We arrived early this morning for our first hike of the year. The rangers were very efficient; our reservation 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. read more

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Lovely park! Make sure to prepay entrance fee online and discount was offered with military park pass. 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! read more

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7/31/25 Guadalupe State Park was a peaceful and scenic stop! The scenery is stunning, and the trails are well-marked -- whether you're hiking, floating, or just relaxing, it's a beautiful place to unwind. We can't wait to come back! Rig: 39' Class A motorhome (50 amp) Site 78: * Paved, well maintained, and wooded * No issues with our awning -- plenty of clearance * Picnic table was placed to the side, not behind or awkwardly next to the rig like some other sites Connectivity: We're a family of 3 working and schooling remotely -- internet and Starlink both worked with no issues read more

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What a breath of fresh air and solitude that was much needed. I recently spent a day hiking at Guadalupe River State Park, and it was an absolute treat! The park's natural beauty is stunning, with lush trees, scenic overlooks, and the serene Guadalupe River winding its way through the landscape. The hiking trails are well-marked, well-maintained, and offered a range of difficulties to suit every level of adventurer. I tackled the river overlook trail, discovery center loop, and cedar sage river trail. I was rewarded with spectacular views of the river and surrounding hills. The park's facilities were clean and well-maintained, and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable upon entry. I spotted some wildlife, including birds, and butterflies. If you're looking for a peaceful escape from the city, a fun day of hiking, or simply a chance to connect with nature, Guadalupe River State Park is a must-visit destination. I can't wait to return and explore more of its natural wonders! FYI the entry fee for one vehicle for an entire day is $7. I saw plenty of parking available throughout the park. Happy camping, fishing or hiking! read more

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Super fun! It's such a nice place to check out for kayaking/tubing also. People around were all very nice and the water was great. It took about 3 hours to kayak leisurely down the water and there was a good mix of chill and light currents that required a bit more focus. It was quite peaceful when I went last Saturday with just a handful of folks. I'd highly recommend folks looking to kayak or tube check this place out if you're in San Antonio! read more

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This park is my happy place! I have raised both my girls at the Guadalupe River State Park! They have fond memories of playing in the water putting their chairs in the middle of the river and sitting down the river is most always clear and low. read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Soaking up the suns in the middle of the river - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

the water levels low. the river is very beautiful. CAUTION: there were several loose discarded fish hooks directly upon the edge of the river where folks enter the water oftentimes barefoot!!!! lovely spot for picnic or to pull up chairs. read more

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I visited Guadalupe River State Park today to get some hiking and exploration in. I had visited the adjacent Honey Creek State Natural Area years ago, but never checked out Guadalupe River. Upon arrival, I handed over my state parks pass to the ranger, Aaron, who promptly told me that there was a burn ban and asked me if I needed a paper map. He also quickly processed my request for a day pass as I wasn't staying here overnight. He kindly also explained how to access the remote area of the park--the Bauer Unit. I've seen and hiked my fair share of trails at state parks. There are trails that look like they were man-made, but then there are also trails that look like they were naturally formed. The trails at Guadalupe River, I think, fall under the latter as I found myself enjoying how each trail winded through the trees and prairies in between. The river's water level was low, as it has been since summer with the Texas drought. I saw signs posted that shower usage was limited to certain hours of the day to help ensure there's enough water for drinking water and restrooms. I did take the chance to travel to the remote entrance of the Bauer Unit, which led me through a series of farm roads. Along the way, I saw 3 armadillos, 3 deer, and several hawks flying in the air in all its glory. I didn't have much time to explore the Bauer Unit but I did see that the trails were well-maintained with trail information readily available at the trailhead. I enjoyed my visit and would love to visit again perhaps when the water levels are back to normal. read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Big tree with many exposed roots along the river bank - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

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This is a really nice park. There was a pretty easy trail near the river and if you go closer to the waters edge tou can hike to the rapids. The trails get a little hard when muddy but we trekked through it. The view was beautiful. The bathrooms were spotless and very nice. There are plenty of tables to eat at tho the trashcans are only up near the parking. There's even a playground for kids. We will be back. read more

