What a hidden gem! An hour southwest of Austin is this amazing day trip. We took the 3 hour…read moreguided tour and it was a great use of a day. The Canyon Lake Gorge was formed after the 2002 devastating floods. In 3 days those floods uncovered fossils, unique rock formations, and carved a gorge 45 feet deep. Something that would usually take millenia. Our tour guide was Joe and he was a delight. He was knowledgeable, fun and obviously loves his job and this very special place. Definitely make time to go. Also, wear good shoes and bring water. All you geologists, this is a must.

If you're in the San Antonio area, the damn lake gorge tour is a must for you and your family. We…read moreused this as a team outing as our international team members came to visit. What fun we all had. The tour is less than 2 miles of a walk on a very slow leisurely pace. The guides will provide highlights and answer any questions along the way. Go online and reserve your space. Tickets sell out way ahead of time. This is because so many local schools bring students here for tours. You will be amazed to learn, not only geological structures, but also the effects of mother nature and the dam break that created the gorge a few years back. We left appreciating the forces of mother nature and the army corp of engineers even more. Don't be surprised to see fault lines, and dinosaur tracks, as well as, and beautiful views at every turn.

This is a hidden gem in a small residential area of Wimberley, Texas…read more Take a small climb up the mountain on the man made stone stairs, while stopping at each flight to gaze at how the valley slowly starts to come more and more into full view. When you reach the peak you have a beautiful 360 view of Wimberley Valley as far as the eyes can see. The only caution I provide is be careful on the journey up and the journey down; the stairs are quite unevenly placed and as you come down can be hard to see where they drop down, along with there isn't much of a railing. An extremely peaceful place to get lost in thoughts and enjoy natural beauty.

Totally worth the drive and walking up the stairs. The only thing is to be aware of the parking…read moresituation..make sure to get their early ..parking spaces are limited and the street is narrow.

This park is absolutely amazing on many levels. Well maintained and gorgeous trees on the east side…read moreis the view of the lake that is better than the Oasis on Lake Travis. Always free always free and a perfect spot for families or couples. The children love it and you can see the entire panorama of Canyon Lake. Everyone is always happy there and there is a special feeling about the place of freedom. It truly makes it a joy to be an American and to have such special peaceful and accessible spots for the ones you love. Often views of sailboats and skiers in front of the backdrop of a glorious Hill country sunset with beautiful Cascades of Guadalupe hills rolling into the lake. The park is well maintained and safe. Parking is sometimes a walk because it is such a popular location for everyone from college students to children and senior citizens walking along the dam for exercise. The spot is truly a joy that should be embraced by everyone in Central Texas. To the east you have a view of the gorgeous Canyon valley and the activity below on the river. Oftentimes you will see fly fisherman in the river which is remarkable for the ambiance of Central Texas and quite a pleasant surprise. Put this location on your list for a beautiful spring day and make some memories with your family!

Overlook Park and Dam at Canyon Lake (about 50-60ish miles from both Austin and San Antonio) is the…read morepublic park I visit most often since joining the CL community in June 2020. At least a couple of times per month, we make our weekend run over the dam from North Park and bask in the seasonal beauty of the big blue lake, the variety of plants on the slopes and forest, and the joy of other visitors taking it all in. Who knows how long it will last in these troubled times for public works, but today, the park remains free to enter from dawn to dusk. The enforcement of parking and capacity limits is by Comal County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), while the authority for the water and 1964-built dam falls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Game Wardens, and the Guadalupe - Blanco River Authority (GBRA). Finally, the Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) helps with safety signage and waste management around the park by providing free litter bags to make it as easy as possible for visitors to pack out their trash. The park technically doesn't promote swim access, and there is no lifeguard or buoy barrier system for protected swim zones, but you will see many swimmers and floaters in the cold water around the rocky shore during warm weather. The closer to the dam you are, the more likely you'll see fish swimming in the clear water, so bring your snorkel and enjoy. Keep in mind, depth drops off steeply down to 120 feet, so if you're not a strong swimmer, a life vest or other safety provisions may be in order. Certainly, keep an eye on your kids at all times. If you want a coveted spot for the day at the shoreline, you're going to need to plan ahead. Pack up your provisions, chairs, shade tent, what-have-you and get to the park as soon as possible after dawn to secure a parking spot. You'll need your goat feet and maybe an all-terrain wagon to get down the rocky trails to your place at the water. The shore is entirely limestone, so you typically won't be able to use stakes for a pop-up; plan to weigh down with something else, as Canyon Lake gets VERY windy. Restrooms are at the far southeast end of the park, near the Gorge overlook. You'll also find porto-johns near the dam gate and disabled parking spots. If you're still there by sunset, you'll hear the sheriff's deputy over a PA system asking you to leave. There is no camping or overnight parking allowed. Note that this park is also home to USACE headquarters for Canyon Lake. Their visitor center is open Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p except for federal holidays. A few times per year, special events may open up an opportunity to drive across the dam's paved path (a.k.a. the Verada Real). These spots are secured through a charitable donation to the DAM Community Alliance (damcommunityalliance.com) and tend to sell out fast. Otherwise, only pedestrians, strollers, and bicycles are allowed on the paved path. Dogs should be on leash and poop should be picked up, please, for the love of all that is holy. More to come....

