If you want beauty and to unspoiled nature than this is the paddle ride for you! Whether you are a…read morekayaker or a canoer it will be equally enjoyable! We had a group of 3 canoes and this does take some planning so be prepared if you plan to do it without a river tour guide. We launched in at Plum Park On the Colorado which is a Park/Camping area. Please be cautious because this is all privately owned land so you can only pull out about 15 miles down the river at the public boat ramp in a park in LaGrange! There are islands to pull off on every now and then to eat lunch or use the bathroom which is going in the wild! I can't express how beautiful this trip was but, I did post some pictures for everyone to see. The canoeing is definitely slow on some parts of the river. The water ranges from moving shallow parts to very deep completely still water so, be prepared to paddle at least half of the way. There is also some rapids that are quick but, when the water is lower (like it was on our trip) there are boulders sticking out so be ready to maneuver quickly! There were also some shallow spots on both sides of islands in the middle which required pushing on the rocks with your paddles or getting out to pull the canoe through. There is plenty of wildlife on this river so, be cautious. We encountered herds of deer that were spooked by us and ran across the river, cows in the water in the shallow parts, longhorns and bugs. There was also a huge spider in our canoe and smaller ones as well from us running through a tree on accident when the rapids took us. I would recommend steering clear of all the trees as I am not a fan of spiders and took to smashing them with my oar! Be sure to stop paddling when the water is clear and look down to see a wide variety of fish swimming and clams! I would recommend you also make sure your canoe isn't too heavy and that you have the weight distributed property. Also, remember to bring an otter box or place all your items in plastic baggies that you do not want to get wet! I would also recommend bringing a garbage bag for your cans (don't bring bottles) just in case of a tip over so you don't littler the river unintentionally. I advise river shoes because the ground on the islands is like muddy clay and you will sink and sandals will sink worse than river shoes! The thing I wish I brought was a stadium cushion with a back on it. I had a folded towel on my seat but, by the end my back was killing me from not having support and paddling for 10 hours! At the end the ramp was not under water anymore but, paddle just past it and you can use the back in boat ramp to get off the river. At the end you will be hot, dirty, buzzed and sore and say you would never do it again but, you definitely will want to after you have a few days to rest!

My friend and I went camping here for a weekend and had a great stay! The bathrooms were simple and…read moreclean, and camping site had a picnic table and a new fire ring with a grill. We enjoyed the view of the lake, the quiet, and the 3 mile hike around the lake. The hosts were very accommodating and checked in on us to make sure our stay was going well and we were happy. At night they monitored the parking lot while the fisherman left for the day and watched to make sure everyone was safe, which I really appreciated. Next year they will be adding some RV sites as well as cabins next to the lake and I will definitely be returning!!

Our family had a terrible experience! We reserved two nights in late August. Friday night two…read morefamilies with about 6 kids showed up at 930pm and stayed until 130am drinking, fishing, and carrying on about 50 feet from our campsite. We saw no Park Ranger come through that evening. The next afternoon at 4:30 several families totaling probably 30 adults and 20 kids showed up with a generator, deep freeze, mounted stereo system and several tents, and they overtook the rest of our campground area. The Park Manager told us all he could do was come through at 10 p. m. and enforce the music curfew. We had no recourse on the laughing, talking, and carrying on however. We decided to bail before 9 p.m.. Will never camp overnight there again.

This park is sadly under used and it's the perfect spot to stay the night and put your canoes into…read morethe water. This park/camping area is tucked away on a country road spotted with farms. Be cautious driving down the road though because there is a crazy Boston terrier that will run out in front of your car and not move; then proceed to chase your car down the street. When you pull in you will see a trailer that the guy who runs the park lives in and directly to the left there is 2 boxes. There are envelopes in one to place $5.00 in for the overnight camping or to park if you are just canoeing. On the front of the envelope is a parking pass to remove and put in your car window. There is nice flat areas with wide spaces for many tents. There is also park style grills and picnic tables scattered around. The bathroom is a bit yucky and doesn't have the flushing type toile if you know what I am saying. There is also a port a potty onsite. Be careful in the morning opening the door of the bathroom because there is plenty of mosquitoes lurking in there because the one piece of fly paper doesn't cut it. If you have 4 wheel drive there is a path down to the Colorado River to drop your canoe and coolers off. Otherwise I would just carry them down. It's not a heavily wooded campsite but it is very nicely manicured.