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This was my first time camping and I can say i enjoyed it! I believe this is a great introductory park for camping. The campsites have enough space between them to still have some sort of privacy. There's also a picnic table, power outlet, and bbq grill at the campsite. The restrooms also aren't too far from each campsites. While the restrooms and showers are shared/public, the showers have their own room. The park also has a nature center, beautiful overlook, a separate area for swimming/fishing/kayaking, as well as areas to hike. Hiking areas are beginner friendly so there's no need to worry about climbing steep hills, at least not the trail I hiked. Just make sure to bring your water! I didn't run into many animals but on the last day the armadillos decided to take over. The good thing about this park is tht it's not too far from the commercial area so if you forgot something or just need additional clothing, food, cleaning things, Walmart, HEB etc are literally 15-20 min away. read more

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I absolutely loved visiting this state park a few weeks ago! My family, pup and I went on a 5K hike and found a few geocaches along the way. We opted for one of the less traveled trails, further away from the river, and only ran in to 1-2 other people. It was so calming and a great way to get some steps in this holiday season. read more

Absolutely beautiful park!! I went on a slightly drizzly weekday afternoon, which ended up clearing up around dusk. There was barely anyone else in the park, except for a couple campers, and it was gloriously serene. I would highly recommend, and I will definitely be returning for future visits and hopefully to camp! read more

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Great park for camping and day trips! Nice modern facilities. They have shower stalls with locks so you get privacy but don't try anything because everyone can still hear you! One downside is that the camp store only sells souvenirs but much not groceries. This park is very close to north San Antonio so if you do need something then modern conveniences are nearby. We didn't see much as far as wildlife but did see two cats near site 25. We had a bag of trash hanging from the tall pole with hook. It was too close to the picnic table because a raccoon (probably) jumped on the table (as indicated by dirty paw prints on our tablecloth) and reached out to the trash bag and tore the bottom of the it. It is a bit of a walk if you camp to get to the river so we drove instead. The main part of the river gets very crowded and the water tends to be still and murky. We walked on the trail to the far right end of the river. There was a large gap in the river with no swimmers since there was nowhere to lay out but further right were more swimmers near some small rapids. I love the sound of flowing water so we sat in the pools of water for a few hours. Would be nice if they enforced quiet time after 10pm as stated on signs in the camp areas. read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Cat at camp site 25 - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

If you like hiking, this is a really good park to check out that's not too far outside of the city. There's lots of different trail options and there's a decent amount of varied scenery. You can also make your way to a scenic overlook that gives a nice view of the river or you head down to the banks of the river itself... although this is also a popular "swimming" spot (ok, sorry... I come from the great lakes so it's hard to call playing in knee deep water "swimming" :-P ) when it's warm out... so you might have to fight it out with the masses depending on the weather. An added bonus is that there are two sides to the park. And the second side (on the other side of the river) is exclusively hiking trails. There are two ways to get to these trails. 1. You can cross the river (you will get wet - not quite enough rocks to make it across dry). 2. There's an unmanned entrance on the north side of the park. Keep in mind that this adds like another 25 minutes to the drive because it's all back roads. But if you want more trail hiking (and more quiet) this is a good way to go. You can still make your way down to the river from this side as well. The one thing I will say about the trails is that the terrain is not very dynamic. So you might be disappointed if you want a lot of ups and downs and dynamic changes in altitude. Although we have not camped here yet, the camping definitely looks worth checking out. Will try to make it up here some time for that as well. read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

Nice quiet place to visit the Guadalupe River.... I remember when this place was a hidden GEM of a Park..... much improved over the years and busier. You can get lucky and catch a time when you can really enjoy !!! Don't forget to get your Texas Parks and Wildlife Pass !!!! read more

Had a good time fishing and camping. There are tons of armadillos so prepare yourself for that.

