Blanco State Park (@blancostatepark) is a hidden gem in the Texas Hill Country, offering a peaceful…read moreriverside escape that feels both scenic and relaxing. Nestled along about a mile stretch of the Blanco River, this relatively small park delivers big on charm, making it perfect for a day trip or a quiet weekend outdoors. One of the standout features of the park is the low-water dam and walkway, which creates calm pools on one side and gentle flowing water on the other. Walking across it gives you beautiful panoramic views of the river, just like in your photos--calm water, limestone edges, and plenty of space to take it all in. The setting feels very serene, especially with the surrounding trees and open sky. The river itself is the heart of the park. Whether you're swimming, fishing, or just sitting by the water, it's a relaxing experience. The water is usually calm and shallow in areas, making it great for families, while deeper sections are perfect for swimming or paddling. Wildlife is another highlight--you'll often spot birds, turtles, and even ducks or geese hanging around the shoreline, adding to the natural vibe. The mix of cypress trees, limestone banks, and clear water really gives it that classic Hill Country feel. Beyond the water, the park has easy walking trails and shaded paths, ideal for a casual hike. These aren't intense hikes, but they're perfect for a laid-back stroll through nature. Picnic areas and campsites are scattered throughout, making it easy to spend a full day here or even stay overnight. Blanco State Park is not the biggest or most dramatic park in Texas, but that's exactly its appeal. It's calm, scenic, and easy to enjoy--perfect for relaxing by the water, taking photos, or just disconnecting for a while. If you're looking for a peaceful outdoor spot with beautiful river views and a laid-back atmosphere, this park definitely delivers.

Lovely State Park in a cute little town? Yes please! We stayed here 2 nights and had a great time…read more Too cool to get in the river, but we hiked along both sides of it and walked into town to visit the cute shops and enjoy the small town atmosphere. The Main Street is BUSY, but it was an easy walk. The park itself is clean, right on the river, and has fairly level nicely treed camping spots. Plus....You can't beat the price for full hook-ups.

Located just west of Austin near Johnson City, Pedernales Falls State Park is one of the most…read morescenic natural escapes in Central Texas. Spanning over 5,200 acres along the Pedernales River, the park is known for its dramatic limestone formations where the river cascades over wide, layered rock slabs--creating the iconic "falls" that give the park its name. Pedernales Falls has a rugged, peaceful Hill Country vibe. It's the kind of place where you can spend hours exploring rocky riverbeds, hiking through shaded trails, or just relaxing by the water. The mix of open river views, rolling hills, and quiet wooded areas makes it feel remote. Ideal for a day trip from Houston, definitely worth checking out.

PFSP is a lovely state park that is very accessible from Austin, only about an hour away. The…read morefastest route that we took was very scenic but of note the back roads to get there were winding, and there were some big dips and even a spot with some nasty potholes that knocked the hanging carplay screen off from the perch on my dash. The back road is also VERY dark, I meant to go another way when leaving after a star party that night (around 8:15pm) but I went back the way I'd come by accident and the road was DARK. I was able to navigate it ok with my high beams on but I definitely saw several deer and there are no streetlights so you have GOT to be careful. We actually even saw a car flipped over in a ditch around a sharp curve on the way - there were several police officers there assisting but drives the point home that winding and dark road can be pretty dangerous. It's one lane each way too. All this said - the park is cute! The main part folks go to see is the falls area, which is easy to get to from the visitor center. There are miles and miles of trails; the trailheads are a little difficult to find for some of them but there's a decent bit of parking around the areas. They do quite a few events too, as mentioned I came in the evening for a star party (most are 6p-9 or 10p ish) and they're free but you do have to sign up in advance. It's nice and dark out that way and check the weather bc it does get cold too - in Feb it was like 40-50F that night so you needed layers. Entrance fee is $6, seems universal for all Texas state parks. You can get a good flavor for the park in just a couple hours, or you could stay all day since there are many long trails. It's worth a visit if you're nearby!

I have been going here for years, hiking and mountain biking. I've done a few races also. It is…read moremarked fairly well, but obviously whether can change making trails. Look different and signs get weathered. Always take a map, as they are always passing out at the Ranger station

We always make a stop here to hike, swim, and picnic with our kids. The rangers are awesome and…read morehappy to answer all of our kids questions. The trails are clearly marked and scrambling over the rocks to explore the falls and wading in the river are always a blast. This year we went after a heavy rain and it was awesome to see the river roaring over the falls.

Emmitt park has a huge playscape, a basketball pavilion, pickleball and volleyball areas. This park…read moreis inclusive for all children. They are open Monday - Friday from 7 am - sunset. Check times for Saturday and Sunday, they close the park for service times. Emmitt park is clean and well maintained. You can have a picnic at any of their tables. Some of the tables are covered and some have trees covering them. I will be coming back soon!

