Get outside and enjoy the summer. Go camping with friends, hang out while listening to live music by the lakeside, go on mountain biking trails or fish, if that is your thing. Most students might know about one or two area lakes, but there are actually three lakes, less than 20 miles from Bryan-College Station that offer just about everything you would want to do outdoors.
I was born in the Bryan-College Station area and have experienced and enjoyed each lake myself. Each lake has something different to offer. Gibbons Creek Reservoir is 20 miles outside of College Station off Highway 30 on the way to Huntsville. The lake is open every day of the week except Wednesday. The lake is best known for fishing and camping.
“I really enjoy going to Gibbons to go catfishing or just about any kind of fishing. They even have tilapia,” said Brian Fritsche, junior business major and fisherman.
Gibbons is also a good place to go if you have a boat and enjoy water sports. At Gibbons, there is also a lot of natural structure, including an area with trees and brush where fish congregate, which is naturally beneficial for fishing.
Lake Bryan is not as well known for fishing, but it is great place to hang out. There is more than just a lake. The Icehouse Bar and Grill is a lakeside restaurant with a patio and outside stage where live music is frequently played.
Lake Bryan is located 10 miles away from A&M’s campus. Lake Bryan also has over 20 miles of mountain biking trails that go around the lake. The two main routes are the west loop and the east loop on each side of the lake. The west loop has 10 miles of trails for beginners, and the east loop has 10 miles of more difficult trails. Be sure to bring a helmet — they are required.
“The trails at Lake Bryan are a lot of fun,” Fritsche said. “They have huge drops and are pretty intense.”
There is also primitive tent camping and RV camping offered.
The largest of the three lakes is Lake Somerville, which has more than six different parks, including state parks and privately owned parks. My favorite park on Somerville is Big Creek Park, which is 20 miles southwest of Texas A&M. Big Creek Park has the largest area available for camping and many species of fish, including white bass, catfish, crappie and black bass.
“Somerville is my favorite of the local lakes as far as fishing and camping. They also have a great restaurant that cooks up some good burgers,” said Thomas Forster, freshman maritime administration major at Texas A&M-Galveston.