Old Baldy Park is probably best known for The Stair Climb. It's 218 stone steps that literally feel…read morelike you're going straight up to the sky. That's probably why it's dubbed "The Stairway to Heaven". Wow, climbing those steps is something else! The views from Old Baldy are outstanding. The very best views of the Hill Country landscape. I'd heard stories about people leaving painted rocks behind and it's always fun to find them when hiking through Old Baldy. This is one of my favorite spots to stop at whenever we're in Wimberley. Bonus is that dogs are allowed which means Sir Benjamin is able to throw on his shades and bucket hat to hike with his humans.

Great hike with a gorgeous view! Such a gem in Wimberley! We love visiting this amazing local…read moreattraction.

Who doesn't love a free nature park or trail! We came to…read morecanyon lake on new years weekend and had a list of their trails and parks we wanted to hit but a lot of it was closed except for this special trail. They had a decent parking lot and we began our trail. The trail is large and lengthy, there were a few benches and some decent pic spots, it's on the other side of the river and the housing area. The water in the river is also pretty clear. It was a nice free nature thing to do especially when the weathers nice!

It's time for a summer 2024 update on my review of Guadalupe South River Nature Trail (GSRNT,…read morelocated just below the Canyon Lake Dam off South Access Road in Canyon Lake, Texas). I still love this park and trail system, and everything wonderful in my original review holds true, but there is an important caveat to share (read to the end to find out). Please, if you visit this wonderful park, leave no trace. Pack out what you bring in, and if you are able bodied, get bonus karma points by bringing in a WORD mesh bag (you can pick one up at the trailhead) to carry out any trash you may see along the trail. If we all work together, we can keep this place as a clean and harmonious place for all to experience the wonder and awe of Mother Nature. GSRNT is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with contributions by the local nonprofit Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) of Comal County and the Lindheimer Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists https://txmn.org/lindheimer/, plus semi-annual Eagle Scout projects for trail rehabilitation and Keep Canyon Lake Beautiful (KCLB) for trash pickup. Most people doing work on this trail system are unpaid volunteers who care about this community. Parking for about 30 vehicles is available on the tree-shaded dirt/gravel lot on the river side of the South Access Road, and the trailhead is at the corner of the lot. Walk carefully as you follow the trail, as there are quite a few rustic steps and tree roots with a bit of elevation change if you continue to the end of the 1 mile, single-track path. The 30 markers along the trail highlight some of the native plants that thrive near our Hill Country waterways. See the guide online at https://txmn.org/lindheimer/guadalupe-river-south-trail/ . If you aren't a hiker, there's great fishing on the bank and cold water for floating or lounging in a short chair. Bird watching is an option, too. Access to GSRNT is unfortunately restricted on weekends from Friday evening to Sunday evening since May 2023. Why? During the pandemic, exponentially more people began spending time outdoors and many new visitors discovered the beauty of the parks in the Texas Hill Country. Unfortunately, too many of these folks left behind litter and destruction, with no regard for the impact to other visitors, park maintenance volunteers & staff, or the natural habitat. This negative behavior resulted in changed policies and reduced hours at numerous parks, including GSRNT. The restricted access is a bummer for locals and conscientious visitors alike. Most people work during the week and only have time for hiking on the weekends. It's a shame that a few bad apples ruin things for everyone. :-( On the other hand, I am grateful that the damage to GSRNT is being minimized and it's in good shape whenever I am able to visit on weekdays.

Stopped by during my lunch break while working in Wimberley Texas. Very nice park with good hiking…read moretrails and parking lots. There's a visitor center, and several gardens and placards all along the trail to tell the history and ecology of the area. The well itself did not appear to be flowing or if it was it was flowing only slightly. The hike as you get close to the well is a little bit more treacherous, but not too bad. Once you are there, the well is dark emerald green in color. It looks kind of mysterious. lol Good spot for a short hike to explore some nature and see a natural wonder.

