Live Oak Ridge

Live Oak Ridge campground is located at Belton Lake close by the dam and the city of Belton. This year-round, family friendly campground accommodates both tents and RVs. Belton Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the construction of Belton Dam in 1954; the 12,300-acre lake sits on the Leon River just upstream of its confluence with the Little River. Long, narrow and winding with many curves and coves, it offers some of the best camping, fishing and boating in Central Texas. All 48 campsites have water and electric hookups, a covered picnic table and a charcoal grill, and range from heavily shaded to full sun. Two restroom buildings around the park have sinks, showers and flush toilets. Other facilities include a gatehouse, a multi-lane boat ramp, a courtesy dock, a playground, a dump station with non-potable water, and an activity center available on-site with a private bathroom and kitchen sink. The park is staffed with on-site volunteer campground hosts and maintenance hosts. Live Oak Ridge lives up to its name, with many large oak trees, a pleasant atmosphere and plenty of shade. The campsites are flat and grassy, and several overlook the lake while others are a short walk away. Springtime brings an abundance of wildflowers that blanket areas of the park. A man-made wetland on the lake between White Flint and Winkler Parks adds another 25 acres of wildlife habitat. With 136 miles of shoreline, Belton Lake offers camping, water recreation, picnicking and nature trails. Hiking trails are conveniently located adjacent to the park at Miller Springs Nature Area. White-tailed deer, hawks, great blue herons, ducks, geese, many species of songbirds, bobwhite quail, Rio Grande turkey, and even an occasional bald eagle visit the lake area, yielding year-round opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts. Belton Lake is adjacent to the Fort Hood Army Base, which has several points of interest for the military buff. The mural painted on the spillway wall of Belton Dam depicts the history of the Bell County area.