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    Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area

    4.5 (30 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Kim P.

    Very nice place to see the wild bluebonnets during spring bloom! Not a bad drive from Austin. Once there, as expected you'll drive through some unpaved roads to get to the water where most of the flowers are. Signage helps guiding everyone where to go. We went on a Sunday in early April, and it was not overrun or too crowded, we have space to take photos without people. The aromas were wonderful and what hit you first as you step out of your vehicle to admire the sea of blues. Highly recommend to check out if you want to see bluebonnets and take good photos!

    Bluebonnets in bloom
    Allyson C.

    We visited Muleshoe twice this past month to admire the bluebonnets and the water. It's such a beautiful clean little spot near our apartment, so we are planning a camping trip. The only reason I knocked off one star is because there really isn't anything to do other than admire the beauty. The only facilities I found when we drove around was one toilet seat above a hole in the ground. I don't think they even have showers here. It costs $5/person to get in and it appears that they are using the money to keep the grounds clean.

    What a view!
    Johanna J.

    Yesterday was our first visit and it was a treat! This is a beautiful vast park with lots to offer. We decided to spend the afternoon catching some sun and a little BBQ with our beloved pet. Folks nearby were so pleasant - came over to our spot so our dogs could introduce themselves and play. Needless to say, our dog had a great time playing with the other dogs in the water and such. This is yet another hidden gem and the entrance fee is $5 per adult for all day access - by far a great bang for your buck! We're looking forward to the next visit - highly recommended!

    Rachael J.

    Tent Camping with our Girl Scout troop was such a blast. We camped out on Lake Travis in Muleshoe Bend Park. It was a beautiful campground that was clean from trash and debris. The roads aren't paved and their were many prickly stickers everywhere. Besides that it was the perfect scenic spot with restrooms nearby. There was a burn restriction so no fires are allowed. Overall, the experience was food for my soul. It's the simple things in life that bring so much joy: being outdoors, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, friendship, & playing in the mud. It's so fun to teach Hudson the important life lesson of...simplicity.

    Rain W.

    We decided to explore this park because of the comments about beautiful wildflowers. It looks like were just missed the main blooms but from what we did see, it was still very beautiful. This is a decently sized park along a lake and there are several pathways. The official roads are only asphalt and gravel. The person at the gate was sure to tell us if we took any dirt ones it was on us if there were any issues. That's fine. We stuck to the main ones. If you get out and walk there is a whole host of grasshoppers, beetles, ladybugs, and caterpillars. There were still several fields featuring red, orange, and yellow flowers. It's pretty calm and serene even with all the campers. Keep in mind the bathrooms are not the kind with flushing toilets or sinks so have plenty of sanitizer available. Parking was a bit hard to find an official spot but not terrible. It's a nice place to walk and take photos. I'd recommend it.

    March 20, 2024 Bella in the Bluebonnets

    This is my all around favorite place to come during bluebonnet season. The fragrance of the bluebonnets are amazing. Every year is a little bit different depending on the rain and temperatures. It's better to come during the weekday so it's not as crowed.

    Tractors at 8am
    Ashtyn P.

    Would be 5 stars for how beautiful it is out here, There are bathrooms with toilet paper, At night it's quiet... My issue is while camping here in the middle of the week, (should be a ghost town) my friend and I got woken up at 7:30am to tractors and lawn mowers... My biggest issue is the fact I go camping to avoid shit like this... not to mention there's only a few campers here none of which are anywhere near us. Couldn't you do this yard work on any of the other miles around the area? I completely understand maintenance and lawn care is a necessity but WHY so early and couldn't you be considerate of the people trying to sleep?!? I can understand late morning or afternoon but 7am?! Needless to say after this trip I probably won't come back for this reason. Not that it's a bad place to camp cause it is beautiful... but for the fact the entire point of camping is peace and quiet and seclusion which we did not have this morning... Not to mention he kept taking breaks and was in front of our tent for no joke over two and a half' hours!! Not even remotely exaggerating either... For being one of the only three tents in the hundreds of acres and acres of land out here... being on a LAKe... why not let campers sleep. Definitely a salty start to my otherwise beautiful morning.

