Lots to do at Brushy Creek Lake Park

I like to think of Brushy Creek Lake Park as the anchor of the Brushy Creek Regional Trail, which connects it to Champion Park, Olsen Meadows Park, and more along a 7+ mile trail. Sitting on the banks of Brushy Creek itself, the expansive 90-acre park offers so much to do. It’s the kind of park where you bring some blankets, a ton of food, and just hang out for the day.

Our favorite thing to do at Brushy Creek Lake Park is obviously the splash pad. I mean, seriously. When you’re a kid and it’s a billion degrees out, what’s more fun than running in and out of spraying water? My kids would probably tell you that laying on the ground and trying to drink the water is more fun, but I don’t recommend it. Because GROSS.

The splash pad is a good size, and even when it’s crowded, it’s not really all that crowded. At ages 5, 5, and 3, this is the first year I’ve been confident that everyone can play independently. Kids getting older definitely has its perks. The area features several large pillars that spray water (I have no idea what else to call them!) as well as lots and lots of little spouts coming up from the ground that shoot everything from little streams to large sprays.

The splash pad is activated by someone placing a hand on a device at the entrance to the water playscape. The area is mostly fenced in, with a few open spots, mainly at the entrance near the bathrooms, and by some nearby picnic tables. But for the most part, it’s contained. That is one of my go-to requirements for a large splash pad. It can get a little crowded with bigger kids in the summer, but not too bad. I would tell you that it’s less crowded around the 3-5 p.m. time frame, but that’s my little secret.

Best part: Most of the area around the splash pad is shaded. There are a few tables right off the splash area that are in the sun, but Brushy Creek Lake Park in general is a very shady park. There are several picnic tables in the shade and plenty of space to spread out blankets.

The playground at Brushy Creek is not my favorite. It’s close to the splash pad, which is great for parents needing to keep their eyes on kids in both places. But it’s not really that fun of a structure (in mine and my kids’ opinions…), and it’s in the dead heat of the glaring sun. We hopped over there a few weeks ago after we were done splashing. The slides were too hot to go down, and my kids gave it a solid “meh.” Maybe on a cooler day when it wouldn’t melt your skin off.

Sad, lonely, melt-your-skin-off playground.

My kids can spend forever just in the splash pad area and the playground when it’s not hot enough to fry an egg, but just in case, there is plenty of other stuff to do at Brushy Creek Lake Park:

• Walking trails that wind through the park
• Throw rocks in the water (my kids’ absolute favorite, after the splash pad)
• Sand volleyball court
• Shaded sandbox
• Plenty of free picnic areas
• Exercise stations
• Canoe/kayak launch (rentals no longer available)
• Fishing pier (we always see people fishing at the shore of Brushy Creek)
• Several pavilions available for parties and events (call 512-401-5500)

The water playscape operates daily from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., May through September. For more information, visit the City of Cedar Park website.

Brushy Creek lake Park
3300 Brushy Creek Rd
Cedar Park, TX 78613

Leigh Ann Torres is a freelance writer and blogger living in Austin with her husband and three girls. She’s a pretty good cook, a mediocre photographer, and a horrible housekeeper. She writes about the good, the bad, and the ridiculous of life with twins plus one at Genie in a Blog.