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    Risien Park

    4.2 (6 reviews)

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    Larry B.

    Risien is pronounced like "reason". So, let's 'Risien' together. Should you go out of your way to visit this park? Don't quote me on this, but the following famous people quotes seem reasonable when my review points follow them: "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." - Albert Einstein --- There's not much to do here. So, you get that done pretty fast. Unless you truly BBQ, then that takes time. It's a small park for camping. There is a small concrete for dancing or games (like trying to break pecan shells with your bare feet).--- "A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason." - J. P. Morgan --- The good reason for coming to this park: BBQ with the family. The real reason: Save money to drink more beer without many critics around.--- "Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die." - Alfred Lord Tennyson --- Actually, the mosquitos here have that motto, too. In June, they were a nuisance, even with Deet spray repellent on me.--- "There is nothing higher than reason." - Immanuel Kant --- There are no hills or climbing in the park, other than the banks of the river. A walkway connects this park to a nature trail next door. Walkway is a concrete sidewalk about 5' wide, so that lawnmowers and golf carts can use it for maintaining the park.--- "Things happen for a Risien" - (don't know why author is unknown) --- An English cabinet carpenter and amateur horticulturist, named Edmond Risien, came to San Saba in the early 1870's from the Northeast. He found a large old pecan tree, liked the pecans, and thereafter, obsessed over pecans and how to grow good ones consistently. His experimentation led to a successful business and fame.--- The Rest of his Story, which I will call "An Englishman went up a pecan tree but planted an orchard", and why there is a park in his name follows some relevant movie quotes from "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain". Morgan the Goat: (to recognize the hill as a mountain) "If Ffynnon Garw has to be a thousand feet, then I say let it be a thousand feet! Add 20 feet, that's all we need, a 20-foot tump and we have our mountain!" Jones the JP: "I'm not sure how legal that is..." Rev. Robert Jones: "Yes, or ethical..." Morgan the Goat: "Legal? Ethical? Wh-- how legal was it to say that a thousand feet is a mountain and 984 isn't, uh? Uh? Do we call a short man a boy, or a small dog a cat? No! This is a mountain, our mountain, and if it needs to be a thousand feet, then by God let's make it a thousand feet!" ---- Through trial and error over many years he developed many varieties, including Onliwon, San Saba Improved and Western Schley. Mr. Risien was such an important influence in building the community and giving San Saba some sort of identity and to be on the map. They had to have a park in his name. The preferred area, Mill Pond Park, was already created. The oak he made famous is still alive (but no good pecans anymore) on private property.--- Grandfather: "All this fuss over what? Is it a hill, is it a mountain? Perhaps it wouldn't matter anywhere else, but this is Wales! The Egyptians built pyramids, the Greeks built temples, but we did none of that, because we had mountains. Yes, the Welsh were created by mountains: where the mountain starts, there starts Wales. If this isn't a mountain - well, if this isn't a mountain, then Anson might just as well redraw the border and put us all in England, God forbid." ---From http://www.pecanjam.com/about/san-saba-pecan-industry/ : Risien presented his improved pecans to Queen Victoria; and Alfred, Lord Tennyson in England; and took some of his most amazing pecan clusters to the Chicago World's Fair and impressed the crowd - among whom was C W Post, the cereal magnate who reportedly named his Grape Nuts cereal after those amazing grape-like pecans clusters. By his 87th birthday, Mr. Risien had thousands of his improved pecan trees growing worldwide. Thus San Saba came to be known as the "Pecan Capital of the World."--- Betty: "You won't be back. This isn't a place that people like you come back to." Anson: "Well, I'll try, I'll, I'll really try..." Betty: "I'll try! Is that the best you can do?" ----If you go to San Saba, there is a tendency to say "Been there. Done that", and not return. The peaceful Risien Park is small and has a slow-moving creek/river, and lots of shade trees. There is not much else. But if you REALLY like special pecans, you might return.---

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    Colorado Bend State Park - Trail with ropes leading down to Gorman Falls

    Colorado Bend State Park

    4.3(93 reviews)
    19.6 mi

    My boyfriend and I made a weekend trip to come here. We spent one day at the park, you really need…read moretwo or more days! We went to three different trails, and both were beautiful. Gorman falls I feel like is the most popular. There were so many people there! We saw the water fall and got to walk along the river bend. Then we went to the spring trail, that place was magical! It looked like a hobbit home!!! E we made it to the spring, but sadly you are not allowed to get in it. Finally we made it to the spice trail, but we were barely able to make it out in time, it was not a good decision, we did have to hike-run about 2 miles in the dark, I was freaking out. So message to all it's make sure you are not hiking too late because it waspitch black. Luckily we had outdoor flashlights and made it, but it felt like it was never ending. The trail is awesome, we crossed over the river several times, it's like a maze to get through, and the top was beautiful, but yeah we didn't get to enjoy the last two miles. Overall this was an awesome park to visit! I'm excited to keep exploring Texas parks

