Back in Texas, we had plans to stay in Fritch (about 40 miles north of Amarillo) for a week on our way to NM. Nearby is the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area popular for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and camping. We had stopped at the Visitor Center (only about a half mile from our RV park) the day before to pick up a map and get some advice on hiking options.
Inside the visitor center are exhibits about the park and artifacts found in the area. Also, there is a National Park gift shop where I was able to get my Passport Book stamped.
Lake Meredith was created when the Sanford Dam was built in 1965 to harness the Canadian River. Today, it is a beautiful place to enjoy outdoor activities. Based on the advice of a park ranger, we headed to the Harbor Bay area to hike the some of the Harbor Bay Trail system.
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A large boat launch can be found at Harbor Bay. Nearby is the trailhead for the Harbor Bay Trail System that covers a total distance of about 10.5 miles. We did a moderate hike of about 2.5 miles including a loop trail around the top of a mesa.
As we hiked higher and higher, the views of the lake were expansive, and gorgeous.
The trail was well-marked with benches strategically positioned along the way.
Several picnic shelters can be found along the trail. And we were all happy when we found some shade on this hot day.
The Harbor Bay Loop Trail begins atop the mesa where there are sagebrush, yucca, wildflowers, and cacti.
And the trail led to spectacular views of Lake Meredith.
After hiking, we drove to Fritch Fortress to see where the fireworks event was to be held that evening.
There are some fantastic campsites high above the lake. Some sites have shelters, as well. Camping is free, but there are no hookups or showers and there is a 14-day limit.
Nearby is a boat launch and swimming area. We met this lovely father and daughter who were visiting the recreation area for the first time, too. They were looking for a place that offered boat rentals. Not sure if they found one, but we enjoyed chatting with them.
Work was underway at the amphitheater to set up for the live music event tonight. It will be followed by fireworks and then the movie, Wizard of Oz, will be shown at the amphitheater (no fee). Last year there were approximately 50,000 who came for the fireworks. They can be seen from anywhere on the lake. Many boaters will be on the water as well. We did not have plans to see the fireworks, because our sweet girl, Sadie, is very fearful of them (as are most dogs).
More spectacular views of the canyon by the amphitheater.
There are many more hiking and camping areas in the national recreation area. The scenery is just beautiful here. We will do some more exploring here later this week.
There are no day-use or camping fees, but there are for boating. And a TX hunting license is required for those who hunt (in season). For additional information about Lake Meredith, go to www.nps.gov/lamr.
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