    Laura M.

    We booked site 13 to camp for Labor Day weekend. It would have been perfect if it had not been for the fact there was an extremely loud wedding party right next to us going on til 4am. We told the park the next day and they assured us the group was leaving that day. They did not and we had to endure their selfish behavior and loose, out of control dogs (which were not on leashes and tried to attack our old greyhound). I don't go camping in a peaceful place to listen to Kid Rock til 4am and start up again at 7am. Really disappointing as the place seems great other than that.

    Kimberly V.

    We came out here to go for for a nice walk & found it surprisingly in full beautiful bloom. So of course we took photos. We are now considering camping out here. The fees are very reasonable.

    Leila R.

    Turns out the bluebonnet bliss to be found here is no more! The pics you see of the neverending BB fields are nothing more than a tease from last year. As it were, the BBs are no longer as we had too much rain this year and the fertile fields of yore now reside under water. I came here during the height of this year's bluebonnet explosion only to discover this firsthand There were patches of BB's here and there, but nothing like their former glory. When we came one weekend in late March, it was more a kayaking/camping destination than a bluebonnet one. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. So, I guess it is a luck of the bluebonnet draw and depending on the year here. If you are not coming for the BB's, I don't know that it would be worth the drive out here.

    Bluebonnets
    Sarah M.

    Wow if you want to see one of the best displays of Bluebonnets in Texas, you better head here quick! Endless fields of Bluebonnets as far as the eye can see and it smells amazing. We definitely did not regret making the hour trip from Austin. The drive from Austin was beautiful as well. Getting into the park there was a line of cars but once we were inside we found a parking spot right away. There were a ton of families, couples and photographers out and about enjoying the beautiful day and scenery. There are a bunch of spots where you can take a selfie or ask a passerby to take a group photo. They also have picnic tables if you want to have a picnic. It does cost $5/person to enter the park so be sure to bring cash.

    Michelle Z.

    This is a nice place you can spent all day here. Boating, BBQ, camping, picnic or just walking. Lake water, trees, bluebonnet...are around you. There is an entry fee need to pay. $5 for adult, $2 for senior who over 65 and youth under 12. The amazing landscape worth to pay. You will enjoy here. P.S. The dogs could be allowed to bring here.

    Bluebonnets as far as the eye can see.
    Deniz V.

    As a lifelong Texan who grew up within an hour or so of this spot, I have no idea how I've never heard of this place, nor been there before as it was hands down the most expansive and impressive place to view bluebonnets. The fields of bluebonnets go beyond anything I've seen in a postcard or book and it really just blew me away. Absolutely gorgeous spot for photos and a perfect place to take a stroll or drive to see the picturesque landscape, water as well as the fields and fields of nearly endless bluebonnets that waft copious amounts of intoxicating floral scents into the air. I'm truly shocked that this is not commonly talked about as one of the must-do things when in the central Texas/Austin area up there with Barton Springs, Hamilton Pool, the Greenbelt, Mount Bonnell, etc... as it really is a local treasure. Absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth seeing in person at least once. Cost is $5 per person to get in, and definitely come when the bluebonnets are going strong. (Mid March-late April)

    Bluebonnets at muleshoe park

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    4 years ago

    Hidden gem along Lake Travis. Fun camping spot w great views and lots of space to run around.

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    7 years ago

    This is a really nice place with plenty of water access. Higher up on the lake but still a great place to get away from all the ATX noise.

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    8 years ago

    Love it! So pet friendly. Great place for bluebonnets. Seen so many fish. Great views!

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    Ask the Community - Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area

    Review Highlights - Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area

    Enough space to set up numerous tents, right by the water (Lake Travis), a fire ring and BBQ pit!

