5 Reasons why Houston Residents Love Canyon Lake
Posted by Mary Sallman on Thu, Jun 10, 2010
Why Canyon Lake for Houstonians?
The question arises quite often within our family. Having siblings living in Houston who drive many times a year to Canyon Lake for family and holiday events, the question comes up why Canyon Lake when there are other closer lakes to Houston. 
#1 Hill Country vs. Piney Woods
For my family members, the answer is the look and feel. Being in Canyon Lake places you in a completely different space than the nearby lake of Conroe. You are no longer in Houston or the Piney Woods of Texas; you are in the Texas Hill Country.
#2 Clear Blue Prisitine Water
The water in Canyon Lake is another big plus for my family. The water is clear and blue and pristine-the benefit of having a rock bottom. Lake Conroe has a muddy bottom which changes the color and feel of the water-plus with the past hydrilla infestation, the water is not what you would call ideal.
#3 Canyon Lake Terrain
Canyon Lake has large hills, oaks and cedar. It should-the reservoir was made from a canyon! Lake Conroe is mostly flat and its vegetation closer to that of Houston. When on Canyon Lake you look around and you see hills, trees, and birds. When boating on Lake Conroe you get a sense that you are taking a home tour cruising in front of one home after another in one gigantic neighborhood. Somehow it doesn't quite feel like you're in the country.
#4 Unemcumbered Shoreline -Less Choppy Water
It is true that one nice benefit of Lake Conroe is having your own private dock and bulkheads; however these contribute to the choppy water. Add a couple of hundred boats to the lake on a weekend and boating activities become a rough experience. Canyon Lake without docks and bulkheads has its share of choppy water, but it's mostly due to windy weather or to the number of boats, not the shoreline! Speaking of shorelines, there is nothing more beautiful than being out on your boat or looking out from your patio onto the lake and seeing an unencumbered natural shoreline.
#5 Less Traffic more Ambiance!
Finally, the big reason why my Houston family members love Canyon Lake is the lake ambiance! Lake Conroe has traffic and not just I-45 traffic, which can be frustrating, but lake traffic. We all know that lakes get busy on special holidays, but on Lake Conroe every summer weekend can be like Fourth of July on Canyon Lake (ok, that may be a little bit of an exaggeration).With a busy lake, it is kind of tough to go "orange'n" which in my family means jumping into the water with your bulky old orange life vest and a tasty refreshment in hand.
That's the lake livin' we have come to know, and for my Houstonian siblings driving 2 1/2 hours is well worth the outing! Plus you are only 35 minutes from San Antonio and 15 minutes from New Braunfels--so much fun to be had!