This is such a cool park! My family was trying to find a halfway point to meet up at and this came…read moreup. It's large and enclosed and I love how the big kid area at the top is only accessible by ladders or hanging rings so some toddlers can't accidentally wander up. There are slides of all sizes and a part that is wheelchair accessible. I do wish the splash pad had an on/off switch. It was in the 40s this morning and so many parents were chasing their kids to keep out of the water. Also, while the ground at the playground is soft, it is not level- there are dips and random potholes. I almost twisted an ankle- twice and kids kept tripping and falling. Other than this, it's a great place! There is ample parking, ball courts in the back, clean restrooms and a water fountain with a bottle filler on it (yes!).

Stopped by during my lunch break while working in Wimberley Texas. Very nice park with good hiking…read moretrails and parking lots. There's a visitor center, and several gardens and placards all along the trail to tell the history and ecology of the area. The well itself did not appear to be flowing or if it was it was flowing only slightly. The hike as you get close to the well is a little bit more treacherous, but not too bad. Once you are there, the well is dark emerald green in color. It looks kind of mysterious. lol Good spot for a short hike to explore some nature and see a natural wonder.

I'm sure that during its peak season and at its full potential, the well will be much more…read morecaptivating and visually appealing than my experience of it. But despite that notion, Jacob's Well overall is very underwhelming. The hike is probably the shortest and least challenging I've ever experienced. There are several mini trails that are great for kids to explore, along with a large tire swing at the front entrance. Jacob's Well is definitely very kid- and senior-friendly as it's not very strenuous at all to hike or walk around. It's a nice that it's there for everyone to experience nature but again, very underwhelming. We spent about half an hour there which was enough time to experience the entire area. Definitely worth a visit if it's your first time in Wimberley.

Had so much fun here!! The walk up bar was nice, with the option to order food from the two nearby…read morerestaurants (and they delivered it to the bar!) I recommend bringing your own chairs, they do have quite a few picnic tables but they fill up fast.

This place is awesome. We've been here twice now and it's Quite possibly the most chill swim hole…read morewe've been to. Awesome bar , cool upstairs patio , we stayed at the lodge and it's a great spot. Shallow enough for kids and deep enough for adults to Enjoy. It was pretty "busy" this time but there was plenty of room and it never even felt crowded . Lots of drink options , very laid back just super cool place if you just take a step back and take a look at it and take it all in . It's a real gem ! And the caves are fun to wander into as well! There has been a couple food trucks each time there , I will 10000% be back here ASAP

We arrived early this morning for our first hike of the year. The rangers were very efficient; our…read morereservation was checked and our permit was brought out. We drove out to the water and decided to walk those trails. The trails are all very easy to navigate. The more challenging trails may not have actually been trails at all, but got us down to the river bank for some lovely photos. The grounds and trails are very clean and well maintained. The camp sites look really nice and the bathrooms (I'm told) were Buccees level clean. There's a Discovery center that seemed to be interesting for the littles. I really enjoyed the solitude and the zen. I suspect it probably gets pretty packed though.

Lovely park! Make sure to prepay entrance fee online and discount was offered with military park…read morepass. We parked near the end of the road where you'll find a parking lot with bathrooms and changing facilities. We met our hiking group and trekked off walking along the Guadalupe River. Make sure to bring water shoes with grip cuz you'll cross the river to get to more hiking trails. The water was cool and the flow perfect...depending on the time of the year, it can get quite powerful. The weather was gorgeous - fall vibes of overcast and cooler temps. We hiked a mix of many shaded forest areas and open fields . Captured many pics of the fall changes - leaves turning shades of yellow and orange. And I gotta kick seeing live armadillos scurrying amongst the long grasses. So cute!!! With the great weather and scenery, we hiked a steady pace and clocked in approximately 8.5 miles ! Loved hiking through the river : ) Clean bathrooms and changing rooms were a plus!

The base area is nice to drop your boat in. Very private and good for beginners. I haven't spent…read morethe night in the cabins but they look nice. Moose Out

Military lake SOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! if your in/ part of family military this is the spot ! Water…read moresooo blue and not freezing cold they have camping also which is $15 to camp we came for Father's Day and was not crowded at all this is our spot !!!! Enjoy if you guys come :)

This is a very peaceful and beautiful spot along the river. There is only one hiking trail. Very…read morewell shaded. Seems this is where the tubers stop for a break. The water is kind of shallow They have a playground for kids and definitely a good spot to walk your dog in this Texas heat

Great place to cool off. Secret tubing area. Great for kids. Place your picnic area, walk up a ways…read moreand float down.