Inks Lake State Park: Devils Waterhole to Bird Blind (Blog Hike #1051)

Trails: Devils Waterhole, Valley Spring Creek, and Devils Backbone Nature Trails
Hike Location: Inks Lake State Park
Geographic Location: west of Burnet, TX (30.74577, -98.36058)
Length: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: An out-and-back with some rocky sections passing Devils Waterhole and leading to a bird blind.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lake
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980232
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 23, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Burnet, take SR 29 west 9.1 miles to Park Road 4 and turn left on Park Road 4.  Drive Park Road 4 south 3.2 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, then turn right to drive north through the campground.  Park at the small campground parking lot for the Devils Waterhole Trailhead, where this hike begins.

The hike: Anchoring the northern end of Texas' fine collection of Hill Country state parks, Inks Lake State Park consists of 1201 acres on the east shore of its namesake lake.  Inks Lake was formed in 1938 when the Lower Colorado River Authority built Inks Dam on the Colorado River for the purposes of flood control and hydroelectric power generation.  It should be noted that there are multiple Colorado Rivers in the western United States.  This Colorado River is the one that flows entirely through Texas, not the one that flows through Arizona's Grand Canyon.

            The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began working to build this park after they finished nearby Longhorn Cavern State Park in 1940, but the project was abandoned with the start of World War II.  After the war, the State of Texas finished the park, and it opened in 1950.  The CCC only built a couple of structures in this park, but they did build scenic Park Road 4 that you drove to get here.

            Inks Lake State Park offers many amenities, which include a 160-site developed campground and 22 cabins.  Additional amenities include the usual aquatic recreation on Inks Lake, several picnic areas, and 9 miles of hiking trails.  The hike described here features Devils Waterhole, which most people think is the most scenic site in the park.  Yet it also traverses some classic desert/arid terrain and leads to a bird blind that offers great bird viewing, thus allowing you to sample all of the scenery the park has to offer.

Devils Waterhole Trailhead

            From the Devils Waterhole Trailhead, head north on the Devils Waterhole Trail as it descends on a wide dirt track toward its namesake site.  Lots of juniper/cedar trees grow in this area, and many arid desert flora grow here including yuccas and prickly pear cacti.  After losing about 30 feet of elevation, you reach Devils Waterhole at 0.2 miles.  This scenic corner of Inks Lake gets its name from the gneiss cliffs that come all the way down to the water; it marks the point where Spring Creek enters Inks Lake.  Take some time to enjoy this rocky scenic spot.

Devils Waterhole

            A few steps past Devils Waterhole, you reach a trail intersection that marks the end of the Devils Waterhole Trail and the start of the Valley Spring Creek Trail, which forms a loop.  The trail going up the bare rock to the left will be our return route, but you want to continue straight to climb more gradually on the loop's south arm and begin a counterclockwise journey around the Valley Spring Creek Trail.  The trail gains about 80 feet of elevation as it crosses the highest point on this hike, and traffic noise from Park Road 4 comes in through the trees to the right.

Start of Devil's Backbone Nature Trail

            Near 0.7 miles, you reach another trail intersection.  The trail going left is the Valley Spring Creek Trail's north arm, and we will go that way later as our return route.  For now continue straight to begin the Devil's Backbone Nature Trail, which is marked with a wooden sign.  The trail descends over some small rock ledges before rock-hopping Spring Creek in the shadow of Park Road 4's bridge over the creek.  Interpretive signs describe some common plants in the area.

Devils Waterhole overlook

            Now comes the hardest part of the hike: the trail heads west through a rocky area with many boulders to climb over and around.  The elevation is about 50 feet above Spring Creek, and just past 1 mile you pass a fantastic overlook of Devils Waterhole.  After a rocky descent, the trail surface turns back to dirt as you come alongside Inks Lake.  I saw a group of coots on the water on the windy morning that I hiked here.

Inks Lake

            At 1.6 miles, the Devil's Backbone Nature Trail ends where it intersects a park road.  Some people turn around here, but if you angle left, walk a short distance on the park road, and then continue past a small parking area, you will reach a stocked bird blind.  I saw many cardinals and goldfinches at this blind, and some signs help you identify common birds.  This bird blind is a nice place to sit, rest, and rehydrate near the midpoint of this hike.

View from bird blind

Valley Spring Creek Waterfall (dry)

            After watching the birds, retrace your steps the full length of the Devil's Backbone Nature Trail, and then turn right to begin the north arm of the Valley Spring Creek Trail.  The balance of the Valley Spring Creek Trail passes through a rocky area high above Spring Creek.  Valley Spring Creek Waterfall can be seen downhill in the creek to the right, but there was insufficient water to fall when I came here.  A final rocky descent returns you to Devils Waterhole to complete the Valley Spring Creek Trail.  A soft left turn takes you back up the Devils Waterhole Trail to the campground trailhead, thus completing the hike.