What an amazing place. The waterfall was do beautiful. The walking trails are covered by lots of…read moretrees so it's not too hot. There are benches too where you can take a break or take in the sights. Overall I would recommend the location it's so peaceful.

I'm so glad I got to check out this lovely park! Relatively easy to navigate trails and the…read morewaterfall was beautiful.

Amazing park ... nice hike .. nice cliffs for cliff jumping.. watch your step on those rocks…read morecovered in algae you will bust your arsss ....

The Austin Astronomical Society hosts events where volunteers allow guests to look through their…read morehigh powered telescopes and that was the reason for my visit. Howver, the park is gorgeous, I will return to camp out there, the environment was accommodating and very clean. The Rangers were very friendly and involved with the community, the care was felt and very much appreciated.

Just follow your nose to the oasis located at 30°03'19.1"N 98°17'12.7"W…read more We tried driving there and got threatened with trespassing by the owners of a Christian camp for young, impressionable boys. Best to just walk there, lest you find yourself at the wrong end of their scatter gun, skatter gun, or splatter gun.

We came here in the early hours of the morning. Hiked a ways up the creek bed and saw tons of…read morewildlife. It was a nice hike... We heard it before we saw it. A rushing water sound made by the many waterfalls into the narrow canyon. I've traveled so many places, but I was awestruck at the beauty of this place. It looks exotic and out of place in Texas. Still, it was wonderful. It should be open to the public and protected at the same time. To get to it, walk the length of the Blanco River from either the north or the south. Really truly do not pass over private property. They will catch you and at the very least you will get a really expensive fine and Class C misdemeanor. They don't mess around. No one owns the river as the Blanco is known as a perennial River and these types of rivers cannot be privately owned. So, take the river from public property and walk up or down it to reach the Narrows. Don't litter as the place is pristine and really don't jump from the cliffs. We tried to be as respectable to the place as possible and left it how we found it. Please do the same when you find it.

Pictures don't do this place justice!…read more On this beautiful Saturday, I was seeking adventure! This tour is such an amazing deal. My tour guide Eryn was amazing and so funny. Caves are so interesting and there is so much to learn about them . Longhorn Cavern offer 3 different tour options. The cavern walking tour is just like a casual walking tour. The black light tour is where you wear hard hats and walk with a light. The Wild Cave tour is for the extreme explorers who are okay with tight spaces . I chose the cavern walking tour. I highly recommend shoes that have a tight grip. The gift shop has really good options for keepsakes. Also, if you get thirst drinks are available to purchase. I saw a section for pizza, but it was sold out. I had amazing time during my visit. The cave is beautiful and there is so much to see.

Lovely staff and tour guide, I believe our tour guide was Jim! He was funny, nice and amazing. The…read moregeode cracking was so much fun and the mining bag was cool too! We will be back to explore the park more as well! The only thing that bothered me was a lady who was asked not to eat, kept eating the whole time. But that's not something they can really control!

First time here and we loved it. Not a huge resort so you can get in and out very easily. Stayed in…read morea cabin and were very clean. We had dual bunk beds and moved them together to make a large bed for us and our two little ones with no gap in the middle. AC worked great and it had a ceiling fan. Outside is a nice bbq grill with a separate fire pit and small picnic table in great shape. Your door is steps from the water with an incredible view. Bathrooms and showers looked recently updated and were cleaned daily. In-laws had an rv spot and there was not a single sticker burr to be found! Also, staff was friendly and not uptight about a second vehicle being slightly off the pavement at the rv sites. Would recommend to everyone and will definitely stay here again.

Black Rock Park Cabin 48 Great spot. Cabins are pretty close…read moretogether. Beds are so loud, squeaky and barely comfortable. Definitely take fitted sheets. The wind was crazy but it was really peaceful. There's a 9 hole putt putt golf course, $9 per person, that is in good condition but not maintained at all, it was covered in leaves and twigs. Bathroom with shower was very close to cabin but it was dirty and there was no hand soap and the handicap bathroom ran out of toilet paper. We would still stay here again.