I'm sure that during its peak season and at its full potential, the well will be much more…read morecaptivating and visually appealing than my experience of it. But despite that notion, Jacob's Well overall is very underwhelming. The hike is probably the shortest and least challenging I've ever experienced. There are several mini trails that are great for kids to explore, along with a large tire swing at the front entrance. Jacob's Well is definitely very kid- and senior-friendly as it's not very strenuous at all to hike or walk around. It's a nice that it's there for everyone to experience nature but again, very underwhelming. We spent about half an hour there which was enough time to experience the entire area. Definitely worth a visit if it's your first time in Wimberley.

Just shy of a mile, perfect loop to walk the dogs. Trail is clean and well maintained. The water…read morefountains at the entrance is perfect for both humans and furry companions. This will definitely be my go to spot!

If you're looking for a short hike with classic Hill Country features and almost no one else…read morearound, the Curry Nature Center (or preserve) is a wonderful free-to-the-public option in Canyon Lake. The coliche and timber-lined trail is very well maintained and plenty wide enough. The hilly loop is about .7 miles and whichever turn you take, you'll have some pretty good elevation change and some great terraced steps. The view is pretty mich tree-covered hills dotted with a few houses and cell towers. We didn't notice any creeks or springs, but there is a fountain at the trailhead. Our first visit was for a family walk during the first cool Fall weather in October 2020, and it was the perfect way to get outdoors and get the blood pumping before dinner. We encountered only two other parties along the short hike, each walking their dogs. Now that I'm a part-time Canyon Laker, I know I'll be back often to use this park for trail running workouts. You can make a challenge of running multiple loops, working on uphill and downhill stability and stamina. During summer, I recommend early mornings, as there is no shade at all on the path.

I felt welcome and appreciated the straightforward communication. The experience had a few small…read moreimperfections, but nothing that became a major concern. I'd be comfortable considering them again in the future.

The older male attendant with the beard refused to refund my $20 after our GPS took us to the wrong…read moreentrance and we had to make a U-turn before even getting to enjoy the lake. He told me, "No refunds, I'm sorry," and I replied, "You're not sorry." It was incredibly frustrating to lose $20 without seeing any part of the lake. I wish the staff had more discretion and common sense to handle situations like this, especially when the issue was caused by incorrect directions rather than us using the facilities. Couldn't even hold eye contact with me.

What a gorgeous trail! This was such a good find. Plus nothing else was open because of the…read moreholiday. I needed a short hike to shake off the day and this was it! Gravel nature trails that led me down to the lake and back within 30 minutes. I saw a few people along the trail which was nice too! All the trails led back to the parking area and they're easy to read on the map in case you feel lost. Highly recommended!

Time for a 2025 update on the changes to the visitor experience here at Madrone Trail. My past…read morereviews go over the terrain (varied with rock gardens, shade, & minimal elevation change) and rules (stay on trail; no lake swimming access). Check those older reports for more details. The biggest change since my last update is the opening of the Butterfly Garden just a few yards from the trailhead off Canyon Park Road. This curated and annotated pocket park is a neat little fenced-in microbiome of native plants offering a great place to observe the changing seasons and pollinators at work. The local chapter of Texas Master Naturalists have done a wonderful job here! The devastating drought in Central Texas for the past several years has dropped the level of Canyon Lake by 29 feet and there's no end in sight. This is sad for many reasons, but offers some interesting opportunities at Madrone Trail in early 2025. The shoreline has changed dramatically and you can now see what used to be under water since 1968. During our most recent visits in 2024-2025, we've walked on uncovered asphalt roads that used to service the Hancock community. We've also found sunken water craft and all sorts of lost objects from boaters over the years. WORD (the local nonprofit that stewards this park) is currently cleaning up all 85 miles of Canyon Lake's shore, so most of the big items will be taken away soon. However, it's always appreciated when trail visitors bring a trash bag and pick up any smaller debris encountered along the way.

This is fun and safe experience. The people are extremely nice, experienced and they make sure you…read moreare safe at all times. you get a glimpse of the beauty in the hill country. Highly recommended.

W e had 3 in our group and booked the did the 9am tour - all of the staff were great and made the…read moreexperience so fun from start to finish. All of the zip lines were unique and you get your money's worth. This is a must do in Wimberley!