Good times spent here. Water is the perfect temperature (…read moreonce you adjust, definitely a cold plunge ) and the rapids were good fun!!! Definitely will be renting tubes next time and taking the entire river float... Only downside and something to be cautious of is the slippery rocks. Definitely wear shoes.

This is a really lovely place to spend some time outdoors. A beautiful park right by the water,…read morewith a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere. There's a café along the shore where you can sit, have a drink, and enjoy the view of the waterfall -- such a nice spot to slow down and take everything in. It's a great area for walking and casual strolls, and there's also a playground for kids. Overall, it's a wonderful place to relax, whether you're visiting with children or just coming on your own. Perfect for a walk, some fresh air, and enjoying the water. Definitely a spot worth coming back to.

Great place to bring your family if you're new to San Marcos…read more Kayaking, tubing, fishing, etc. There's nothing you can't do here. The view, the vibes, the fun that happens here can't be missed out on. Unfortunately, a portion of the river is closed down due to COVID. Better safe than sorry.

Sewell Park is right on the Texas State University campus. The main draw is the spring-fed San…read moreMarcos River that runs right through it. The water is crystal clear and stays a refreshing 72 degrees year-round, which is perfect for beating the Texas heat. It's a fantastic spot for tubing, kayaking, swimming, or snorkeling. The park itself is really well-maintained with grassy banks for sunbathing, a couple of sand volleyball courts, an outdoor basketball court, and plenty of space to just hang up a hammock and relax. You can even rent gear right there at the Outdoor Center.

Love coming here & just listening to the water. Good views. Some good areas to sit & hang out…read more Limited space in my opinion to hang out but love taking the dogs for a walk out here. Parking can be difficult sometimes but overall it is a nice park. Hoping they will re-open the other side of it at some point.

You know those scenes in movies where kids are swinging off old ropes into a shady river while…read moretheir friends are making out downstream, and you think, "Where did these punks find such a cool and private place to hang?" Well, congrats, you just found that place via Yelp. John Stokes park is wedged between farmland on the other side of I35, down the narrow and unsuspecting Cape street. Even on a Sunday, the park wasn't so busy that there was nowhere to sit or have to ourselves, and the people there made a comfortable mix of college kids, adults, and families. The best part of the park is the 30ft high, man-made waterfall that drops into a sort of cove. A perfect touch. Chances are, you'll see fearless kids flipping from the falls into the water below, which is at least a sight to see, if you are not the daredevil type. There are also park benches here for eating, drinking, or talking. If you live here in town, forget the Sewell Park swimsuit competition. Forget the Cheatam Street theme park crowd. John Stokes state park is the best place to experience and enjoy the San Marcos river. Tip: Much of this river park is tree-lined, so if you need direct sunlight to enjoy swimming in the cool river water, visit around noon when the sun is overhead.

Didn't realize all the pics I got here were with my baby boy. Lol easy walk. Little off trail…read moreaction. Little confusing at first but was able to use my all trails app and it directed me where to.

Twas a nice and short trail in the community! Had a nice 1 hr 15 walk on Saturday afternoon! The…read moreweather is great, nature is awesome and people are beautiful! A lot of shades are there which was nice! Like it a lot and wish the creek is not dried up

San Marcos City Park is pretty big. I think it's close to 18 acres. It sits next to the smaller San…read moreMarcos Plaza Park. I love coming to this park because river swimming is easily accessible as is tubing and other water activities. It's also pretty great because they have recently installed outdoor gym equipment (within the last year or so). The park has picnic areas and playgrounds and lots of green space. There's a basketball court too, so if BBall is your thing have at it. This park also provides free wifi access...BONUS! The parking lot is free if you live in San Marcos and non-residents are charged a fee. I think we only paid $5 to park. Such a fun way to get to enjoy San Marcos and the water!

This was a great place to park and enjoy the crisp clear water…read more Make sure you pack a life best for the children. The water current can be swift but fun. Lots of young college kids and some city folk looking for a good time in the water. Have fun.

Swimmin' Hole! This place is dam nice! The City of San…read moreMarcos has made this short dam a park, and it gives a variety of places to hang out on the river! This park offers a dam that's about 6' tall, where the water from the river goes trickling over the top making a long waterfall. The area above the dam is deep enough to go swimming in, and has a rather large area backed up with slow moving cool river water. Beneath the dam, the water is much more shallow, where you can go wading through the water. I recommend wearing river shoes, as it can be slippery. Please don't litter or bring bottles! Along the shore of the river, you'll find lots of places on rocks to set up your lawn chairs or canopy and grill it up. This place does get crowded, it's a favorite spot of students. When I went one time, I saw graduation pics being taken on the dam! HA! There's plenty of parking across the street from the river with lots of handicapped spots. No shaded spots exist though. The facility does also offer soccer fields and restrooms, but the restrooms were not open when I went.