    I visited Colorado Bend SP earlier today, and I'll admit that I wasn't expecting it to be so far…read moreout of the way. That's not necessarily a negative, but just something to note. Getting there was very straightforward, but cell reception is very limited there. I was prepared with offline maps so that didn't bother me. The road takes you right to the entrance of the park. There's an unattended booth up front, but I self-registered myself at the check-in station over to the side. There was a pen provided that I used to fill out one of the forms, and dropped it in the locked box with my information. I came here to hike to Gorman Falls today. Part of the road that leads to the trailhead was flooded, but I was able to drive through it with a standard SUV. The road was rocky in some areas and gravel the rest. A high-clearance vehicle isn't needed. There was plenty of parking at the trailhead, along with a restroom with a composting toilet. The trail was well-marked and shaded the first 1/3 of the trail. The rest of the way is exposed to the sun until you get to the fork in the trail that leads to Gorman Falls. There is a bike rack here as the last section is hiking only. The rock face is quite steep towards the bottom, but there were ropes that guided me down. I had my dog with me and I had to carry it at one point just to get down. Because of the rains this past week, water was flowing at the falls. You can't hike to the falls, but there is an observation deck with some benches to relax in the shade here. Returning back up the rock wall was easier than the way down. I also stopped by the park headquarters, about 5 miles down from the entrance of the park. They had a nice selection of gifts and souvenirs for purchase, and plenty of brochures for nearby state parks. The only option for camping here is primitive; there is no plumbing available, other than a spigot for potable water. Overall, this park was well-maintained and I would return for a second visit. Being just 1.5 hours away from NW Austin, Colorado Bend SP makes for a good day trip option with little traffic to and back.

    Photos
    Colorado Bend State Park
    Colorado Bend State Park - Bottom of the falls with an observation deck

    Bottom of the falls with an observation deck

    Colorado Bend State Park - Park Headquarters and Store

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    Park Headquarters and Store

    Pecan Bayou - Another pic on a slow flow of a spring flow.

    Pecan Bayou

    3.0(2 reviews)
    40.2 mi

    Love the river! This…read moreis a section of the Pecan Bayou that passes the 377 highway coming from the Brownwood Lake headed on to the gulf of Texas. (Not only highway 377, but also highways 67 and 84 as well. At this point all of these highways are combined.) This is a fun little area to fish, very tough to fly fish, due to the vegetation, but still due-able. If you're going fishing and you pass over this point, it is always a good idea to check out the water flow and the color of the water. The water flow can be unbelievable after a great rain. You always want to double check this after wet weather, there could be a lot of water released from the dam. If you check out the vegetation around the water it will also give you an insight to the bug life, which the fish feed upon. Another fun note about this place that it reminds me of all of the Texans that have come here before me. The ones that either fished here, swam, had romantic dates, gathered drinking water, it is just kind of a fun nostalgic little creek. The fish here in this area range from small mouth bass, large mouth bass, catfish, perch, sunfish and the list goes on for warm fresh water fish. Now what I recommend, if you're going to fish here is fishing from the bank. You want to test the waters temperature, fish are very sensitive to the temperature. They also like coverage, as in a submerged log or something that helps give them protection from predators. There are several ways to go after them, like a surface bug / rig and work it lick it was live animal. Or go just the opposite way and go deep where the big fish maybe located at. What ever you do work your rig like it was live! **On a safety issue, always let someone know where you are going fishing ahead of time and what time roughly you should be back. Another key note, is to watch for snakes. The snakes could come from the water, or land, but know that they most likely are there to feed. Looks before you step! You do also need to wash out for those 'pocket panthers', we did get a photo of one listed in the photos of the review. This is a fun little fishing spot with such easy access! Have fun, be carful and remember only catch the ones you are going to keep, unless you practice the 'catch and release' method which I think you should do! Have fun!

    Nice Park but there are squatters in the area so lock your car. also some dude lives here in an RV…read morewhich is suss but its a park so I guess its better than parking in neigborhoods.

    Photos
    Pecan Bayou
    Pecan Bayou - Pecan Bayou right near the main highway!

    Pecan Bayou right near the main highway!

    Pecan Bayou - Low flow on the fall!

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    Low flow on the fall!

    Grenwelge Park

    Grenwelge Park

    4.8(4 reviews)
    30.9 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

    Risien Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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