With state parks opening back up around Texas, the opportunity to get outdoors is more widely available. Lubbock, in particular, has a source an hour outside the city that is great for an adventure, safely of course. The City of Lubbock created Lake Alan Henry in the ’90s to plan for population growth, and the City would need another water source. A West Texas oasis is the result, and residents of Lubbock have a new form of recreation.
History
The City of Lubbock began planning for population growth in the ’60s, studies and researchers eventually landed on the spot that Lake Alan Henry sits on. the city at the time, submitted an application to the Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to dam in the Brazos River Basin. when the application was granted, work began for the dam. With the Dam completed in 1993, the City purchased land around the lake to allow public water-based recreational access. This area is known as the Sam Wahl Recreational Area. The city of Lubbock also owns the Lake Alan Henry Mitigation Area, which is located around the dam.
Lake Alan Henry is a great resource for Lubbock citizens and surrounding communities. Along with the lake and campsites, they have trails available for hiking. The lake does require permits for boat access and a fee of $12 per person for daily entrance.
Personal experience
My first-time visiting Lake Alan Henry, was very impressive, full of the beauty and wildlife the park provides. The hiking trails are fun to adventure on and provide scenic views of the lake. Cacti and sand fill the terrain giving you a unique experience of West Texas. You can find Animal tracks along or near the walking trails. The lake itself, was clear and cool, with visibility of the rocks underwater near the shore.
If you haven’t visited Lake Alan Henry, I highly recommend adding it to your Lubbock bucket list. Not only is it beautiful, but hiking is also a great activity to do in quarantine. Remember to stay 6ft away from other hikers and for more information about Lake Alan Henry, check out the City of Lubbock’s website page.
For more fun things to do during quarantine, check out Things To Do When Social Distancing.