forget to look out for mountain bikers.

Horseshoe Trail Grapevine, TX 76051

🐶 Paddle Point Park & Lakeside Park – Lake Ray Hubbard

Lakeside Park – 1171 C A Roan Dr, Rowlett, TX 75088

Paddle Point Park – 6301 Miller Rd #6677, Rowlett, TX 75088

One park is on the left and one is on the right. This is another one of our fave spots as we just hop on the George Bush, exit Miller road, turn left at the light. Once we drive over the bridge, we can choose Paddle Point park to the left or Lakeside Park to the right.

Paddle Point Park is where I typically launch my own stand up paddle boarder and likewise, many kayakers launch from here as well. If you have a dog that likes to do this with you, you will love this spot. Plus, the city of Rowlett has recently put a lot of upgrades into this park and paddling trail.

BONUS swimming holes for just your DOG:

📌 North Bark Dog Park

This park has a pond in the middle, situated between the small dog and large dog section. Humans are unable to swim.

📌White Rock Lake Dog Park

📌Bonnie Wenk Dog Park in McKinney

Near the entrance is a dog only splash pad with plastic swimming pools for your pooch.

[see more over here on this post]

And 1 more BONUS just for YOU that looks like so much fun:

🏊🏻 Burgers Lake is a just for humans spot outside of Ft. Worth. I think its worth a day trip for sure!

Lastly, a few must haves to stay sane in this heat

Here are 4 easy items to have at your home.

Adding more water bowls to your home and backyard are always a good idea.

We love this pet fountain here ⤵️

A perfect Pool for your pooch

Dog Cooling Pad

Backup Air Cooler

I think we all were given fair waning after the February storm. These air coolers are super affordable and having a couple around could be really helpful. And also be sure to have a backup power source or if you have solar panels, be sure to figure out how to convert that energy and send it back to your home.

If you are looking for a new way to spend time with your pup, consider taking them swimming in these Dallas lakes.

There is no better feeling than getting wet and wild in the water on a hot day—except when you share it with someone who loves it just as much as you do! Whether they get excited about any old lake or prefer something more adventurous like kayaking, there’s plenty of options out there for people who want to make sure their pup has fun too.

No matter which one “cooling method” suits your needs best, I hope this post helped introduce some great places near Dallas where dogs can enjoy a little water therapy together. Enjoy those Dallas lakes!

P.S. Get awesome tips from fellow Dog Moms by joining the Dog Mom group here

P.P.S. Looking to advertise a dog business? Choose the Dog Directory and/or this broader option. Both are super easy and affordable.

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