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Calaveras Lake

Elmendorf, Texas — Bexar County.

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3,624Surface acres · TPWD
45 ftMax depth
1969Impounded
1Public access sites

Surface area: TPWD (official surface acres); the USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 110458097) measures 3,223 acres; max depth from TPWD.

Location & fast facts

Where Calaveras Lake is in Texas

The red circle marks Calaveras Lake.

Fast facts

About Calaveras Lake

  • County: Bexar
  • City or town on the shore: Elmendorf
  • Location (TPWD): 20 miles south of San Antonio off Loop 1604
  • Impounded: 1969 (TPWD)
  • Controlling authority: CPS Energy · (210) 353-2158
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 14 mi from San Antonio and 74 mi from Austin, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Texas: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Texas

Official TPWD pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Lake map

Calaveras Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)11 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 110458097), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Calaveras Lake

We found 16 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Calaveras Lake, 4 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

10 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Texas

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (29.3074, -98.3081). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Calaveras Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Calaveras Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Fish you can catch

    Red drum ★Hybrid striped bassChannel & blue catfish ★Largemouth bassChannel catfish ★

    ★ = stocked recently (see Stocking). Predominant species from the TPWD Lake Finder.

    TPWD Lake Finder: Calaveras Lake

    Fishing outlook & regulations

    SpeciesTPWD rating
    Largemouth BassFair
    CatfishExcellent
    Hybrid Striped BassExcellent
    Red DrumExcellent

    Regulations (TPWD): This reservoir has a special regulation on red drum. See bag and size limits.

    Aquatic vegetation (TPWD): Cattails and bulrushes

    Water-level fluctuation: 1-2 feet

    Normal clarity: Moderately stained

    TPWD Lake Finder page · Current fishing report · Lake records · Latest survey report

    Ratings are TPWD's own Poor / Fair / Good / Excellent scale. Statewide rules: TPWD Outdoor Annual, fishing. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Stocking history

    TPWD has 146 stocking records for Calaveras Lake from 1969 to 2026. The table shows 2022–2026.

    YearSpeciesFishSize
    2026Catfish, Blue156,998Fingerling
    2026Catfish, Channel157,541Fingerling
    2026Drum, Red820,818Fingerling
    2025Catfish, Blue170,594Fingerling
    2025Catfish, Channel4,667Fingerling
    2025Drum, Red611,500Fingerling
    2024Catfish, Blue96,794Fingerling
    2024Catfish, Channel169,421Fingerling
    2024Drum, Red701,889Fingerling
    2023Catfish, Blue142,538Fingerling
    2023Catfish, Channel806Fingerling
    2023Drum, Red655,590Fingerling
    2022Catfish, Blue5,380Fingerling
    2022Catfish, Channel14,651Fingerling
    2022Drum, Red666,064Fingerling

    TPWD stocking history for Calaveras Lake

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating29.2898, -98.2990

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (TPWD publishes ramp names per lake, not coordinates)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Invasive species

    Reported on or near Calaveras Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. In Texas the law requires draining water from boats and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh water, and possessing or moving zebra mussels is illegal. TPWD rules.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Texas lakes & ponds · All waters in Elmendorf