Wonderful and worth it! Great for the whole family, including your pup (leashed). The signage is very good in the main park, and there are restrooms with showers (currently being remodeled), picnic tables, a kids learning area, camping sites and the Guadalupe River- open for daydreaming, swimming and fishing. The second entrance- the Bauer Unit is more secluded and a pretty far drive from the main entrance, considering the trails are just across the river. I really enjoyed this section, but be warned there are no restrooms, no camping allowed and I was bummed that there were no trash cans in the parking lot (for dog poop, as you see bags all along the trails). Also, the area where you sign in and pay (if you didn't pay at the main park at the ranger station), you need to have cash (no cards) and the deposit drop was full so we couldn't put our money in. Luckily the park police emptied it (and didn't ticket us) while we were out hiking for a few hours. We put our money in on the way out. Overall this is a beautiful place! You can spend a whole day and more here! My dog loves it and there's so many beautiful birds to watch. Texas nature at its finest! read more

I love this park. I bought a year pass since I leave nearby. Such a beautiful place to come and sit and enjoy nature.

The weather is getting better and we spent the day relaxing at the river. It was very nice. Had a picnic there. Lots of families. Will go again soon. read more

Guadalupe River State Park - The River - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

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Love it here, have to walk some trials to get to some good spots and sometimes the water is too low but when it's streaming it's a good time, Downfall is there is never an available camping spot to get unless it's about 5 months ahead read more

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This is a good park to visit, but it's not my favorite park to hike. I prefer the hikes Where I can go up & down hills with Different terrain. It does have a couple of good spots for viewing, But most of the trails are pretty short. Now, if you wanna go swimming, or just hang out it's a great place. You can eat by the river you can go for a swim, they even have a place for watching birds. They do have a restroom there, and it seemed pretty clean at the time. I have heard the Bauer unit is much better for hiking so I will try to get there one day . But keep in mind you can't get there from the same entrance. That is the main reason I gave it three stars. It my understanding you had to drive around 15 to 20 minutes to get to the other side. I will probably visit this place about once a year. It is a really cool place. Especially if your in the area. read more

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My family and I love coming out to this park. We enjoy everything this park has to offer. I feel the only thing we haven't gotten to do yet is camp here because it is always booked up in advance. It's beautiful here, the trails are nice and easy to follow. There's easier trails, as well as come more rocky terrain, not difficult. We also took up kayaking and since we have young kids, we like to get them in the water here since it is pretty shallow in the area were able to put in at. In this area, you will find fishing, plenty of space, and friendly people hanging out. The campsites look spacious and clean. The bathrooms are very clean and smell nice too. The park rangers are always friendly and it is a non-expensive, pet friendly, place to see Beautiful Texas! read more

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This updated review is for the Bauer Unit on the other side of the river from the main park. It has a separate entrance and the address is not listed on the TPWD web site, but if you Google "Guadalupe River State Park Bauer Unit" it will bring up the location in Google Maps and take you straight there. The best place about my visit here was that I was literally the only one there - no one else was parked in the parking lot when I got there and there was no one else in the lot when I left. I didn't see a single soul on the trails - it was WONDERFUL! A couple of places that you can get down to an isolated section of the river from, but they're not marked and I'm not gonna share my secret with you! ;-) The Baur Unit has some of the best marked trails I have seen in state parks so far. There are absolutely no facilities in the Baur Unit, no water, or restrooms (well, ok, nature's restrooms are available). Take PLENTY of water! There's no headquarters on this side of the park, and you have to enter a code into the gate to get in. The code is listed right next to the gate - why lock it at all if you're going to post the code right there? :) It's self pay, so bring cash to put in one of the provided envelopes or bring your state parks pass - you write your park pass number and your info on the envelope and place it in the drop box and stick the other portion on your windshield before you hit the trails. Right at 6 miles of trails to hike. Very moderate trails, about 70% wooded and 30% in the sun. Just old tennis shoes will get you through this place. The roughest part is getting down to the river (if you can find the secret trails that I found) but even those aren't terribly rough. #KeepTexasWild read more

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Love hiking here. So many trails. Beautiful landscape. We enjoy going to the river with our family.

