CampgroundDay Use

Cedar Ridge (TX)

Belton Lake
Near Temple, Texas

Facilities

Facilities List:
1 Gatehouse (Months, days, hours and pass availability subject to change)
On-Site Park Hosts/Maintenance Volunteers
76 Campsites (w/ hookups)
7 Restroom Facilities (Water-bourne)
Day Use Area (Day use fee applies*)
2 Boat Ramps (Multi-lane)
2 Courtesy Docks
1 Marina
2 Group Pavilions (Reservable on Rec.gov)
1 Group Campsite (10 RV/Tent Sites w/ water and electric)(Reservable on Rec.gov)
1 Basketball Court
1 Playground
2 Volleyball Courts
1 Activity Center (Reservable on-site)
1 Hiking Trail
1 Swim Beach (Seasonal)

2 RV Dump Stations (w/ Non-Potable Water)


Facilities Description:

All 76 campsites, have water and electric hookups, a covered picnic table, and a charcoal grill. Campsites range from heavily shaded to sun.
The campground has two sections: On the east side, campers will find a 2-lane boat ramp with a courtesy dock, designated swim beach, playground, and basketball court. This side of the park closes seasonally from Nov 1 to Mar 1. The west side offers a day use area with a 2-lane boat ramp with courtesy dock, a marina with fuel, and two group pavilions (w/ large grills), which can each host up to 100 people, in addition to volleyball courts, a horseshoe pit, and a large charcoal grill. A group camping area (Turkey Roost) is also available, which features a group area that has water and electrical hookups in 10 camping sites for RVs or tents which surround a large pavilion. The group area includes a large charcoal grill, volleyball court, and horseshoe pit. A waterborne restroom is close by. Other park facilities include 7 restroom buildings around the park with sinks, showers, and flush toilets. The park offers 2 RV dump stations (W/ Non-Potable water). Day use fees are now payable via QR codes found in the parking areas by the boat ramp. 


The park is staffed with on-site volunteer campground hosts and maintenance hosts. 

* Day use fees are paid via QR code on the rec.gov app. Download the Mobile App .  

Natural Features

The campground is partially forested with a mix of sun and shade. It lies on the shores of Belton Lake and Cedar Creek, with its scenic white limestone bluffs. Some of the campsites are directly on the shore, while others are a short walk away.

The springtime brings an abundance of wildflowers that blanket areas of the park. Deer, turkey and other small game are commonly seen, and a man-made wetland on the opposite side of the lake provides an additional 25 acres of wildlife habitat in the area.

Recreation

With 136 miles of shoreline, Belton Lake offers a wide variety of recreation activities, and there is no shortage of family activities at Cedar Ridge. The park has two, multi-lane boat ramps with courtesy loading docks, a designated family swimming beach, a playground, basketball court, volley ball courts, and a hiking trail.

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. 

Recreation Sites

  • Standard Electric
  • Overnight Shelter Electric
  • Tent Only Electric
  • Group Shelter Electric
  • Group Standard Area Electric
  • Overnight
  • Day

Activities

  • Swimming Site
  • Camping
  • Boating
  • Day Use Area
  • Fishing
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Water Activities
  • Picnicking
  • Hiking
  • Birding

Amenities

  • Basketball Courts
  • Boat Dock
  • Boat Ramp
  • Boat Trailer Parking
  • Dock
  • Dump Station
  • Entrance Station
  • Event Area
  • Flush Toilets
  • Flush Toilets (Seasonal)
  • Group Cooking Facilities
  • Horseshoe Pit
  • Host
  • Lake Access
  • Marina
  • Non-Potable Water
  • Paved Parking
  • Paved Roads
  • Pets Allowed
  • Picnic Area
  • Picnic Shelters
  • Picnic Tables
  • Playground
  • Recreation Center
  • Security Lights
  • Showers
  • Trailheads
  • Volleyball Courts
  • Water (Seasonal)
  • Waterfront Sites
  • Picnic Table
  • Lean To/Shelter
  • Electricity Hookup
  • Fire Pit
  • Water Hookup
  • BBQ

Nearby Attractions

Belton Lake is located 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.

Getting Here

Latitude
31° 10' 10.7000" N
Longitude
97° 26' 37.0799" W
From Interstate 35 in Temple, Texas take State Highway 36 west towards Gatesville. Turn left on Cedar Ridge Park Road and continue into the park and campground area.