These trails suck lemons don't come here you will be disappointed. Follow the crowds and go to Town…read moreLake instead! I really want to keep these trails to myself as they are close by and the 5-star reviews by others are spot on. There are a couple of parking options and the main one by the Cactus Rocks trailhead includes access to clean restrooms. You can do a real easy 2-mile walk, on a dirt road, up and back from the main parking lot to the sunset deck. Or you can utilize all 3 trails (there are loopbacks) and extend your hike to about 4 miles plus. We went off trail a few times and was treated to some nice views off the back end of the park. There are some beautiful vistas of the lake and hill country if you (surprise!) hike on the Vista Knoll trail. A local Boy Scout troop as built seating and platforms so you can take your selfies without risking falling into the ravines. There are some areas that are kind of steep with stone stairs that will get your heart rate up. The only wildlife we saw was a couple of birds and a dog on the trail whose owner apparently can't comprehend the No Dogs on Trails sign. We did go during the heat of the day so most of the critters were most likely bed down. We did notice areas where wild pigs had been. Pro tip: You can easily hike these trails with your tennies but be warned the trails are rocky in some sections so watch your step. We had a great time and will return.

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.

I'll have to say this is one of my favorite parks for hiking. There are so many trails! You can…read morespend an entire day and then some just hiking. Of course getting to view the falls is wonderful. It's a lovely, peaceful, and serene setting. The swimming areas, canyons, and rocks are great to climb, rest, nature watch, and splash around. A quick 45 min-hour drive from Austin making it a great place for a day trip. A few hours in nature does the soul good!

Pedernalas Falls. We hiked the short path to the falls. The view was beautiful. But guess…read morewhat... no falls. Pretty dry here at the park. Well there was some water running on the other side We did hike down to the river bed and walked around the rock formations. Pretty cool! On the way out of the park we saw some Greater Kudu! Beautiful animals!

Why not hike on a Tuesday morning before the temperature rise to over 100 degrees? Dana Peak Park…read morehas become one of my favorite places to hike. The sunrises are beautiful. The atmosphere is peaceful and serene. There is something about walking through nature while deer frolic along side you.... It forces you to reflect on your life and others who may be or no longer may be in your life. There are many trails, waterfront views, and quietness! Go with a friend, go with a pet, or go alone, either way it's a great place to get fresh air, exercise and mental clarity.

Dana Peak Park offers many trails, lake side views with fishing, and places to park. The trails are…read moremarked for your reference. The trails are for hiking and bicycling. It is also dog friendly. Pretty much dirt trails, so after rains, it can get muddy, but we are in Texas, so that only happens occasionally. You can get several miles in on the various trails. Others are friendly and willing to point you in the right direction. I've been here a couple of times now and enjoyed both times. I do recommend hiking with someone else in case of emergencies. You never know when you might come across a snake, so be safe!

Absolutely love this place! Stunning views and lots of trails. Great stay! they have R.V spots…read more.. cabins... and tent camping as well.. a general store that provides all sorts of necessities. Would definitely recommen!

We had an incredible time wheeling here at hidden falls. From the start, the staff was super nice…read moreand had a great attitude any time we came in contact with them. Routes seem pretty well maintained and labeled well too. Only downfall is that our first day there the air up station didn't have very much PSI so we had to whip out the old reliables. Non the less, we will be back.

I wish Mill Pond Park was in my town! This is truly a gem of San Saba, and makes me wonder if this…read morelittle town can have something so awesome why can't every city. Mill Pond Park has a sand beach in this beautiful little lake. How nice to relax, play in the sand, and then jump in the water to cool off. The lake has multiple fountains making it quite a beautiful sight. There is also a huge blow up trampoline thing in the water that you can use for free. Everywhere else I know charges for such a fun adventure. There is also a nice swimming pool in the park. It is only open certain hours, but it is a must stop if you have kids. There are small slides, things to play on, and a lot of room. Two huge playgrounds take up the back part of the park. They are mostly shaded which makes for a fun outing of playing before going swimming. There is also nice walking trails, cool waterfalls, and just a lot of pretty scenery to take in. I loved visiting this park and it warrants a definite visit when in San Saba.

This was one of the other parks we decided to explore. I really liked the waterfall feature and the…read morelarge pond filled with ducks. They had the park decorated for Christmas and I'm sure looked really pretty at night. It's not a large park so there's not much to look at but it's still a nice little walk. You can swim here and there is also a small museum. Parking was easy.