Today was the second time my husband and I have come out to Lockhart State Park for their Chisholm Trail Turkey Trot. Both times have been an absolute blast. Nice low-key, family-friendly fun run, organized by the park staff, with prizes for the raffle and 1st through 3rd place finishers donated by local businesses, including frozen turkeys!! Doesn't get better than that! GOBBLE-GOBBLE. The price for entry was the standard day use fee, $3/person. You won't find a cheaper Turkey Trot. They had ample water, snacks, and a DJ blasting tunes. The staff are always friendly and helpful. The bathrooms are clean. The information available inside HQ for other Texas State Parks and history is cool. There's some fun trinkets and souvenirs you can purchase too to help support the park's operations, plus drinks and snacks if you need. The trails have some decent terrain, certainly nothing too steep or strenuous thought (typical TX hill country landscape). The park also has a golf course and a swimming pool, though I've not experienced them myself. Parking lots are in good repair. They always have the month's extracurricular events posted up too, so you can decide if you want to take an informational nature hike or learn archery, etc. read more

I can't say I recommend Lockhart State Park from my last visit here. Even though it's the only Texas state park with a 9-hole golf course, the hiking trails weren't very interesting and I was concerned about getting hit by golf balls as one of the trails cuts right through the fairway. The trail system here seemed almost like an afterthought, as there weren't any scenic viewpoints to look forward to. There were large shrubs everywhere and nothing interesting around. They say to my have a fishing pond, but it was small and it looked like it was devoid of any life. I thought the CCC group area and the day-use areas were cool. I can see locals taking advantage of the amenities. But for me, hiking trails are the biggest draw and unfortunately I left disappointed. read more

Lockhart State Park - CCC Group area - Parks Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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I enjoyed hiking the trails to take a break from the highway while on a roadtrip. It was well worth the $3 entrance fee. While I've seen prettier landscapes, the ones at Lockhart are decent. No waterfalls, apparently, the creek onky flows when it rains... But there are a few nice views from the higher elevations of the hiking trails. They have some flatter trails and a few that are more challenging. I hiked several as they were short. I managed to finish 5 in 30 minutes, and it was an enjoyable hike. Lockhart also has a golf course, camping spots, and a swimming pool (in season). It would make a nice place to camp out for a weekend get-away. The gentleman at the office was kind and helpful. read more

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Lockhart State Park - Lockhart, TX Lockhart State Park is a hidden gem located just 35 miles (about 40 minutes) from Austin, TX, and roughly 30 minutes from Texas State University in San Marcos. It's the perfect spot if you want to escape the city noise and enjoy some peace and quiet, with the bonus of being close to town if you need supplies or crave some good food. The park is well-kept, peaceful, and offers a nice dose of solitude. The RV and camping areas are tucked away from the general crowd (playground, swimming pool), making it ideal if you're looking for a quiet camping or glamping experience. If you forgot essentials like water or personal hygiene products, the local HEB is just a short drive away. We stayed in spot 4, which, along with spots 5 and 6, is located directly across from the golf course. Unfortunately, some golfers tend to overshoot, and golf balls have been landing in these spots. We even saw people walking over to retrieve their stray balls. So if you don't mind the possibility of a golf ball hitting your vehicle, RV, 5th Wheel, or even you, your kids, or your dog--then these spots might still work for you. If that's a concern, I'd suggest requesting a different campsite. Bonus for nature lovers: Keep an eye out along the trails and you may spot rabbits hopping along. Around dusk (about 7:45 to 8:00 pm), it's a real treat to see deer coming out into the open. If you walk one of the various trails through the woods, you might even catch sight of them quietly moving through the trees. When you're ready to venture into town, Lockhart doesn't disappoint. Black's Barbecue serves up some of the best BBQ you'll find, and you can take a short stroll down the street to The Culinary Room, where their famous banana pudding is absolutely worth the stop. We also tried to visit Fiddler's Green Music Shop, but unfortunately, the lady working there wasn't very welcoming, so we moved on. Lockhart itself has that small-town vibe where you can roam around, soak in some local charm (hopefully from friendly folks like the staff at The Culinary Room) and enjoy the slower pace. Overall, we're giving Lockhart State Park 4 stars, mainly because of the risk of golf balls at certain campsites. But if you choose your spot wisely, you'll find this park to be a quiet, convenient, and relaxing retreat, with easy access to both nature and small-town comforts. Hope you have a great experience if you decide to camp, glamp, or just visit Lockhart and the State Park! read more

We have visited/ camped here several times and it never disappoints. Both times we have made new camper purchases this was our location for our fist trip due to location. Close to home but not a compromise in camping. Hiking trails are nice and well marked. Park is clean and well maintained. We have sated with full hookups the last few trips. Pull through site would be nice as backing up our RV is always a little challenging. Anyway I would highly recommend for camping or even day hikes. read more

