Federal Wildlife Preserve
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The gem of the outdoor options Lewisville has to offer is the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, better known as LLELA. Located south of Lewisville Lake, LLELA offers tons of activities, such as fishing, hiking, birding, picnicking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking. Wildlife is plentiful, from mammals such as otter, deer, bison, and bobcats to avian species including falcons, eagles, and turkeys.
Hours of Operation, Activities, Prices and Regulations
Hours of Operation
Winter Hours (November 1 - March 1): Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Summer Hours (March 2 - October 31): Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Entrance Fees:
$5.00 per person
Children 5 and under free.
Annual Passes
- $30.00 Individual
- $60.00 Family
Not affiliated with any state or national park.
Homestead Open House: 3rd Saturday of each month, 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is home to several historic structures, most notably the Minor-Porter Log House, which dates to about 1869. Completely restored and furnished with all the trappings of everyday frontier life, the log house gives LLELA visitors a window on early Denton County history. Knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to guide visitors through the structures and answer questions in this informal tour. Visitors are welcome to arrive at any time during the open hours and tour at their own pace. There is no additional fee for this activity beyond regular admission to LLELA ($5/person; children age 5 years and under free).
Bison Tour: Last Sunday of each month, 2:00 p.m.
Once each month, visitors are invited to roam over to LLELA's bison area for a guided tour. Participants will meet herd owner Robert Vaughan at the gatehouse, then drive out for an opportunity to see the bison up close (great photo opportunity!) and learn more about bison natural history and husbandry. All ages are welcome; registration is required at 972-219-7980. The tour is available for only $2/person in addition to LLELA's regular gate fee of $5/person. The bison are normally off view in a secure area of LLELA, so this is a chance to visit a part of the preserve most people don't get to see.
Kayak down the Elm Fork with KayakPower.com: 3rd Saturday of each month
Whether you're got lots of river time under your belt or have never set foot in a kayak, you're welcome here! Kayak Power will provide equipment and instruction followed by a six-mile trip down the Elm Fork to a shuttle vehicle. Contact info@kayakpower.com or 214-669-1663 for information. Reservation required.
Monthly Bird Walks: contact 972-219-3930 for upcoming dates
Over 270 species of birds have been recorded in the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area's forests, prairies, and marshes. Bird watchers of all skill levels are welcome to join our master birders as they guide visitors to birding locations at LLELA. Some of the best spots are not normally available to the public, outside of a scheduled tour. Ages 10 and up. There is a $2 program fee for the bird walk, in addition to the regular gate fee ($5/person). Reservations are required; call 972-219-7980.
Primitive Camping:
- Friday and Saturday nights.
- Check-in no later than one hour before closing.
- Check-out time is by 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
- Cost: day-use fees plus $10.00 per campsite per night.
- Potable water is available in several locations in the campground.
Group Camping: available for Scouts and other community groups. Call 972-219-3930 for rates and information.
With its diversity of habitats, LLELA is home to a profusion of wildlife. Within its boundaries one may find mammals such as bobcat, river otter, deer, and mink, along with 270 recorded species of birds such as wild turkey, painted bunting, and dozens of waterfowl species. LLELA is dotted with sloughs, wetlands, creeks, and dry channels, the landscape features originally wrought by the Elm Fork and its tributaries during flood events. These remain filled by rainwater, flooding, and groundwater discharge, where one may find many ducks, turtles, wading birds, wood ducks, and other waterfowl.
Tucked into the folds of the soft rolling hills of north central Texas, situated beneath the Lewisville Dam, the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) occupies a unique ecological position in the landscape of North America. It is here where the northwestern-most extent of the bottomland forests stretch fingers into the southern end of the tallgrass prairie of the Midwest; where the Elm Fork of the Trinity River winds its way out of the sandy uplands of the dry Cross Timbers into the deep, rich soils of the Blackland prairies; where agricultural lands intergrade with ranching and a rapidly growing urban expanse.
LLELA, also known as the Lewisville Wildlife Management Area, was created in the early 1990s by a consortium of local, state, and national government agencies, who have obtained a 25 year management lease from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Today, the LLELA consortium is comprised of the University of North Texas, Texas A&M University, the City of Lewisville, and the Lewisville Independent School District.
Mandate
The mandate of the LLELA consortium is to develop the area for:
- the preservation and restoration of native habitat and biodiversity
- environmental education, and
- environmental research.