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    Mother Neff State Park

    4.2 (44 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Mother Neff State Park Photos

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    Autumn
    Maria W.

    I've been anticipating the day where I finally get a chance to hike Mother Neff. After numerous failed attempts to book a campsite, this state park may be the smallest, but it is popular. On Thanksgiving Day, I set out to complete a morning hike. I was delighted to discover this is one of a few well maintained park. The headquarters and array of native plants surrounding it was laid out in sleek organization. The ladies restrooms were immaculate without any malodorous smell. Green tile lined the backsplash of the sinks and mirrors. Stalls were packed with an ample amount of toilet paper. Every campsite and RV sites were booked. I might have saw just one that was empty which is a rarity amongst other state parks in Texas. I had only two hours to spare for a hike before Thanksgiving dinner preparations started. I hiked the Wash Pond to Tower then into Cave then to the Bluff trails. Along the way, I spotted CCC Table, a dried up Wash Pond filled with sticks and debris, Tonkawa cave, and the CCC Rock Tower. All were very cool, but my absolute favorite was the cave. If you're a rockhound or someone who fancies geological formations like I do, you would be in wowzers over this giant quartz and limestone shelter that hovers over. To think, 200 years ago, it was used by the Tonkawa people. It was a popular attraction to see and got crowded with other hikers as well. I made a stop at the bird blind and of course, I didn't see any birds. While hiking the Bluff trail, there were a plethora of birds chirping and flying around. The trails moderately easy to maneuver, however, they were tremendously rocky and had plenty of rock and wood stairs. It might be a challenge to anyone with physical limitations or require assistive devices. Trekking poles could make it easier. Definitely wear some hiking shoes. I wore my Columbia hiking boots and felt comfort when jumping off of the rocks. The scenery is a stunner; some of the leaves turned into a deep red and orange hues through prairie grassland. The oak and juniper trees were unique. The temperature was quite cold; I dressed in layers with a mitten hat and warmed up quickly as the time passed. The park may be old, but it left a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed myself immensely!

    Fam photo in the cave
    Sean M.

    Cute little state park. Definitely smaller than a lot of the others but it has character. Came here for the first time for our first day hike with me, my husband, and our dog. The tower was alright, the cave was probably one of the cooler things we saw. And then we went to one of the picnic areas on a trail and it had a nice view (better than the tower in my opinion) and we had some tea and stroopwaffles to warm up as the sun was going down. Can't say it's one of my top favorites, but it's definitely cute and has some character.

    Rain W.

    3.5 This park is pretty small compared to other state parks but that doesn't mean there aren't cool things to see here. We took the cave path trail and got through most of the paths as they all seemed to meet up. Some streams are running through the park and there are some places shut down because of the flooding. This said there are mosquitoes, huge ones. I got nailed several times. I had to turn back because of it so cover yourself with Deet or whatever works for you. You will thank me for it. The visitor center is pretty small and has only a few artifacts though the bathrooms seem to be airconditioned which is a godsend. It's a nice park but I might have to be more careful with bugs next time.

    Katrina P.

    Beautiful State Park! Try not to go when middle schoolers are getting a tour, or it will take you forever to climb up the rock staircase, LOL. But once you do, it will be very worth it. The staircase, originally built as a water tower by the CCC, allows you to see for miles in every direction. I loved learning about the story of Mother Neff and the land. I got some post cards and a hoodie as a souvenir. I washed the hoodie and like so many tiny fuzzies came off of it and are flying all around every time I wear it. It's very soft and comfortable but I'm a little disappointed in how many fuzzies I am having to deal with now.

    Wash pond
    Monica U.

    Lovely small park with about 3.5 miles of trails. Trails to tower, CCC table, cave, and wash pond were nicely canopied. Beautiful facilities. Extremely clean park and warm staff! Give it a try!

    Cynthia V.

    Fun to get to explore the first state park in Texas! Was in the area visiting Waco and made a detour to take a look at this special place - the park is quite small, but it has a lovely tree-covered drive that is very unique. It basically feels like you are driving through a constant archway of trees - very mystical! We visited in May so we did not do any hiking because of the heat, but we did enjoy the selection of wildflowers around the park.

    Charlene P.

    David H left a great review that covers it all. Luckily, I read it so that I was prepared for the traffic noise and it's small size. And now SpaceX is a few miles away so there is that additional noise but it wasn't awful. I was a bit worried about this park but we ended up really enjoying it. The park ranger was extremely friendly and the place was immaculate. They literally rake the gravel! It was a quiet park which we liked. Probably not the type of park to bring a big group of friends. And holy smoke, the bathrooms were beautiful. We were pretty hiked out having just come from 2 other state parks so the 3.5 miles of trails was adequate. Overall, we loved this park for a one or two night stay.

    Rock tower
    Kim J.

    Lovely place! Staff is super organized and friendly too. Bathroom is clean and trails well marked. The RV spots are huge!!!

    Legend of map symbols. 11-17
    Chris J.