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Lockhart state park is an amazing place to hike. and camp. It is a cheap place to take the the kiddos swimming on a hot summer day. It is filled with hidden gyms! From the view at the top of hilltop trail, to the challenging obstacles of rattlesnake run. definitely a nice place wither you're a well-seasoned hiker, or just looking for somewhere for the kids and pups. read more

Lockhart State Park - Hilltop trail - Parks Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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A smaller park but one of the best maintained. They have signs on all the hikes that tell you about the trees and directions. I love the state park has kept the golf course. I hope to play it soon. There is also a swimming pool open part of the year. There are camp sites right on the golf course. It would be a great way to experience the park. Camping, swimming and golf! This visit we only hiked and had a picnic. We enjoyed the trails and reading about the various trees in the park. None of the trails are that difficult. Dogs are welcome as long as they stay on leash. Unlike some other parks you have to go into the headquarters to get your passes. However, they were all wearing mask and we were in an out. I am so grateful for all the hard work the CCC did in Texas in the 1930s. read more

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Golfin' in nature! This is a really cool little park in the Barbecue Capitol of Texas! As far as I know, this is the only Texas State Park that has a golf course on it! The course isn't exactly Pebble Springs or Augusta, but it's a nice nine-hole course, complete with a few water features. This course has wide open fairways. However, there isn't a sand trap in the whole course, so it's not exactly a difficult course. Most of the holes are pretty straight, and have fairways you could almost land a plane on. The camp sites are laid out in a ring, or linearly, depending on which loop you choose. There's lots of hiking trails- one of the trails that runs parallel to the creek has a book that unfolds as you hike along the trail! Cool! The pool is nice, and I gotta say - whoever is running the water chemistry had it nailed when I went- absolutely perfect water. There's a modest day fee and a nominal fee to play golf or swim. You can make reservations online on the Texas Parks system website. The rangers at park headquarters were absolutely pleasant and helpful. They can rent you a cart, or you can just walk the course too. The restrooms were clean, well functioning, and had TP. The park was picked up, and clean. Be sure to check out the waterfalls, which are quite scenic, but you can't swim in those. read more

Very nice State Park with helpful and courteous staff. The park grounds are adequately maintained with the intent on keeping nature as close to natural as possible. The camp grounds are clean and RV sites are level. Even though it's still officially Winter, signs of Spring are just around the corner. I'll have to make some future reservations to come here again. read more

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Love this state park as it is a relatively short distance, easily accessible and has a bit of everything for a wide age range. Fishing, hiking, biking, golf, pool, playground and more. Front desk is always been kind and helpful. The park is kept clean of litter. Everything is easily identifiable and clear signage. Love love love. read more

Lockhart State Park is a smaller hike with around 3 miles of total trails. It was interesting to have a 9-hole golf course right in the middle of the park. It was a nice clear day with some pretty surroundings. It wasn't crowded either which was nice. The bathrooms, however, were locked but there were plenty of trees that needed watering. :) We saw 4 baby armadillos and some fish in the river and overall it was a pretty tranquil hike. read more

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Awesome park with beautiful water fall and golf course. This is a small park compared to other Texas state parks but that's what we love about it. Very friendly and great hiking around the stream that runs through. We will be back. read more

Excellent trails. Lots to see as you walk around. Nice gift shop. Take a picnic lunch. Try some of the BBQ in Lockhart. Recommend Smitty's for sausage and so did one of the park rangers. read more

Lovely small park. We purchased our pass online, checked in, and hiked several of the trails. Nicely marked. Lovely place. Great CCC history. read more

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Let the smell of bbq lead you through the wonderful town of Lockhart and down to this glorious State Park. The park itself is so serene and beautiful!!! We went on a Saturday morning for a brief hike with our dogs. The hiking trail was a beginner level but great for a leisurely walk. At the entrance area, they have a pool and park available. We parked near the campsites which didn't seem too full. I would highly recommend you check out this beautiful gem! read more

Lockhart State Park - Parks Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Beautiful smaller-sized park. Trails are well maintained and make for an easy day hike. The park rangers are very friendly and helpful. We plan to come back with our RV and take advantage of one of the nice campsites once the golf course reopens. read more

Lockhart State Park is a great stop on the way down to visit San Antonio or to stretch your legs after a magnificent Texas bbq lunch or early dinner in Lockhart! The trails are well marked and easy to follow with superb scenery. Suitable for kids, for the lost part. Highly recommend this park to anyone. read more

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A great little park with good amenities. This park ($3 entrance fee per adult) has a pool ($2 per adult), golf course, several small easy accessable trails, play area, places to fish, scenic in spots with picnic tables and rest benches small camping site with full hook up. I appreciated the "coziness" of this park. It is not a major or huge park but a nice day in nature. It is located in Lockhart "bbq capitol of Texas" and has all the conveniences within 3 miles. The park needs a little trail maintenance but overall it is a great park read more

