Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit

Overview: Ray Roberts Lake State Park is a beautiful 30,000-acre lake complex complete with boat ramps, camping, fishing, a swimming beaches, numerous hiking trails, equestrian trails, Dorba mountain bike trails, hotel, marina and a park store.

Most of Ray Roberts Lake State Park is located in northern Denton County. The Ray Roberts Lake State Park Complex consists of two state park units (Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch), six satellite parks (Jordan Unit, Pond Creek, Pecan Creek, Buck Creek, Sanger, and Elm Fork), Wildlife Management Areas, wetlands, waterfowl sanctuaries and the 20 mile Ray Roberts Lake/Lake Lewisville Greenbelt Corridor.

Guide #4: Johnson Branch Unit has information on the camping, boating, fishing, walking/hiking trails and mountain bike trails. It includes the satellite Pecan Access Park.

The Johnson Branch Unit is set amid a mixed forest and prairie environment. In addition to 165 campsites on the lake, Johnson Branch includes boat ramps, group pavilions, and numerous mountain-bike trails, primitive camping, and great fishing opportunities.

The park offers complete water recreation activities: fishing, boating, waterskiing, personal watercraft, sailing, and swimming. The park store rents canoes and kayaks. Camp at tree-shaded sites and watch the sunset on the lake and deer from your picnic table.

No License Needed - Did you know that no one needs a fishing license or stamp to fish inside the boundaries of a Texas State Park? Regardless of age, or where you’re from, the Free Fishing in State Parks makes it possible to fish anytime you like, once you’ve entered the park, no license required. Plus, you can even learn fishing with your kids.

Since Johnson Branch is on a peninsula, it has both east and west-facing shoreline that allows visitors to sit in the peaceful evening and watch brilliant red and deep blue sunrises and sunsets over the water. Hiking and biking trails meander through the woodlands and offer great opportunities for wildlife and bird viewing. The park’s natural setting is a habitat that is home to many different species of birds.

The park’s proximity to Interstate 35 makes it a popular destination from the Dallas/Forth Worth Metroplex.

Visitor Center:
100 PW 4153
Valley View, TX 76272-7411
940/637-2294

The park reservations number is (512) 389-8900 or www.tpwd.state.tx.us ($3.00 fee charged for online reservations). Reservations guaranty you will have a campsite. Sites are on a first come, first serve basis. You can select a site when you check in, from the available site list.

Guide #1 includes:
An introduction to Ray Roberts Lake State Park, walking tour of the Lost Pines Nature Trail at IDB, Preview of the Interpretive Center at IDB.

Guide #2 includes:
Isle du Bois State Park, Camping, Boating, Fishing,Swimming, Walking/Hiking Trails, Equestrian Trails, Birdwatching, and the IDB Dorba Mountain Bike Trails.

Guide #3 includes:
Greenbelt Corridor, Kayak, Canoe, Fishing, Swimming, Birdwatching, Walking/Hiking/ Biking Trails, Equestrian Trails.

The Greenbelt Trail runs along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River between Lake Ray Roberts and Lewisville Lake. The Greenbelt is a 1,500-acre wilderness corridor area features approx. 11 miles of multi-use trails and waterways for bicyclists, equestrians, hikers, kayakers, canoeists, and others. There are separate trails for equestrians and walkers.

You can spend days or a week exploring all the Ray Roberts Lake State Park has to offer. You can camp at Johnson Branch or Isle du Bois, or stay at Lantana Lodge.

Guide #5 covers the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association (Dorba) Mountain Bike Trails at Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch.

These guides have been developed in cooperation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife by Texas Master Naturalists - Elm Fork Chapter, Denton, Texas.

Tips: Did you forget something? There is a park store at Johnson Branch that carries the essentials and offers boat rentals as well.

Wireless WiFi service is available at the visitor center.

All of the parks are managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Great for the Family! - Texas Master Naturalists maintain an Interpretive Center with numerous displays about the wildlife and plants in North Texas. The Interpretive Center is across the parking lot from the Visitors Center at the Isle du Bois entrance.

Campfire programs are offered at Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch. Check at the Visitor Center for a schedule.

Stay on established trails -- If you do get lost, remember that you are using a trail guide and your smartphone, so you have a GPS to help you navigate back to the trail.

Poison Ivy lurks near the edges of the trails.

What to bring:
This Trail Guide and your Smartphone with EveryTrail mobile app installed.
Camera
Binoculars
Proper Hiking gear (and food/water) if you plan to hit the trails.
Mountain bike, boat, fishing gear, kayak if you are planning to enjoy all the fun at Ray Roberts Lake State Park.

This self-guided tour is available for download on EveryTrail.com.

Check out my other self-guided trips and Guides:

They include the LLELA Nature Center in Lewisville:
Beaver Pond Kayak Water Trail
Cicada Trail
Cottonwood Trail
Bittern Marsh Trail
Pioneer House Tour
Redbud Trail
Beaver Pond Kayak Water Trail

Wichita Forest Nature Trail - Highland Village
Wichita Forest Nature Guide - Highland Village
Cross Timbers Nature Trail - City of Denton

Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Pilot Point
* Guide 1: Park Overview and Lost Pines
* Guide 2: Isle Du Bois State Park
* Guide 3: Greenbelt Corridor
* Guide 4: Johnson Branch State Park
* Guide 5: Dorba Mountain Bike Trails at Ray Roberts

You can take these Trips and Guides on the trail with you! Go to EveryTrail for information on how to download the free app to your iPhone or Android phone. Once you have downloaded the EveryTrail app, you can download the tours and walk the trail with your phone as your guide.