Recently went and can see how crazy this place could be in the warmer months. There is two parts of the park divided by the river. We went to the south part. It has most of the services. We enjoyed the picnic area and the bird blind. We also enjoyed a bit of a walk down the river and up to the scenic overlook. We also did a hike around the painted bunting trail. We talked to a park ranger for a bit and he told us the better hiking is on the north side or Bauer Unit. It is about a 30 minute drive to that area from the main area of the south. We didn't have time for it this trip but next time we will head straight there. We are enjoying the state parks and the reservation system. It allows you to know you are going to get in without having to drive there and then find out. We have a goal to go to them all and we will be back to this one. read more

* Baur unit entrance * State parks reopened in Texas and I was craving a good day trip. I had been to the Guadalupe several times before. During this time it's reservation only to get into the parks, but the main entrance was already fully reserved for the day. I didn't want to wait two more weeks so I bought tickets for the Baur entrance. When buying, I was never given the impression that I would have to walk at least three miles just to get to the river. Totally different from the main entrance where you can practically drive up to it. Because I thought it would be the same as the main entrance, I prepared with chairs, refillable water bottles, and a pair of Chacos. Big regrets. When we arrived we realized that this was very different from the main entrance! It's self pay and there's a parking area, but you must walk through the park for a few miles if you want river access. The trails were difficult to understand because none directly took you to the river. (Just follow the Baur trail and you'll find a great water hole) Please bring LOTS of water and comfortable shoes. This will be quite the walk so carry light. I wish I had gotten some warning about being prepared which is why I'm upset. I hope y'all don't make the same mistake as me! Alas, the views were beautiful and the water was so calm. We only ran into people a few times, but it's more isolating and quiet. It's a great activity, but like I said, stay prepared :) read more

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Was able to get a day-of park pass for 3 adults / 1 vehicle for the north side Bauer unit entrance for Memorial Day weekend Saturday. The north side is considered the "primitive hiking trails" side. There is one river access point, about 2.3 miles from the parking lot which is a steady slight decline the whole way there. Bring your bathing suit because the water is beautiful! Trails are extremely well marked / well paved. No trash cans anywhere in the north side of the park so we had to toss some dog poop bags into the trunk and take them out with us. There is no manned gate, just an automatic keypad gate upon arrival. We were expecting a busy weekend (Memorial Day after all), but we only ran into two groups on the trail, and one group on the parking lot. There were plenty of paths to diversify. We also saw 2 other groups at the watering hole - but had plenty of distance between us to enjoy the water. Truly a beautiful hidden gem! So happy we could explore a new park these days. read more

River: Clear, Good for Wading, Can't tube during dry months, so we drove 40 minutes to the horseshoe. Primitive Camping Area: Very Shaded Stayed in Site 89; it is a good site if you don't need the tent pad. Site 90 is ideal. Potable water near bathrooms. Have to drive to showers in electrical area. Bring Bikes! Beware the raccoons! Put your food and cooler in the car at night, or the raccoons will get them. They opened a sealed box and took our tortillas, chips, and hotdog buns before we could up to scare them off and store everything. They opened a yeti cooler that was strapped shut and took things from them as well. Alternatively, you can put your cooler under the picnic table bench so they can't open it, but they may still try! read more

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Clear water, blue skies, and beautiful pine trees. The trails are interesting, especially by the river. The other inland trails are pretty bland though. We had a great time hiking with our dog. I think Pedernales has slightly better scenery but this beats Houston any day read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

Unbeknownst to me, I seem to have entered into an agreement with the universe. Every time I go to a new Texas state park, it's better than any of the previous ones I've been to. This place is Beautiful! (Capitalization intentional) I felt like I was in some sort of little Mexican canyon paradise. The dogs loved it and so did we. Do yourself a favor and sample the trails from back to front of the park. read more

