Cedar Creek Reservoir, aka Cedar Creek Lake, sits on the blackland prairie only 50 miles southeast of downtown Dallas, Texas, in Henderson and Kaufman Counties on Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River. Clockwise from its northern end, Cedar Creek Lake is surrounded by the towns of Kemp, Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Payne Springs, Log Cabin, Caney City, Malakoff, Trinidad, Tool, Seven Points, and Tolosa. It covers a surface area of 34,000 feet with a maximum depth of 53 feet and about 220 miles of shoreline. 

The Tarrant County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 owns and operates Cedar Creek Lake, which is used for municipal water supply. Thousands of visitors escape the big city every year to enjoy a variety of activities and water sports, plus the Whatz-Up Fun Park in Seven Points. Dallas, Athens, and Corsicana, Texas, form a triangle around Cedar Creek Lake via U.S. 175, SH 22, and I45. 

There are three islands managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Big Island, Bird Island, and Persimmon Island. Aquatic birds use these islands as breeding grounds. The TPWD does not allow the public to access these islands, but people are welcome to watch the birds from their boats or the shoreline. 

History of Cedar Creek Lake

A widow named Jane Irvine from Alabama was one of the first settlers in the Cedar Creek Lake area in 1835. She built a gristmill on Caney Creek, the Caney City, Texas, namesake one and a half miles north of Malakoff, Texas. A community called Caney Creek grew up around the mill, and in 1852, Caney Creek became Mitcham Chapel named for Methodist minister Reverend Hezekiah Mitcham. Mitcham Chapel requested post office in 1854, and the two names suggested by the community folks were Mitcham and Purdon.

Mitcham and Purdon were already in use, so the Washington D.C. postal office suggested they name their post office Malakoff. The battle of Malakoff took place during the Crimean war at a Russian fort, so the people accepted the name Malakoff, which is actually Russian for “milk”. Malakoff swelled up with 45,000 lignite miners. Some of the miner’s homes are still standing today. Lignite mining gained a spurt of energy again when the Texas Power and Light (TP&L) built a coal-powered electric station in the 1920s. With the advent of TP&L converting power generation to natural gas in the 1940s, the Malakoff Fuel Company shut its doors in 1945. 

The Malakoff Man, discovered during the excavation of a gravel pit, was discovered in 1929. Malakoff, Texas, received fame for the large prehistoric carved head. 

During the 1930s it gained prominence for the discovery of a large prehistoric carved head, known as the "Malakoff Man," found in the excavation of a gravel pit in 1929. He is one of three carved stone heads found in that gravel pit. Archeologists found similar heads in other parts of Texas and Northern Mexico. The current acceptance of authenticity believes that he is from a Paleo-Indian association or the Archaic period. 

Cedar Creek Lake Fishing

Catfish, white bass, and hybrid striped bass fishing is excellent on Cedar Creek Lake, and largemouth bass and crappie fishing is good. Most submerged vegetation is located in the backs of coves in the lower end of the reservoir. Some emergent vegetation is present in the upper end, but water is very shallow. Look for submersed islands across the lake from the confluence of Clear and Caney creeks. White and hybrid bass are plentiful in the spring, and anglers can follow birds to find their schools. You can find largemouth bass in coves with submerged weeds in the lower third of Cedar Creek Lake. Catfish action is good year round. Fishing guides are ready to show you a labor-free fishing experience with no boat maintenance and no expensive tackle. Book your next unforgettable day on the water starting at our Cedar Creek Lake Fishing Guides page.

Boating On Cedar Creek Lake

With five marinas and public boat ramps, boating is a popular watersport on Cedar Creek Lake, and it is easy to find services for any kind of boat or watercraft. Boaters can find large coves for swimming and hanging out, and wetbikers can find calm water in these coves. In peak times, like spring and summer, Cedar Creek Lake may have rough waters due to boat traffic and wind. 

Visitors can find just about any kind of boat or watercraft to rent like pontoons and power boats, wetbikes, jet skis, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, water skis, wakeboards, and kneeboards. Be sure to call watercraft rental businesses in advance because on Cedar Creek Lake, these places stay busy and booked up. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars and watch the birds on the islands from your boat. Buy or sell your boat on our Cedar Creek Lake Boats For Sale page.