I visited the park yesterday to do some fishing. Beautiful little park on the banks of the…read moreColorado River. Very well maintained. Very clean. Very quiet. Great place to take the family. The Park Host was the best park host I've ever encountered hands down. Will visit again for sure!

We have been out twice with Pete now. Both trips were outstanding catching 20-30 bass each time…read more Last trip 5 fish bag was over 17 lbs. Pete knows how to put you on fish, plus the trip photos he sends you after the trip are excellent.

My husband surprised me for our anniversary by having Pete take us on a guided trip on Lake…read moreFayette. We had the most INCREDIBLE experience. Pete is a great teacher and helped me catch my first bass ever...a 5Lb giant. We were catching bass left and right... we even go a triple up one time! We ended up catching over 70 bass. Pete is so knowledgeable about fishing and you can tell how much he loves what he does. I can't say enough good things about his guide service. We will definitely be telling all of our friends about him when we get home. See you again soon, Pete!

TLDR: Watch out for poison ivy in this beautiful tropical oasis (stick to long pants). The Palmetto…read moreInterpretive Trail is short enough for young kids and within walking distance from the picnic area. Stop to pay at park headquarters ($3 p/p; kids 12 and under are free). I loved the whole tropical vibe of this park. Dwarf palmettos everywhere. We stopped here as a waypoint en route to Rockport Beach. It made a great stopping point. The Palmetto Interpretive Trail is only 0.3 miles and very easy. A short walk, really. Both my toddlers (almost 4 and almost 2) were able to walk it. It's unpaved but mostly smooth so you should be able to bring a stroller too (I'd confirm with park staff, just in case). POISON IVY: At the end of the Palmetto Interpretive Trail, there is a water tower. It's locked but my kids love approaching doors. This is where I noticed potential poison ivy growing right by the door. It did have the triple leaf look and AI confirmed that it looks like poison ivy. Leaf shape can vary quite a bit on this plant so it can get a little tricky to identify. Just be wary of any triple leafers. Keep a close eye on where you and/or your kids are stepping and skip the shorts/sandals. Park staff was friendly. You stop to pay at the park headquarters once you enter the park (and display the tag on your windshield). $3 per person; children 12 and under are free. The picnic area was nice with ample seating (both covered and uncovered). I couldn't find a restroom (doors were locked) but there were restrooms by the playground (a short drive away). The restrooms were clean. Make sure you close the door like the sign asks to keep bugs away. Ultimately, I'd love to return to this park and experience more of its lovely trails.

Great, secluded state park next to a neighborhood. I'd consider Palmetto a hidden gem in Texas. I…read moredrove here from Austin and it took me about 1.5 hours. The way I took lead me down a neighborhood street, which led me straight to the park's headquarters. They had a small and very limited selection of gifts for purchase, but the park ranger there was friendly and recommended a couple of trails and points of interest. I hiked a series of trails along the outside perimeter of the park, which combined was about 3.5 miles. Each new segment had a different ecosystem and it was interesting to see different sights and hear new sounds. The trails are mostly shaded, though I went on an overcast day. There's also a low river crossing where I saw some people fishing on. At all Texas state parks, no fishing license is needed to fish. The sound of the river was soothing and refreshing. I genuinely enjoyed my time here and would love to return here to visit again someday.