Went with an out of town friend. She wanted to walk outside and tour around since she's never been…read moreto this area. We went to this park since it was close. Parking was plenty. Looks like they have sports games here. We had to use the bathroom but unfortunately it was closed. Had to use the portapotty. After that, we got walking and it was a beautiful area. The water was dried up in some spots but other parts had a beautiful water area. Just wish it were a longer walking path along the water. The trail was fairly short. But otherwise clean and safe. Good place to bring my dog except I wouldn't let him near the water since it was pretty dirty.

This is my favorite San Marcos trail system…read more There's a waterfall (OK, it's more of a water cascade) on Centipede Trail and two more on Roadrunner - one of them is exactly where Porcupine turns into Roadrunner, and the other one is west of Grey Fox just a bit (left on the map for those that are Cardinally Challenged) The Tonkawa and Blue Stem trails are easy, but I'd consider the rest of the trails moderate. These trails aren't heavily trafficked, and if you get creative, you can get a good 5-6 miles in. Some parts of the trail get muddy, and stay muddy for over a week after a rain. Most of the trails are in the woods and shaded. Trail signage is pretty darned good, there's only a couple of unmarked trails. Parking at the Meadows Center is free on weekends but $3 on weekdays. You can also park free at the Lime Kiln trailhead (685 Lime Kiln Road) but there's only 10 parking spots. Print a trail map out before you go:: https://gato-docs.its.txstate.edu/the-rivers-institute/MCWE_NEW_SITE/SLNAgallery/SpringLakeNaturalArea.pdf How to find the trailhead: If you're parking at the Meadows Center, cross the street and walk toward the two buildings with trucks parked at them. They look like houses, but they're actually Texas State maintenance buildings. Walk between these two buildings and you'll find it. Restrooms available at the Meadows Center and there's a porta potty at the Lime Kiln trailhead.

This spot requires fishing, long sleeves (for the mosquitos) and hiking boots - not safe for…read morerunning unless you want a twisted ankle. Glad I made my pup walk, I don't think a premium doggie stroller would survive the terrain but maybe a sturdy baby stroller might.

From Chicago, just moved to Austin. First time at the Meadows Center at Texas State. Here are some…read morethoughts: -Run entirely by students, done very well, very enjoyable. -We wanted to check out the glass bottom boats, and we were not disappointed! -We went on the 45-minute tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, funny, and passionate--great combo! Cost was about $15 a person. -Saw a lot of wildlife, including deer, many birds, including a hawk, turtles, and many fish. Don't forget to check out the aquarium! -About a dozen people on our tour boat, from toddlers to 60's. Everyone enjoyed the experience. -Boat was covered, so it felt cool enough on the water even on a warm spring day. Highly recommended!

A San Marcos landmark and a unique experience that everyone should visit…read more The tour can offer a nice respite on even the hottest Texas days, however, be prepared for the disappointment that you cannot partake in the cool and gorgeous springs. My only detractor for this facility is the glaring lack of history of the world famous Aquarena Springs. It is mentioned briefly in the tour, and there are of course remnants of the former attractions. However, in their "museum" there is only a small glass case with a plate smattering of memorabilia. This included some dry-rotted goggles, an old program, and poorly displayed photo slide you can squint at inside the glass box. I understand that the history of Aquarena is one of ecological exploitation. Perhaps they want to avoid celebrating this past. However, you can't deny the effect it had on the area and how it still resonates to this day through SM's mermaid culture, among other things. Maybe one day the roof top of the old hotel could house a better collection or display. Or maybe the old trails could be opened for exploration. Until then, I will ensure that every visitor that comes to see us is taken on the glass bottom boat tour and they get so see our San Marcos salamanders.

Conway Park is a small park on the corner of Bliss and Sturgeon in the Blanco Gardens neighborhood…read more It's fenced in, so your kids or pets don't run off. It's a pretty good sized park at 3 acres and the amenities include a Playground, a half basketball Court, and plenty of Benches. It's a nice looking park, and you can tell it's been recently renovated. The paint is fresh, and the jungle gym looks safe. It's nicely landscaped, and there are sidewalks to ride your bike on, and shady areas to hang out under. Unfortunately, there's no restrooms here.