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Although camp sites are not too close, the park police were toooo much! Paying have a good fun filled weekend we were scrutinized and even ticked for talking while playing Uno! Yes no fun is to be had .. how do you not laugh, even sitting quietly at the camp sight listening to pod cast was too loud. I get it.. people come out to relax.. but others come out to enjoy family in a good way, to just enjoy. This place takes strict to a new level. Absolutely ridiculous and definitely not worth spending a dime on. Will never return, will always defer family and friends to other places. read more

State park police act like their swat, if you breathe too hard you will get a ticket after 10pm. It's absolutely ridiculous how much of Karen's the state parks police act, you cannot have a good time with family after 10pm cause they will find any excuse to give you a noise ordinance ticket. I will never come back to this place. It's bad enough that the water is doo doo colored, I don't understand what they are protecting. My family and I had multiple camping spots rented out and the state park police were over the top Karen's. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

Great place for a hike or swim! Make sure to make reservations in the summer time because it gets busy and they reach full capacity quick! Been here about 3 times now and every time it's been a blast! Fees aren't too bad either. read more

Tube the Guadalupe! This river is sacred in Texas- it flows all the way out to the Gulf of Mexico way downstream. Up here at the State Park, the waters are somewhat purer, and cold and crisp. I've heard that the water temperature is always nearly the same, since it's spring fed. This park generally requires reservations, and offers day passes or camping. The camping is deluxe- with huge spaces, a tent pad, water, 30 amp electric and dumpsters. The bathrooms include showers, and are air conditioned, with granite counter tops and everything. As far as parks go, this one has all the amenities. Parking is easy, but it's a bit of a hike to get down to the river. There's a bunch of stairs, and a trail that goes the 'long way' down the slope to get to the river. Once you're down there, it's beautiful! There's all kinds of wildlife, and a cliff topped with trees and water deep enough to swim in, that moves swiftly. The surface of the riverbed was mostly river rocks, making it fairly comfy to walk on. There's plenty of things to do here- with nature trails, hiking biking, and even horseback riding trails. People come through here on tubes, rafts, kayaks, canoes- you name it. There's really so much to see and do besides just going swimming. read more

My kids love to explore here. It's safe and beautiful. The water is great but without a military ID there is a fee. To us, it's worth it! read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

My review is specifically for hiking. Tried the Bauer Unit which is pretty nice if you want to go for a good hike. It doesn't necessarily have someone there at it's entry, and you need to bring cash to pay. There are no restrooms, so you are aware. The trails are a good size and I like that they loop around, so you can make your own length depending on how short or long you want to hike. There are many rocks, which my friend liked (I got tired of after a while. Otherwise, I got a great hike in. read more

river experience--plenty of parking areas, picnic tables with benches and grills available, open area near river with huge trees For shade. Steep Inclines on stairs and trails Leading down to river certainly not handicapped accessible and even me with knee issues had much difficulty going up and down to go to use bathroom . Only one bathroom available and gets crowded making it inconvenient if you have children or someone dealing With stomach issues. read more

Beautiful place to take a hike or a swim. Some parts of the river had low water levels. I did find a few spots with deeper swim holes. There is a road that you can take to drop Off your kayaks and things but you can't keep your car there. You have to drop Off your stuff and come back up The hill to Park your car. The restrooms are very clean and the price to get in was 7 dollars per car. There are pop machines with coke and Sprite etc. near the restrooms. . Beautiful place to spend time and relax. read more

Started coming to this park this summer. It's a nice little hidden park where you could enjoy a picnic and swim in the water. It does get full on some weekends so I recommend making your reservations through the state parks website. read more

Guadalupe River State Park - Parks Near Me - Spring Branch, Texas

Guadalupe River State Park is a great park in Spring Branch. Crossing the river or driving to the other entrance is the way to go for the hikes. I was crazy and crossed the river and it was freezing but it is worth it. I didn't want to drive 15 minutes more to get to the other entrance so walked across the cold. Go check out the state park. read more

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