Lavon Lake
14 mi southeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.
Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near McKinney
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near McKinney for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
24places to see wildlife
14 mito the closest
4within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
Lewisville Lake
24 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.
Ray Roberts Lake
26 mi northwest · US Army Corps of Engineers
This 29,350-acre rural lake is just a few minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is a great place to get away from city life.
Map of all 24 places
Map of 24 places loads as you scroll.
Within 30 miles (4)
Lavon Lake
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in nearby McKinney features natural history exhibits and nature trails.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Lewisville Lake
Just north of Dallas, popular Lewisville Lake is a 29,592 acre lake with unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 20 parks surround the lake and offer camping, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, boating, and golf.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Ray Roberts Lake
This 29,350-acre rural lake is just a few minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and is a great place to get away from city life.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Grapevine Lake
Centrally located in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex just minutes from DFW Airport, Grapevine Lake offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
30 to 75 miles (7)
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 to provide habitat for migratory birds, wildlife, and plants native to the area. The 11,320-acre refuge is an overlay of the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
- Nature education
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a 7,400-acre impoundment located in the southern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Lake Texoma
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites you to visit Lake Texoma, the largest lake in capacity in the Tulsa District and the twelfth largest in the United States.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Off-highway vehicles
Cooper Lake
When complete, will impound the South Sulphur River in Delta and Hopkins Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Benbrook Lake
Benbrook Lake is located in the scenic open countryside of rolling hills and prairie meadows southwest of Fort Worth, Texas.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Bardwell Lake
Bardwell Lake is located in the Blackland Prairie region of southwestern Ellis County. Built in 1965 for flood control by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bardwell Lake is located two miles southwest of Ennis off of State Highway 34.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 560 national wildlife refuges that form a network of United States lands and waters managed specifically for wildlife.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
75 miles and farther (13)
Pat Mayse Lake
Pat Mayse Lake is located in the Red River Basin in Lamar County, Texas. The damsite is on Sanders Creek (a tributary of the Red River) approximately one mile south of the town of Chicota, four miles northwest of Powderly and twelve miles…
- Boating
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Navarro Mills Lake
Navarro Mills Lake holds the state record white crappie at 4lbs 9 ounces.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water sports
Arbuckle Lake
Lake of the Arbuckles is forned by Arbuckle Dam which is a feature of the Arbuckle Project . The lake is located at the confluence of the Buckhorn, Guy Sandy, and Rock Creeks.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
McGee Creek Reservoir
McGee Creek Dam and Reservoir project includes water conveyance facilities, public recreation facilities, a wildlife management area, and a natural scenic recreation area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Picnicking
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Springs, streams, lakes - whatever its form, water is the attraction at Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Paddling
Hugo Lake
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation manages over 18,000 acres of land and water, which is open to hunting along with an additional 8,000 acres managed by the Corps.
- Boating
- Camping
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Aquilla Lake
This 3,280-acre lake is located on Aquilla and Hackberry Creeks.
- Boating
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Whitney Lake
There are 10 Corps of Engineers parks, one state park, and three additional parks managed by Hill County or private individuals. Equestrian riders have a great place to explore rolling hills and woods in the McCown Valley Equestrian Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Pine Creek Lake
Pine Creek Dam is located on Little River, approximately eight miles north of Valiant in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. The lake extends into Choctaw and Pushmataha Counties.
- Boating
- Camping
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Waurika Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wishes you an enjoyable stay at the project. The lake offers the visitor extensive opportunities for a memorable outdoor recreation experience.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Waco Lake
The largest lake in the United States to be located entirely within a single city's municiple boundaries.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Little River National Wildlife Refuge
Little River National Wildlife Refuge’s primary purpose is to preserve the bottomland hardwood forests for migratory birds and waterfowl on the Central Flyway.
- Archery
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Motor Boat
- Non-Motorized Boating
Sardis Lake
Sardis Lake is located five miles north of Clayton, Oklahoma, along Oklahoma Highway 2 in beautiful southeastern Oklahoma.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown McKinney. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around McKinney
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Hidden Gem in Downtown McKinney, TX! Come explore Historic Downtown McKinney with me!
A local activity Short shared by Moving to Texas with Amber Wilson.
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THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
Things to do in McKinney, Texas!
A local activity Short shared by RV Geeking.
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More outdoors near McKinney
Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near McKinney?
Lavon Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 14 miles southeast of McKinney as the crow flies. Next are Lewisville Lake (24 mi) and Ray Roberts Lake (26 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.