    We decided at mid day to give this park a try. It is about 30 minutes away from our home. So a half day trip really. We both feel we got our admission charges worth. It is still 2 dollars an adult for a day pass. There appears to be a lot of things to see here. We only had time to see a bit but will come back. We explored the tower overlook as well as the bird blind. The blind really I believe is for the early AM. I will point out there is a bit of walking and it isn't exactly on level ground. I only state this as I have had knee surgery recently and it was a bit of a struggle. I documented the path in pictures. It is somewhat steep and there are no guardrails. It was a good challenge for me though as I got a good report and my knee surgery for my most recent knee was about 6 months ago. However I was happy my wife was along as it was a good assurance as well as she is great company. They have overnight camping as well and many things to do. You might consider exploring here it was a great experience especially in late November as there are fewer bugs and cooler weather. Will add to review later on and perhaps add that last star later after seeing a bit more of the park. The last few steps up to the car were pretty hard. I am not gonna lie. All in all a great time though.

    "GRUMPY" at site 3
    Ken S.

    When I was a kid, we collected giant acorns at this park. Sadly, a flood apparently has since killed the old oak tree(s) that grew the huge acorns. We were unable to even visit the flood-damaged area. Still, this is a nice park that served as a convenient stop, twice, on a road trip through Texas.

    Jake H.

    Mother Neff State Park has a special place in my heart. My siblings and I try to go here at least once a year as it is the midpoint between Austin and Dallas. It is a nice quiet park with great amenities and trails. There are also two playgrounds for the littles. It is a kid-friendly park, and the trails are small and easy hikes. There are well-kept campsites available and the restrooms are some of the cleanest I've seen! The wash pond is my favorite area of the park. Mother Neff, I believe, is the oldest state park in Texas. Go visit!!

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    2 years ago

    Cool park and some classic Texas history. Great staff that are friendly and passionate. Well maintained.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    One of my favorite state parks. The trails are always wonderful and the views are great. The kids love the playgrounds.

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    3 years ago

    Small but lovely. Easy hiking trails, even for our 2nd grader. Worth checking out if you're in the area.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Nice park but don't expect to be able to fish. The last time I was there the creek was so jambed up with logs it was .impossible to fish.

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    6 years ago

    Love it here! So much history and such a nice park. Definitely recommend a stop in for some desert-like scenery

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    6 years ago

    Great place to go & forget all life's troubles. Great playgrounds for kids. Great hiking. Create memories. Camping. Family first!!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Mother Neff State Park

    Can I bring my double bob stroller? Will it fit on some of the trails? Thank u!

    Yes. A few of the hikes have some steps so those would be tricky.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Mother Neff State Park

    Along the way, I spotted CCC Table, a dried up Wash Pond filled with sticks and debris, Tonkawa cave, and the CCC Rock Tower.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Lake Whitney State Park - Went fishing and only caught a buzz

    Lake Whitney State Park

    4.4(45 reviews)
    41.8 mi

    This review is for hiking- there are two short hiking trails. I'd you are coming to hike, don't…read more You will get through them in 20 minutes. Luckily for us we did have kids who were complaining of being tired by the midway point of it, so it is perfect for families. But if you are an avid hiker who hikes for miles and miles, this is not the spot. We did go to the beach to look around, but didn't get in as it is winter right now and was at 30-50 degree weather. It is a beautiful place, very clean and well kept. If you are coming in with family, this is perfect, but if you want to hike, this is not your spot.

    Wanted to get out of Fort Worth for a mental health day. This particular state park was a little…read moreover an hour away. As soon as I drove into the front entrance, I stopped in the office in order to print the day pass I purchased online yesterday. All three ladies were extremely friendly and helpful. They showed me the key highlights of the park on the map. Then I shopped their merchandise in the park store. The trails were very well maintained and laid out. Each path was clearly visible so as not to get lost or off the marked walkway. I even spent some time in one of the day use areas to read this month's issue of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. What a way to finish enjoying such a wonderful park. Please check out!

    Photos
    Lake Whitney State Park - We made our shelter as comfy as possible with lights and air mattress

    We made our shelter as comfy as possible with lights and air mattress

    Lake Whitney State Park - Lake from boat ramp

    Lake from boat ramp

    Lake Whitney State Park - View from inside shelter 25, post oak area

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    View from inside shelter 25, post oak area

    Belton Lake - Cedar Ridge Park

    Belton Lake - Cedar Ridge Park

    4.3(8 reviews)
    11.4 mi

    Holy cow. How does this place not have more reviews? My husband and I camp frequently, but were…read morenervous trying this park out without many reviews. So glad we went ahead and came! BEST shelter and park we have been to yet. We are extremely impressed! We rented shelter #5, it overlooks the lake and is across the way from the bathrooms, huge plus (I love camping, but don't hover well haha). The restrooms were so so, nothing special, but better than peeing behind a tree. Same goes for the showers, nothing special, but I loved that they were private, offered hot water, and had a little sink in the stall. The shelter itself was amazing! We have never been to a park where the shelters have tarps to cover the screened areas. You can tie them up or lock them down, perfect for privacy or blocking out the wind on cold nights. We also brought a lock to lock the shelter while we were away, but with multiple gates to get to the shelters we felt very safe. We came in late and left early, so we unfortunately did not get a chance to interact with the park host or other employees. But they were very friendly and helpful when I called asking for information. Overall I am very impressed, I don't think I can express that any more clearly. We will definitely be back and are already looking at our calendar! We need to get our canoe out here!

    Beautiful, spacious, clean campgrounds! Bathrooms/showers were some of the cleanest I've seen on…read moreour camping stays. Would definitely return!

    Photos
    Belton Lake - Cedar Ridge Park
    Belton Lake - Cedar Ridge Park
    Belton Lake - Cedar Ridge Park

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    Mother Neff State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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