Shoreline at Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Bell County, with the FM 3481 bridge. Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (photographer and year not specified) · Public domain · Source. Cropped for layout. Shows the place when photographed, not current conditions; use does not imply endorsement.
Lakes, parks & trails · Not a ranking
Get familiar with the area.
One of the easiest ways to start feeling at home is to get outside. A lake shoreline, a creekside trail or a neighborhood park can turn unfamiliar map names into real places—and give the whole family something to look forward to on a free afternoon. This is a short starter list for the Killeen area around Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos in some older orders and search results), not a complete directory.
Each place below links to an official city, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Texas Parks and Wildlife or Fort Hood MWR page, checked November 8, 2026 (Central Time). Access, hours, fees, closures and water conditions change—check the official page before you go. References are not endorsements.
Use the outdoors to get your bearings.
Learn the two lakes. Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake are big landmarks in Bell County. Once you know where they sit, many road signs and park names start to make sense.
Pick one park near home. A walking loop you can reach on an ordinary evening often becomes the first place that feels like yours.
Save one bigger outing. Keep a trail, a waterfall walk or a state park day in mind for a weekend when everyone needs a break from boxes.
Two lakes that shape the area
Belton Lake
Belton Lake & BLORA
USACE manages a set of parks around Belton Lake for picnicking, camping, boating and fishing. On Fort Hood, MWR’s Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA) offers shoreline fishing, a designated swim-at-your-own-risk beach, hike and mountain-bike trails, camping and cottage rentals.
BLORA requires a DoD ID card or an Installation Access Pass for visitors 18 and older, and its page currently lists several areas temporarily closed for storm damage. The USACE Belton Lake page currently lists seasonal closures and some parks closed for safety concerns. Check both before choosing a spot.
Stillhouse Hollow Lake sits entirely within Bell County. On its north side, Dana Peak Park has day-use areas, camping and access to the Dana Peak Trail, a multi-use system for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Below the dam, the Chalk Ridge Falls Nature Area has a hiking-only interpretive trail along the Lampasas River to a natural waterfall.
USACE says Dana Peak’s swim beach and picnic area close from October 1 through the end of February, and that some Dana Peak trails run along steep drop-offs and loose rock. Its trail page also notes flood-damaged bridges and trails, so use caution and check the facility-status link on the lake page.
One or two highlights per city to get you started. Each city’s parks page lists many more neighborhood parks.
Killeen
Andy K. Wells Hike & Bike Trail
The city lists this 2.5-mile walking and jogging trail at 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd., with play units, picnic areas and restrooms. The city lists Mickey’s Dog Park at the same address, next to the Killeen Community Center.
Belton calls this its signature trail. It runs from Liberty Park toward the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, through Harris Community Park and Yettie Polk Park, with educational stations along the way. The city also describes a StoryWalk of children’s book pages along part of the trail, starting in Harris Community Park.
Thinking about getting in the creek? Read the city’s Nolan Creek page first; it explains flood risk and water-quality guidance.
Miller Park has a walk/jog trail around a pond, plus a playground, splash pad and skate park. For a longer walk, Temple’s trails guide describes the Friar’s Creek Hike & Bike Trail along a designated wetland.
A natural setting for exploring and walking, with a bit of local history: the city says the park includes the original stage stop at this historical town site and Copperas Cove’s first post office.
Along the Leon River southwest of Waco, this is one of Texas’ earliest state parks. Texas Parks and Wildlife describes about 3.5 miles of trails through canyons and prairies, including routes to a Civilian Conservation Corps rock tower, plus picnicking, camping and a visitor center.
The TPWD page currently shows active park alerts, says swimming and fishing are not allowed because of river conditions, and recommends reserving day passes because the park often reaches capacity.
Fort Hood MWR’s Recreation & Activities page brings together on-post options such as Adventure Programs, outdoor pools and equipment rental, alongside BLORA. Eligibility, hours and program availability vary by activity; confirm on each program page.
Official pages checked November 8, 2026 (Central Time). This guide does not guarantee access, openings or conditions. Looking for a meal after your outing? See eat & explore. Still deciding where to live? Start with explore towns. Newly arrived? The checklist keeps the official arrival and in-processing links.
