Can You Swim in Lake Bob Sandlin?

Lake Bob Sandlin lies in Camp, Franklin, Titus, and Wood Counties in northeast Texas. It covers an area of 9,004 acres with 75 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 65 feet. Rocky and clay ground characterize Lake Bob Sandlin beaches while the forest grows all the way to its water’s edge.

Yes, you can swim in Lake Bob Sandlin. The parks have designated swim areas, but there are no swim beaches at Lake Bob Sandlin. Lake Bob Sandlin has swimming holes. For example, the Lake Bob Sandlin State Park has a deck where you jump off into a swimming hole.

Big Cypress Creek, a wide river channel, connects Lake Bob Sandlin and Lake Cypress Springs. When you look at a map, both lakes look like one lake. The topography is the same on both lakes where you can find parks and swimming holes. Some swimming holes are accessible by boat only on Lake Bob Sandlin and Lake Cypress Springs.

Lake Bob Sandlin Swimming Holes

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park

There is a Lake Bob Sandlin State Park swim area, and as mentioned above, it has a designated swimming hole. Swim, fish, paddle picnic, hike, camp, geocache, mountain bike, and nature watch under the trees. Visit in autumn to see spectacular fall foliage. From Pittsburg, Texas, take FM 127 south to FM 21 south to the park entrance. It is located at 341 State, Park Road 2117, Pittsburg, Texas. Learn more here.

Barefoot Bay RV Resort & Marina

The Barefoot Bay RV Resort & Marina has a grassy shoreline abutting its RV area, and its shoreline is not a swim beach, but it is also not a swimming hole. Boats can park there and people can wade off into Lake Bob Sandlin. From Pittsburg, Texas, take SH 11 west to FM 1521 north to Old P/Mill Road and follow that to the marina. It is located at 5244 Pistol Mill Road, Pittsburg, Texas. Read more here.

The Bluffs RV Park

This upscale and expensive RV park sustains 27 sites from 65 feet with seven being 80 foot pull through sites nestled around a professionally designed landscape. This park does not have a great area for swimming, but you can swim here. From Pittsburg, Texas, take SH 11 west to FM 21 and follow that road to just before the bridge. The Bluffs RV Park is on the west side of FM 21. It is located at 3160 FM 21, Pittsburg, Texas. Map and directions are here. 

Lake Cypress Springs Swimming Holes

Guthrie Park

The shoreline at Guthrie Park sees the grass and trees growing right down to the water’s edge at Lake Bob Sandlin. The vegetation is lush. There is a deck in this park leading to the water’s edge where you can swim. There are also places where you have to walk over an edge to get to the water, but mostly the vegetation and trees grow down to the water here.

From Mount Vernon, Texas, take SH 37 south to FM 21 south to County Road 3007, and follow it to the park. It is located on FM SE 3122. Mount Vernon, Texas. Details are here.

Walleye Park

Walleye Park has a pier with a ladder at the end of it where visitors can jump off into the water. Most of its shoreline is grassy and rocky with some edges, and you may have to walk over to get to the water. From Mount Vernon, Texas, take SH 37 south to FM 21 south to County Road 3122 to SE 4220, which is the west fork of County Road 3122 and SE 4220 fork, and follow it to Walleye Park. It is located at County Road SE 3122, Mt Vernon, Texas. Read more here.

Mary King Park

This park is not as friendly to swimmers as other parks are on the two lakes, but you can swim there. The trees and grasses grow down to its rocky shores. Wear shoes while you walk over the low rocky ledges to the water. From Mt. Vernon, take Texas 37 south, a little over 1/2 mile to FM 21. Turn east and go approximately 6 miles. Then turn south on FM 3007. After crossing dam, the road will turn to the west. Look for signs on right in Turkey Cove.

The Cove at Lake Cypress Springs

The Cove has some waterfront on Lake Cypress Springs, but it has rocky and clay shorelines. It is a small park. The Cove has live entertainment, a gourmet restaurant, events, a lodge, an ice cream shop, and children’s paint parties. From Mount Vernon, Texas, take SH 37 south to FM 21 south to FM 2723 until you hit the Cove. The Cove is located at 4445 North FM 2723, Mount Vernon, Texas. Details are here.

Lake Bob Sandlin and Lake Cypress Springs are nestled in one of the most beautiful ecoregions of northeast Texas. Yes, visitors can swim in both lakes, but they will not find swim beaches with volleyball courts. There is nowhere to set up beachheads with umbrellas and water toys. Most of the parks do have a place for boats to park, but watch out for the rocks.