The Ghost Forest At This Texas State Park You Have To See To Believe

You've probably heard about Caddo Lake, the world's largest flooded cypress forest, but there's another "ghost forest" in Texas that few people know exists. It can be found at Inks Lake State Park in Burnet, and the twisted stumps of the skeletal trees impart a haunting beauty that words can't fully describe.

The 1,200-acre Inks Lake State Park is a year-round destination in the Texas Hill Country that offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities for all ages.

You'll find the park on Park Road 4 West in Burnet, next to Inks Lake on the Colorado River.

Park guests can enjoy both land and water activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, scuba diving, and hiking on nine miles of nature trails.

Paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks are available for rent from the park store, and nearly 200 campsites and 22 cabins keep the fun going overnight.

Of all the reasons Inks Lake stands out among Texas' 80 state parks, its "ghost forest" is easily the most intruiging.

Ghost forests are simply the remains of forests destroyed by flooding, and they exist all across the U.S.

Many ghost forests are located on beaches, and therefore can only be seen at low tide.

The forest at Inks Lake is unique in that it remains visible at all times, so you'll get to see the barren trunks no matter when you visit.

So how did the ghost forest at Inks Lake come to be?

It all started with the construction of the Inks Dam, built on a section of the mighty Colorado River, in the mid-1930s. The dam is what created the lake, and in so doing, submerged the lush terrain that once existed there.

All of the trees in the ghost forest are dead, so their skeletal remains are the only proof of the thriving wooded landscape that used to call the lake home.

The gnarled stumps have a certain haunting beauty about them, though - especially during autumn, with vibrant foliage as a backdrop.

If you happen to stick around until sunset, the scene takes an even more ethereal turn.

The dim glow of the fading daylight reflects on the water, casting shadows of the desolate wasteland onto the shoreline.

Address: 3630 Park Road 4 West, Burnet, TX, 78611.

Park hours are 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.

Inks Lake State Park charges an entrance fee of $6 per day for ages 13 and up, while children 12 and under get in free. Visit the official park website or Facebook page to learn more.

Have you ever seen the ghost forest at Inks Lake State Park? If so, we'd love to hear all about your experience. Tell us in the comments section below, then check out our previous article for another unique natural wonder in Texas that you have to see to believe.