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Turkey Bend Recreation Area

    Turkey Bend Recreation Area

    3.9(8 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Wowzers, glad we located this park to enjoy a weekend with the dogs. The best place to come and…read moreview bluebonnets; mostly unpopulated space. You can camp and enjoy family gatherings. There aren't any trails to hike, but it's fun to take your well equipped vehicle muddin' through the rugged paths. I love the open fields to lay in the grass and listen to "Children by Robert Miles" , so tranquil. If you want to get into the water or fish, there's a body of water. I dipped my toe in it and it was icy cold. I absolutely loved this day spending time enjoying nature. Don't sleep on this recreation park. There's restrooms onsite.

    I've been doing a lot 'nature focused' things as of late and this is yet another review to add to…read morethat list. Forty miles northwest of downtown Austin, Turkey Bend Recreation Area lies on the north shoreline of Lake Travis in both Burnet and Travis counties. Turkey Bend Recreation Area is located between Marble Falls and Cedar Park. If you and your fam are looking to campin, not glamping, Turkey Bend Recreation Area might be for you! The Deets: The price- Campsites - $27.50- Two park entrance fees are included in your stay. Entrance to Park (non campers)- Adults - $5 Children (12 and younger) - Free Disabled - $2 Seniors (65 and older) - $2 Free with LCRA Annual Parks Pass The winery nearby is Flat Creek Estate: Texas Winery & Vineyard Non crowded or over booked campsites like some places NO running water NO showers NO electricity Kayaking If you are looking for peace and solitude to get away from chaos, give this place a try. #bewellcentraltx

    Photos
    Turkey Bend Recreation Area - Bluebonnets

    Bluebonnets

    Turkey Bend Recreation Area
    Turkey Bend Recreation Area - Bluebonnets and smooches

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    Bluebonnets and smooches

    Grenwelge Park

    Grenwelge Park

    4.8(4 reviews)
    38.8 mi

    We had come to this park once before because we had gone to the museum up the way but we came again…read moreto explore more of it. Walking down to the water was much easier from the other side. There are tons of little stacks of rocks, art and other things. It's very calm and peaceful. If we had more time we would have gone up the way but we wanted to see more of the area this time. Parking was easy and next to lots of other businesses. The only downside was the gross bathroom. I wish they'd take more time to make sure they're clean. Otherwise I'll be back again to see more.

    Perfect mix of wooooow, yaaaaay, and weeeeee. BOY am I glad we stopped here. We were headed…read moresomewhere else entirely and I told the kids, "Change of plans - let's check this place out!" I'll bet we ended up staying for at least two hours. The funky and eclectic outdoor art was an unexpected surprise for sure, and it was cool! Love it when cities and towns allow and promote stuff like this. The rocks and water were our main highlight, as we explored and rock-hopped all over the place. Had it been warmer, we would have taken off shoes and waded across to the strip of land in the middle of the river. But the water was freezing and we didn't. :) I've driven by the area when it's warmer / hotter out and it's clearly a popular area for kids of all ages, including teens. The dam and old metal truss bridge add a lot of character to the area. Just a really cool spot overall. There are also a couple of picnic tables and public restrooms (not just port-a-potties) that weren't as filthy as expected. Much to my amazement and satisfaction, I could take my little girl to the men's room and sit her on the toilet without... well, without bailing out completely and finding another toilet! (hahahaha) We'll definitely seek this spot out again.

    Photos
    Grenwelge Park
    Grenwelge Park
    Grenwelge Park - Cool art at this park

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    Cool art at this park

    Longhorn Cavern State Park - Cave

    Longhorn Cavern State Park

    4.6(394 reviews)
    20.2 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Longhorn Cavern State Park - Cave

    Cave

    Longhorn Cavern State Park - Beautiful

    Beautiful

    Longhorn Cavern State Park

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    Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

    Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

    4.4(23 reviews)
    7.7 mi

    Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge makes for a great day trip if you don't mind about an…read morehour drive from central Austin, depending on traffic. I did a couple of stops while we were out there, Doeskin Ranch and Shin Oak Observation Deck. The main hike was Doeskin Ranch. There's a restroom right near the trailhead. It's not plumbed, just a chemical toilet, but it was clean, stocked with hand sanitizer, and being able to use the bathroom before starting the hike made the whole experience more relaxed. The hike itself was nice but very seasonal. I went in January, so the landscape was mostly golden-brown grass with limited greenery and not much tree cover. You're mostly enjoying bushes, rocks, and scattered trees rather than lush views. I'd really like to come back in late spring or late fall when things are greener and more alive. The trail is fairly rocky and there aren't many mile markers, although the trails seemed pretty easy to follow. After Doeskin Ranch, I stopped at the Shin Oak Observation Deck, which is very close by. There's a nice gazebo with a scenic outlook and a short, meditative gravel trail with three or four nature signs encouraging you to slow down and be present. It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk through depending on your pace. I recommend starting toward the left and going counterclockwise so you encounter the signs head-on instead of from behind. Overall, both stops were enjoyable. They're not hikes I'd feel the urge to repeat soon, but they made for a fun day hike and I felt worth the drive.

    This refuge is a bit spread out, we went to both the Doeskin Ranch and Warbler Vista portions and…read morehiked a few miles. There wasn't any shocking moment of awe, but there's lots of birds around and a neat little creek, it's a good place to get some appreciation of the Hill County and get (mostly) away from development.

    Photos
    Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge - Benches

    Benches

    Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge - Vote from Ridgeline trail

    Vote from Ridgeline trail

    Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

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    Krause Springs - Near entrance

    Krause Springs

    4.0(302 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Krause Springs was such a peaceful, whimsical little escape. The amount of lush greenery and…read moremassive old trees was unreal. Some of the tree roots were the biggest and most unique I've ever seen in my life. The whole place just had such a calm, magical feeling to it. One thing to note is that there are a LOT of stairs in many locations and most are very steep, so it's definitely not stroller-friendly if you are a family with young ones. If you're bringing little ones, just be mindful and watch your step going down the stairs toward the springs. The property itself is absolutely beautiful. You can either camp overnight or purchase a day pass. From what I remember, day passes were $10 per adult, kids under 3 were free, and camping was around $21 a night. They close the springs at 8:00 pm and for campers quiet time is from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am. No loud generators allowed for campers. They had so many little hidden coves and tucked-away areas where you could set up camp, which made it feel really private and peaceful. I was also very impressed with how clean everything was. The bathrooms and showers were pristine, very sanitary, and conveniently located within walking distance of the entrance. One surprise I didn't expect was that they also have a separate swimming pool in addition to the springs, which ended up being great because the water at the springs was a little murky the day we went due to recent rain. Still gorgeous to look at though, especially with the waterfall. It honestly felt surreal, like you forgot you were still in Texas. They also have a beautiful butterfly garden with tons of unique plants and greenery that made the experience interesting. Overall, this place just gave off such a good feeling. Peaceful, relaxing, beautiful, and definitely a must-see if you enjoy nature. We'll absolutely be returning again.

    Beautiful hidden gem in hill country. There is a modest entrance fee that allows you access to the…read morewhole space - the natural springs, the man-made pool, butterfly garden, and more. The man-made pool has spring water; this is where I would recommend families with children or inexperienced swimmers go. It's lovely and more of a managed pool setting. We hiked down the stone steps to reach the natural springs which are so beautiful with a picturesque mini waterfall and a rope swing as well! However swimming here can be treacherous. I highly recommend water shoes as there are lots of rocks and moss in the springs. Water depth also varies greatly from one spot to another so it's important to be aware of that. Water temperature was comfortable and cool - felt great on a hot summer day. Wrapped up our visit in the garden, which is so beautifully maintained. Absolutely lovely and zen. The changing room and bathroom facilities are clean and easily accessible. We left feeling dry, happy, and peaceful after a wonderful day in nature.

    Photos
    Krause Springs - Cute baby

    Cute baby

    Krause Springs - Entryway as you pay

    Entryway as you pay

    Krause Springs

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    Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area - parks - Updated May 2026

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