Pedernalas Falls. We hiked the short path to the falls. The view was beautiful. But guess…read morewhat... no falls. Pretty dry here at the park. Well there was some water running on the other side We did hike down to the river bed and walked around the rock formations. Pretty cool! On the way out of the park we saw some Greater Kudu! Beautiful animals!

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.

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.

This small city park sits in the heart of downtown Johnson City and occupies less than an acre. In…read morethe center is a well-maintained patch of green space and flag pole. Off to the sides are pic nic tables, benches , public restrooms and a covered music venue. Directly next-door to the park is Pecan St., Brewing in case you'd like a cold beer. This park is basically a well-maintained and manicured piece of property that adds value to the city center.

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

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.

What a unique Gem that we stumbled upon! While vacationing in Stonewall, we drove past the park…read moreand became curious. We decided to drive through and see what it was all about. Wow! Is all I can say! Historic, farm animals, a school, cemetery, etc...This place is massive! We were there probably 2 hours and I'm sure we didn't see everything. We had our dog with us so he was able to experience this with us as well! It was so fun seeing the exhibits, walking amongst the sheep, and walking through the historic home and school. You can walk through some areas or you can choose to drive. We opted to walk the farm area and drive through the rest with stops along the way. Park ranger and visitor office staff were very friendly! Oh and it was free but I think you can make donations. Highly recommend!

So so happy that the State Park was open as our scheduled roadtrip was during the Government…read moreShut-Down (again) rough sometimes trying to see America. Super helpful & friendly Staff inside the Visitor Center which also has a nice giftshop & clean restrooms. We walked the beautiful grounds and toured the Farm that was staffed by informative Staff who were dressed for the time period, and who told the story of life on the farm and the history of the area. Live farm animals roam the area and you will probably see chickens, turkeys, Longhorns & if lucky Bison. Definitely worth the trip despite the National Park side not being open.

The tour was very nice and our tour guide Tanner was very epic and cool and made the experience so…read moremuch cooler-er. I enjoyed the puns especially the rock puns and will miss them and rocky and the chicken nugget we saw on the path. Highly recommend !!!!! :-) p.s. sneak peak of rocky

This isn't the best caverns I've visited within a Texas State Park, but it is pretty darn cool. The…read morebest caverns tour is at Kickapoo Caverns. I did a wild cave tour without the extra charges that Longhorn collects. At Longhorn, our guide, Johnson did an amazing job with our small group of six people for the 10:45 AM tour. My brother and I initially registered for the 11:00 AM tour and am glad that we were suggested another time. We passed by the 11:00 AM tour and they had 40+ people in their group. Johnson showed us cool geological formations. We saw dolomite, calcium bicarbonate, chert, limestone, geodes, stalagmites, stalactites, and quartz crystals. Johnson is somewhat funny; he had a bit of quirky and dry humor. I enjoyed the history of the caverns, but some of it I thought was interesting. It was really delightful to learn that in the 1800's, before the CCC got involved, the locals would dance and play music turning the cave into an auditorium of entertainment. Johnson said that if certain geological formations glows, it is growing. Very catchy phase for memory. I got to see a few bats hanging out. They were tricolor bats which are smallest bats. The cave is cool, but thankfully not slippery. I was wearing no grip support shoes, but I didn't fall or have the urge to fall. There are mats on the floor of the cave to prevent falls. Johnson gave us more time to look around and admire the geology. My brother and I weren't required to bring our own flashlights. Johnson had a flashlight, but forgot to grab the blacklights. What I find is strange is that this is a state park that you cannot renew your state park pass at. This park headquarters is very different than the rest considering that there's a third party company handing the cave tours, they sell ice-cees, popcorn, and the gift shop is very big and vast. The others don't have this. It is questionable to me. I was told that I needed to go to Inks Lake to renew my pass. The cave tours are very pricey. Kickapoo Caverns tour was very affordable at $10. You can use the park pass. You can't get your state park passport stamped at Longhorn Caverns either. It seems like Longhorn Caverns is more for profit and the history about the cavern could be overly exaggerated to attract customers. My opinion. It was hard to believe half of the things what Johnson was telling us. There's one portion of geological formation in the cave that is "dead" because in year 1919, the locals went exploring by touching the formation it "killed" it. I preferred Kickapoo Caverns and the Caverns of Sonora a lot more. Even Inner Space Caverns and Natural Bridge were very exciting to see. Longhorn is cool, but didn't give me that WOW-factor, but I still had a ton of fun on a Sunday morning.

It was a really nice treat to do this short hike on a really cold morning. At the top of the hill…read moreare impressive views of Fredericksburg...great little city. Nice, clean restrooms and adjacent garden with signs of the local plants flora. Cool.

nice little park. Felt spiritual atop the small hill top where the cross is. Looks to be painted…read morerecently. Short semi steep gravel hill that winded up. Great views. My family enjoyed it. Wow so close to town. Lovely time spent. Reflecting and praying.

What an incredible experience. I have to say first off, I really appreciate that it's reservations…read moreonly. Doing that limits the amount of people entering at once and allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Paying for a reservation and then additional money upon arrival allows this reserve and park to be properly maintained. I'm thankful for that and for the people who take care of it. It was a bit chilly the morning we went and the water was freezing. I still went in! I wanted the full experience and I got it. The way the water in the pool meets the rock formations is breath-taking. As is the rest of the park. It was a nice area to hike and breathe in nature.

A little slice of paradise, right outside of Austin! I went for the first time with my family and…read morefriends this past November and because we stopped by off-season, we had the entire grotto to ourself for a beautiful, tranquil thirty minutes. I was immediately taken by the blue-green water, so clear that you could see dozens of catfish living their best life right underneath the surface. Outlined by a limstone canyon, I felt like I was an extra in a movie. I'm not someone who usually swims when the weather is any less than 90 degrees, but the lagoon was so beautiful I could not resist jumping in. The water was cool and refreshing -- and I'm sure there are some types of health benefits from all of the natural sediment in the water (at least that is what I told myself). Things to note: - Bring cash to park - Bathrooms are clean, use before getting on the trail - There is a short hike from the parking lot to the grotto. It was a little challenging but my three-year old did it in a pair of crocs with no problem. - Bring towels, a small blanket to sit on, and snacks - No lifeguard, but there is a really friendly ranger who is happy to tell you about the history of the area and answer any questions - In the past several years they have had to close down certain parts of the grotto due to falling limestone. There is also no waterfall due to lack of rain. Be nice to the planet, climate change is real. Hope this area will be around for my children to enjoy in the future.

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.

A nice place to walk at, although, I would do five stars, but due to recent droughts, five mile dam…read moredoesn't have much water, sadly.