Need to Know

  • Day Use: Cedar Ridge Park has Day Use areas. Day Use hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily *Day use fees apply* (No cash). Visitors are required to physically arrive at the park to claim a parking space and pay the fee. Once on-site, follow the posted instructions to pay via QR code at the boat ramp parking areas. For additional information, you can download and sign into the free Recreation.gov Mobile App on Android or iOS prior to your arrival to make sure you can access the site when you scan the QR code to pay your fee.

  • Gatehouse: NEW FOR THE 2025 SEASON - Gatehouse attendant available Thursday-Saturday (2:00p-6:00p) and Sunday (2:00p-4:00p) beginning March 1st through October 31st, 2025. Limited quantities and types of America The Beautiful and USACE Passes will be available.
    NO CASH/CHECK PAYMENTS ACCEPTED, Credit Card Only.

  • Camping Check In/Out: Check-in time is 3 p.m. and check-out time is prior to 2 p.m. Early check-ins will not be permitted. See your recreation.gov confirmation e-mail for your 4-digit gate code, which will be located at the bottom of the email. *Camping at any one or more sites at any one water resource (Lake) project for a period of longer than 14 days during any 30-consecutive-day period is prohibited without written permission of the District Commander.*

  • Dumping: RV/Trailer tank discharging is only allowed in designated dump stations. Discharge of holding tanks to include "grey water" is probited in all other locations, to include campsite areas. 

    Washing of Vehicles/RVs/Trailers/Boats is considered dumping of "grey water", and is not permitted in the parks.  

    Dumping of household trash (to include vehicle/boat/trailer parts) on USACE properties/parks is prohibited, including park dumpsters. 

    Violations of the aforementioned rules may result in a citation.

  • Rules & Regulations: Title 36 CFR (EP 1165-2-316) governs the public use of water resources development projects administered by the Chief of Engineers. Visitors to any Corps project are bound by these Title 36 regulations, which are enforced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visit the Title 36 section of this website for a copy of the rules and regulations or visit the local lake office.

  • Park Specifics: Cedar Ridge Park is open year-round with partial closures from Nov 1 to March 1 (Sites 1-40 and Screen Shelters close). 

    Cedar Ridge Park will be enforcing a 2 car per site rule. The first camper to check-in for each site will receive all parking passes which will be 2 camper passes and 2 visitor passes.

  • Swimming Pools/Inflatables/Bounce Houses/Etc.: Please be advised, waterborne structures such as water slides are not permitted. Also, new lake policy requires a lake activity permit for the use of inflatable structures such as inflatable slides, bounce houses, or moon bounces. Lake activity permits can be requested through the Belton Lake Office Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm at 254-742-3050. 

    Small swimming pools are permitted in the park. Swimming pools may not exceed a water depth of 5 inches, height of 7 inches, width of 48 inches and length of 48 inches. Swimming pools must be moved to a new location each day to prevent damage to the ground surface.

  • Golf Carts: By permit only, please call the Belton Lake Office for more information at 254-742-3050 Mon-Fri (8a-4:30p).

    Off-Road/Motorized Vehicles (UTVs/ATVs/OHVs/Motorized Bikes): Off-road vehicles are not permitted in Corps parks unless they are registered, insured, and highway legal. If applicable, they are restricted to paved road-ways only and follow all vehicle regulations while operated in the parks. 

  • Events/Pavilions/Group Shelters/Activity Centers: Pavilions and group shelters require a reservation prior to use. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. Fishing tournaments, events/parties, especially those with inflatables or special equipment, require an approved Lake Activity Permit from the Belton Lake Office. Park Activity Centers can be reserved with park hosts on site and are first come first serve with a current camping reservation for the date of the intended use of activity center.

  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit the DontMoveFirewood Website for further information . Cutting of trees for firewood is prohibited on USACE property.

  • For More Information: For more information, call the Belton Lake Office at 254-742-3050 Mon-Fri (8a-430p) or visit the Belton Lake website .

    ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE-JACKET! 

    • Contact Information

    3907 Cedar Ridge Park Road
    Temple, TX 76502

    For facility specific information, please call (254) 742-3050.

    Additional Information