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    Buescher State Park

    4.4 (16 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Good trail descriptions (second park map).
    Felecia I.

    While on a meandering day trip, we came across the inviting entrance to Buescher State Park. We parked outside the small but organized ranger station, and I stepped inside to pay the fee. $3 per person if you choose to stay in your vehicle (driving through) or $5 per person is you get out to walk around. Affordable either way! There's also an area set up with mugs, stickers and such for sale. So glad we decided to drive through! A lot of different scenery, well-maintained and mostly empty roads, new undergrowth in burn areas, peaceful and quiet overall. We continued through what seemed a residential area with private houses, then onwards through Bastrop State Park, exiting there. Nice introduction to Buescher State Park. We'll return to hike in cooler weather.

    Scenic overlook from the Barred Owl Trailhead parking lot.
    Brent L.

    This review is for the hiking trails only. I'm not going to complain a whole lot, considering it's only been four years since the wildfire that impacted this park. I'm impressed that they have almost all the trails open for hiking, and they are in good shape. You can hike anywhere between .1 mile and 6 miles if you get imaginative with your trail selection. Although the trail map indicates Pine Gulch is "challenging," I would rate as "moderate." It's not rocky at all; there are a couple of inclines that might be challenging for some, but they're not too steep, and not rocky. You can do all of the trails out here with regular tennis shoes, and you probably don't need a hiking stick. Trails are mostly dirt, and just a *little* rocky. Northern sections of the Pine Gulch Trail are sandy, but it's tightly packed, so it's not like you are trudging through sand on the beach. Most of the trails are in full sun, so be cautious if hiking in the summer. There are a few sections in the southern section that survived the fire and have some tall pine trees. As of November 2019, the lake is low. All in all, not a bad place to hike in the fall/winter if you are nearby, but I wouldn't drive out of my way to hike here. Pro Tip - part of Pine Gulch Trail has been closed since the 2015 fire, so it's no longer a loop. The park maps are updated, but if you are using an online hiking app, it might still show it as a loop.

    Katherine A.

    You can use your Texas state park pass here, it also gives you access to blanco state park. There are so many cute cabins and campsites with access to electrical and water if you need it. I recommend driving to the overlook and beginning the trail there.

    Mark B.

    My wife and I were on our way to Austin and she wanted to check it out, so we did. We did the drive thru tour, it was only $3 per person and well worth it. Started in this park, steep hills and very twisty turny like a roller coaster. You leave this park and drive thru a residential area, which was crazy because it's pretty remote out there. Then we ended up in a different state park. Both parks are beautiful, lots to see. Stop at the scenic overlooks!

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    3 years ago

    Wonderful place for hiking and birding in a mixed woodland. We live nearby and visit often.

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    7 years ago

    The firewood is the best you'll find between Bastrop and La Grange. Almost as good as Giddings. Better than Rosanky.

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    Review Highlights - Buescher State Park

    The park itself is clean, lush, and absolutely beautiful, with plenty of cabins, camping spots, RV sites, and scenic hiking trails.

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    Bastrop State Park

    Bastrop State Park

    4.1(89 reviews)
    9.2 mi

    We camped here spontaneously one weekend in February. The good: the trails are lovely! There are…read moremany miles and different terrains to explore. I love the pine trees and views from some of the trails. The campground is lovely as well. Very clean. Spaces are large. People are respectful. But... A big con is the traffic noise at night! We stayed in the Copperas Creek Camping Area, which is quite close to the road, so we expected some noise. But it was intense both noise. A loud, long crash woke me up in the middle of the night, with a second crash crashing into the debris from the first one. That whole incident kept me up for 2 hours. I don't know if the other campgrounds in the park are any better. The park is nestled in a populated area so I doubt it. But the trails and area are beautiful!! So I would definitely recommend for hiking!! Not so much tent camping... (maybe it's better in an RV?).

    We stopped by Bastrop State Park on a whim while driving to Austin, and it ended up being a great…read moredecision. It's less than a 2-hour drive from Houston and under an hour from Austin, which makes it an easy add to a road trip. I especially appreciated that the entrance is right off Highway 71, so you're not wasting a bunch of time driving deep into back roads just to get to the park. We visited on a beautiful Saturday in January -- sunny and in the 50s, basically perfect hiking weather. While there are plenty of trees throughout the park, many of the trails are fairly exposed, so you get a lot of sun. Definitely bring sunscreen, even in cooler weather. The trails are wide and well-maintained, with sand and rocks laid down in many areas, making them easy to walk. The terrain is nicely hilly but nothing too difficult (we did about 4 miles total). One thing to note: trail signage is a bit limited, and it would be easy to get turned around and know where to turn. Thankfully, I had decent cell reception (T-Mobile) and was able to use Google Maps to track where we were. Parking was easy, the staff were friendly, and the landscape was beautiful. We used our Texas State Parks annual pass, which saved us the $15 entrance fee, and the entry process was quick and simple. The line of cars trying to get in was only 2. I'd love to come back in the spring when everything is blooming. Overall, a great stop if you want scenic views, manageable trails, and a convenient location. Highly recommend if you're on your way to Houston or Austin. There's also a Buccees just a few miles away!

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    Bastrop State Park
    Bastrop State Park
    Bastrop State Park

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    Smithville Music Festival - Listening under a canopy of ancient oaks.

    Smithville Music Festival

    5.0(2 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Check it out, the Second Annual Smithville Music Festival at Beautiful Vernon Richards Riverbend…read morePark This year featuring: Jimmie Vaughan T-Bird and the Breaks The Jones Family Singers George Ducas Woody Russell Deadman The Black Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces Blue Valley The Austin Family Jewels LeeAnn Atherton Whew! - music all day on two stages plus a Chili Cookoff, Horseshoe Tournament, 42 Dominoes Tournament, Kiddie Korner, Arts and Crafts Vendors, Food Vendors and strolling entertainers. A day jam packed with fun for the whole family. And get this, tickets are only $20.00 in advance at Front Gate Tickets. Last year's festival was great. Great music, great venue and great vibe. Listening under a canopy of old oak trees next to the Colorado river. There were also some major jammin' going on at the campgrounds after the show - all night from what I heard (I left around 3 am). Did I mention there is camping. Also some nice B&Bs in town. Don't miss this one - it only comes around once a year..

    Wonderful diversity of styles and great talent at the 2013 event. Would go again in a drum beat!…read more#music #sounds #intense

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    Smithville Music Festival - Jimmie Vaughan and Hannibal Lokumbe jammin' at last year's festival.

    Jimmie Vaughan and Hannibal Lokumbe jammin' at last year's festival.

    Smithville Music Festival - The Peterson Brothers can really rock it out and they clearly love what they do. 2013 event. Photo by Fran Hunter.

    The Peterson Brothers can really rock it out and they clearly love what they do. 2013 event. Photo by Fran Hunter.

    Smithville Music Festival - Musician Ben Zuniga and his band performed in 2013. A great rock sound. And, oh those guitars. #benhottie

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    Musician Ben Zuniga and his band performed in 2013. A great rock sound. And, oh those guitars. #benhottie

    Buescher State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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