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First time going with my husband and dogs, we had so much fun! The front desk was attentive and the gentleman helped to read the map and assisted with what I wanted. It was beautiful, clean, and a great mini adventure! We will definitely go back! read more

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Favorite state park in the area. Small, but feels secluded and it's a nice hike loop around

Actually really nice for a small town park. It exceeded my expectations. The hiking trails are actually fun to hike down. Much better than Mckenney Falls read more

Great campground. Very friendly hosts. We stayed for one week visiting family in the area. The location is convenient to Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels, and San Marcos. It's also close to Schlitterbahn Water Park. If you enjoy the Texas State Parks system, it's well worth it to get the Texas State Parks Pass. read more

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This place was nice but we did not realize it was at golf course. It was kind of unique being that people were playing golf but the trails and hiking was all worth it. It was very pretty. The trails were not that tough either, we had our jogging stroller for our 2 year old and it worked out great. read more

Great weekend trip! The perfect distance from town in case you forgot something, but far enough to not see any city lights in the night sky!

Lockhart State Park is the second-closest state park to Austin. (Bastrop State Park is roughly the same distance but Lockhart State Park is faster to get to because of the 80 mph SH 130.) Pros: - Lots of dirt hiking trails - Good elevation gain for uphill training - Well-maintained hiking trails - Friendly folks in the park headquarters - Park HQ has lots of brochures, sells useful stuff and there's even an ice cream case with $1 ice cream - Well-illustrated map of hiking trails with historical markers of CCC-related artifacts and buildings - Close to civilization so you don't have to worry about finding a nearby hospital if someone gets injured hiking Cons: - Creek crossing through slippery rocks was marked as part of the trail map, we think. The rocks were really slippery and even people with great balance had to be careful. - Narrow paved road through park - Close to Austin for an easily-done day's trip with time to get bbq for dinner We'll have to go back in the Spring when the tree leaves are in. Lockhart State Park is pretty small but I liked it overall. read more

What a great little state park! It's small, but it has great hiking trails, a large creek, and a beautiful old Recreation Hall built by the CCC in the 30s. I recommend this place for picnics, hikes, and golf! (Yep, there's a 9-hole golf course!) It's only 35 minutes away from Austin and has car camping and RV spots. You'll be close to Lockhart's famous BBQ joints, too! Perfect for a day trip from Austin. read more

Nice park it's small but we'll worth the visit very clean and we'll maintain nice place to practice your golf swing. There is a fee to get in unfortunately. read more

Lockhart State Park feels more like a good city park by its small scale and tame appearance. Nonetheless, the park provides a nice quiet place to get away from it all. We seemed to be the only ones here on a hot Sunday in July. The dogs loved the trails and appreciated the thoughtfulness of pet waste bags and receptacles courtesy of the state park. The creeks are surprisingly scenic with a few waterfalls cascading over dams. The water isn't clear enough for swimming, which can be accommodated at the swimming pool. Picnic tables, campsites, a golf course, and a recreation hall that can be booked encompass the rest of the park. Overall, it's a clean, well-maintained state park. Keep in mind there's an entrance fee of $3 per adult if you don't have an annual state parks pass. read more

Lockhart State Park - Waterfall - Parks Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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Was doing the BBQ trail journey in Lockhart and we needed a place to work off our meal from lunch and work up and appetite for the next two locations. We decided to hike the trails. The bathroom was clean and the admission fee $3 per person. I grabbed a map from the nature center and parked by the bathrooms at the camp site. We did the north rim and went south. This is Texas so keep in mind that the trails are not very steep or hilly. The hike was alright, and the Persimmion Trail (one of their toughest trails) had some varying terrain in the beginning, but got smooth at the end. The wild rose loop will make you go forever if you don't remember where the entrance is. Make sure you mark it down or something. We passed a mountain dew can once so we looped around that trail once. There is also false exits so watch out. Use a marker or something or you will be stuck like the people in the Blair Witch project. The Recreational Hall also has a great view of the city of Lockhart. Not much to see though. Overall it was a nice stroll in the park. Scenery was alright. read more

Really pretty. Big (for this area) trees with Spanish moss, picnic benches scattered throughout, great views of the hills. We spent an afternoon there and barely came across any other people. read more

A nice little park. Only $3 per person to get in. We hiked around the loop, which is 3.5 miles. They had a taffy pull when we were there, with all the park employees there helping the kids. They have a CCC built recreation hall that can be rented. A nice stream with several dams and fishing holes, though our daughter didn't catch anything. Lots of camping and 9 holes of golf, too. And you can go eat BBQ in town when you're finished! read more

Awesome state park for families. Camp sites are clean and close to bathrooms, pool is awesome for summer, park is small. Fishing was awesome! We fished right between bridge and water fall and caught at least 15 perch, great for young kids who don't have endurance for fishing. We'll definitely be back ! read more