Some gave all. All gave some…read more A quite little neighborhood park with a pavilion for large groups, a connection to Brushy Creek, plenty of military-related playscapes for kids, and most importantly, a SHADED BASKETBALL COURT. The playscapes have a little bit of that military industrial complex feeling to it because why are kids able to do photo stand-ins of services members? Does that not feel like a touch of mockery to our brave men and women in the armed forces? Maybe I should grow a pair. Singlehandedly, the shaded basketball court is the coolest thing about this park. That should be something every city strives for, but I know they won't. RIYL: hoop dreams

Small but charming neighborhood park…read more The playground equipment is limited but the location next to the creek is lovely. Large trees, waterfall, birds (ducks and we were lucky enough to see a beautiful egret). Cool 4-person see saw. Ample parking on the street and inside the parking lot. Also, good opportunity to talk to kids about respect for veterans.

My son had been begging to go fishing and I know nothing about fishing nor do we have any of the…read moresupplies. Moby dick was great because they provided everything (poles, bait, etc). They were kind and helpful and my son caught his first fish! I will definitely be back! Bring lots of water to drink and hand sanitizer bc there is no running water at the pond!

Made reservation and went out to fish with my boys. They're 9 and 11 and both caught a fish and…read moreowner said he'd come out and help catch one if they couldn't. Very quiet and beautiful. Highly recommend it. Appreciate it.

I can't say enough about this place! The park itself is clean, lush, and absolutely beautiful, with…read moreplenty of cabins, camping spots, RV sites, and scenic hiking trails. But did you know they also have an event hall for rent? We booked it for a family gathering, and it was perfect. The space has a charming vintage look, with plenty of tables and chairs, clean restrooms, a spacious kitchen equipped with burners, a sink, a fridge, and enough trash bins. The concrete floors are a bit cracked, but that's hardly a dealbreaker when you're getting such a gem in the middle of a state park. Guests pay a discounted $3 entrance fee, but since we had an RSVP list, we purchased tickets ahead of time to make the process smoother for everyone. You receive the event hall key at 9 AM on the day of your event and can drop it in the designated box whenever your party ends. The space comfortably accommodates 70-80 guests, making it a great choice for gatherings. You're expected to leave the hall in the same condition as you received it, but the trash bins can be left as they are staff will come by later to collect the trash. It's that simple!

While on a meandering day trip, we came across the inviting entrance to Buescher State Park…read more We parked outside the small but organized ranger station, and I stepped inside to pay the fee. $3 per person if you choose to stay in your vehicle (driving through) or $5 per person is you get out to walk around. Affordable either way! There's also an area set up with mugs, stickers and such for sale. So glad we decided to drive through! A lot of different scenery, well-maintained and mostly empty roads, new undergrowth in burn areas, peaceful and quiet overall. We continued through what seemed a residential area with private houses, then onwards through Bastrop State Park, exiting there. Nice introduction to Buescher State Park. We'll return to hike in cooler weather.

Justin, the guide was as funny and kind as he skilled in the art of angling. We had 10 fish in our…read moreboat 15 minutes after we dropped our hooks in the water. I felt almost guilty Justin did all the work and I had nothing but fun. His 40 + years fishing that lake has made him an old hand at where to go and what bait to use. His latest modern gadgets on his boat are just icing on the cake. When we were done he even filleted the fish for me. Overall a wonderful experience that you can bet I will do again. Craig

From the owner: Come learn how to fish for crappie on Lake Granger with a guide that grew up on this lake. No fish…read more- No Pay!

When I could not find any live minnows before a fishing trip, I decided to go by and check out this…read morelittle place I had seen when driving between Bastrop and Elgin. The lady that runs it was inside the little shack and she had several types of minnows. I opted for the goldfish because I had never fished with those before. She has good prices, and I would call her to confirm availability of whatever type of minnows you are looking for ahead of time. I will definitely buy from her again.

Great place to get live bait if you're close to Lake Bastrop! Will definitely purchase from again!read more