Cedar Creek Lake Marinas

There are four marinas on Cedar Creek Lake that offer full marina services, boat detailing, ship’s stores, restaurants with a cold beer or drink, dry storage, wet slips, boat and toy rentals, and more. Some have camping or RV sites too. One Cedar Creek Lake marina sells swim rafts. These are rafts on pontoons with pop-up tables. They look like a floating deck. The other two marinas are in subdivisions for housing and private. Whatever your boating needs, you will find a service for it on our Cedar Creek Lake Marinas page.

Cabins and Vacation Homes

One way to enjoy the slower pace of lake life is to rent a cabin, cottage, or vacation home with a waterfront view. These rentals provide family fun, couples, and friends days filled with water activities, nature watching, and relaxing scenery. Lakefront communities surround Cedar Creek Lake. With so many options to choose from, visitors can find the perfect place to take a good long break from the daily grind. Readily available rentals include waterfront homes, cottages, and lake view cabins. Plan your next amazing vacation by finding a cabin or vacation home on our Cedar Creek Lake Cabins page. 

Camping At Cedar Creek Lake

One highly unique Cedar Creek Lake campground, Llamaland Ranch, lets you pitch your tent on a primitive site or bring your RV and wait for the llamas to come and welcome you, or go glamping in a teepee at the 505 Ranch. There are abundant tent and RV campgrounds around Cedar Creek Lake offering a variety of activities and relaxing lake life. Camping fees are quite reasonable across the board. The amenities vary, but campers can find campgrounds with fishing piers, picnic areas, swim beaches, boat ramps, showers and restrooms, and more. Be sure to take your binoculars and get a view of the birds on the three Wildlife Management Area islands. Look at the beautiful locations where you can camp under the stars at our Cedar Creek Lake Campgrounds And RV Parks page.

Things To Do At Cedar Creek Lake

Cedar Creek Lake is unique among Texas lakes because all the little towns and communities so close to the lake each offer unique experiences. For the whole family, there’s Whatz-Up Fun Park in Seven Points on the northeast side of Cedar Creek Lake with an arcade, bumper cars, a game zone, go karts, kiddie karts, laser tag, miniature golf, paintball, a rock wall, and a tunnel play place, and pizza. 

There are three great golf courses for a day of challenges on the green. Pine Dunes Resort is a spectacular 4.5 Star Rated Championship Golf Course, Pine Dunes Resort is a spectacular 4.5 star rated championship golf course. Kings Creek Country Club is a beautiful course for all skill levels, with 9 or 18-hole tee times available. Cedar Creek Country Club mixes a premier 18-hole golf experience with an incredible amenity base and what people say is the best food in East Texas.

Visit or camp at Llamaland Ranch and let the amazing gentle llamas and their babies nuzzle you silly. Find beautiful horseback riding trails at the luxurious 505 Ranch. Bring your own horse or rent theirs, then check out their polo field, take an ATV to the ATV track, find peaceful hiking trails, go skeet shooting. Drink some handcrafted Texas beer at the Cedar Creek Brewery in Gun Barrel City. 

Restaurants and nightlife is a part of Cedar Creek Lake life. You can find just about any kind of cuisine in the various towns, parks, and communities around the lake owned by individuals who know how to put on on a feed, serve a cold beer, or mix a great drink. Most of them revolve around Gun Barrel City, but there are others spread out around the rest of Cedar Creek Lake. Explore more Things To Do at Cedar Creek Lake.

Cedar Creek Lake Weather

Cedar Creek Lake sees an average of 44 inches of rain per year with 1 inch of snow and 230 days of sunshine. The winter low in January is 34 degrees and a summer high in July of 95 degrees. April, May, and October are the most comfortable months for this region. Stay up to date with our Cedar Creek Lake Weather Forecast page.

Cedar Creek Lake Real Estate 

If you want to live about an hour away from Dallas, then Cedar Creek Lake has an average of 230 lake homes and 270 properties or lots available at any given time. This area is the fourth largest lake home real estate market in Texas. The average list price for a modern home runs just under a half a million dollars, but there are plenty of lower-priced options available. Kemp, Mabank, Malakoff, and Trinidad ISDs are right near the lake. The nearest town with a Walmart depends on what side of the lake you are located on. Athens, Corsicana, and Kaufman are short drives from Cedar Creek Lake and have Walmarts. Find your dream home with an experienced local real estate professional on our Cedar Creek Lake Homes For Sale page. 

Cedar Creek Lake Zip Codes

Henderson County:

75124, 75148, 75156, 75163, 75751, 75752, 75756, 75758,75763, 75770, 75778, and 75782.

Kaufman County:

75114, 75118, 75126, 75142, 75143, 75147, 75157, 75158, 75160, and 75161.