Ray Roberts State Park - Johnson Branch

We enjoy staying in Johnson Branch for the camping experience, riding the variety of mountain bike trails, and boating on the lake.

We are partners with Free Spirit Adventures and you should consider them for a fun adventure to Ray Roberts Lake SP – Johnson Branch.   As a full service camping outfitter, they offer customizable camping adventures and they take the chore out of camping by:

• setting up camp
• preparing all of the meals
• providing 5 star outdoor comfort with top of the line equipment
• and guiding you through amazing destinations with a variety of things to do

And Free Spirit Adventures offers Texas Outside Visitors a 20% discount on an adventure with them.

Here is an example of a typical day with on a trip to Ray Roberts State Park's Johnson Branch Unit with Free Spirit Adventures.

The first morning we are up bright and early to prepare a tasty Over the Campfire breakfast for our sleeping adventurers.

As soon as the fire begins to crackle, out comes the bacon!  The oink oink is cooked over the open fire until crisp.  A couple 14” Dutch Ovens are lined with sliced bread, forming what will be a crust for our Sunrise Breakfast Pie.  Then eggs are beaten, seasoned, cheese is added, then poured over the bread.  Last but not least the oink oink joins the mixer, the lids are shut, and the lump coal is added.  Once done we have a high protein, tasty breakfast, served to you like a slice of pizza, on an enamel plate, with fresh coffee, and orange juice.

Now that everyone’s tummies are at maximum happy, it’s time to load up the gear for the ride. We’re taking a short country drive to the Ray Roberts Lake  and Lake Lewisville Greenbelt Corridor.  The greenbelt is a wilderness area with approximately 10 miles of multi-use trails and waterways for mountain bikers, hikers, kayakers, equestrian use, and nature photography.  The 1,500 acre Ray Roberts Lake/Lake Lewisville Greenbelt Corridor runs North and South along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, connecting Ray Roberts Lake with Lake Lewisville.

After the ride, everyone is ready to cool off, and relax. Back at camp we already have the Igloo full of Gatorade and bottled water is chilled and ready to drink.  While everyone is relaxing in the camp chairs, talking about the ride, we’re whipping together a fresh light lunch. Dorito Salad – Cheddar Doritos topped with lettuce, tomatoes, pinto beans, or optional black beans, fresh sliced avocado, shredded mozzarella cheese, with Italian dressing.

After everyone’s food settles, it’s swimming time! Johnson Branch has a nice beach/swimming area and it also has some good private areas to go swimming at as well.

After the cool relaxing dip in Lake Ray Roberts and a happy tummy, the eyes can sometimes get a little heavy. While some of the group retires to their tents for sheep counting, others grab their tackle boxes and fishing poles.  Fortunately, we have a great private lakeside campsite, right on a sweet fishing spot.  So even if you’re no pro fisherman, you’ve got a pretty good chance of hooking a catch.

With the sun down, the sheep counters are up, and so is the campfire.  Of course where there is a campfire, comes the cast iron tasty meals, stories, laughter, good times spent in Mother Nature, and memories made to last a lifetime.