How to Camp at Lake Ray Roberts in Sanger, Texas

Many would not consider Texas to be a real camping state, but Lake Ray Roberts is a beautiful, wooded area of Texas that offers wonderful camping. There are a variety of camping options including tent camping close to facilities or walk-in sites that offer seclusion and privacy for a more authentic camping experience. Activites incude boating and fishing to horse back riding and hiking.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper towels
• Firewood
• Tent with stakes
• Soap
• Ice
• Good cooler
• Camping gear
• Toilet paper

1. Make reservations. Call the park at [phone] for the Isle Du Bois unit or [phone]
   for the Johnson unit. Reservations are available online through an independent company that contracts with parks but these are not recommended due to poor communication between the company and the park itself. Make reservations well in advance for holiday weekends.

2. Arrive at the campgrounds early. Individual camping sites are not reserved. They are filled on a first come first serve basis. If you want a particular, definitely arrive early, especially on holiday weekends when the park is extremely busy.

3. Study the campground layout online before going to the lake. Some campgrounds require a small hike into the site. Vehicles cannot be driven up to all sites. If you have special accommodation needs, you'll want to be sure you're familiar with the site you pick. Electricity and bathroom facilities are available throughout the park but are not close to all campgrounds.

4. Pack food well in coolers and use plenty of ice. Restaurants and local stores are a good twenty minute drive from the park. Ice is available at the park store, located at the day use areas, at a premium price. Use coolers that close tightly and seal well. Several types of critters live at the park and can be quite adept at sneaking a midnight snack from unsuspecting campers.

5. Look for ant hills at the tent sites. Avoid setting tents up on or near ant hills. They will quickly become unwanted tent mates. When setting up a tent be sure and stake it down well. The winds can be very strong at the lake turning unsecured tents into UFO's. Do not take any food or sugary drinks into tents. Any remaining crumbs or spills will invite ants.

6. Check with park rangers before making fires. In the hot, dry summer, there are frequently burn bans that do not allow for camp fires. Bring fire wood in with you. It can be purchased at the camp store, but at about five times more than you would pay at a grocery or convenience store. If you plan on cooking over a camp fire, do not use starter logs. The chemicals in the logs will contaminate food. Bring alternative cooking appliances in case fires are not allowed.

7. Plan on staying busy while camping. Activities available at Lake Ray Roberts include hiking, fishing, horse back riding (with your own horse), swimming, boating and much more. Boat and bicycle rentals are available at the park stores. Don't forget to star gaze. The stars at night are truly bright, deep in the heart of Texas. Very little light pollution makes it possible to see a great many more stars than in the city.

Tips & Warnings

• Check weather reports before leaving home. Unpredictable Texas weather can make for a miserable camping trip.
• Bring toilet paper, soap and paper towels. Bathrooms are not always well stocked.
• Tornado sirens cannot be heard at Lake Ray Roberts.