I have been going here for years, hiking and mountain biking. I've done a few races also. It is…read moremarked fairly well, but obviously whether can change making trails. Look different and signs get weathered. Always take a map, as they are always passing out at the Ranger station

We always make a stop here to hike, swim, and picnic with our kids. The rangers are awesome and…read morehappy to answer all of our kids questions. The trails are clearly marked and scrambling over the rocks to explore the falls and wading in the river are always a blast. This year we went after a heavy rain and it was awesome to see the river roaring over the falls.

Took the kids here for some cool down. In order to get to the pool, you need to hike abit, which…read moreis great for the kids. Parking can be tough but eventually you will fine a spot. The pool is quite nice with cool breeze. Finding a sport can be rough if you come late in the morning but bring some shade and you will be fine. Water is cold but it was nice after a the hike and eventually your body will get used to it. Overall everyone enjoyed the day here.

What an incredible experience. I have to say first off, I really appreciate that it's reservations…read moreonly. Doing that limits the amount of people entering at once and allowing for a more enjoyable experience. Paying for a reservation and then additional money upon arrival allows this reserve and park to be properly maintained. I'm thankful for that and for the people who take care of it. It was a bit chilly the morning we went and the water was freezing. I still went in! I wanted the full experience and I got it. The way the water in the pool meets the rock formations is breath-taking. As is the rest of the park. It was a nice area to hike and breathe in nature.

This review is targeting active adults who love the outdoors and like to run, hike, or cycle…read more(mountain bike) on trails with a variety of terrain: grassland, limestone rock gardens, oak groves, and lake shoreline. If that doesn't float your boat, or you are looking for a spot to have a family swim & picnic with the kids, knock the stars down to 2 and find another pretty park to explore during your visit to North Canyon Lake. Old Hancock Equestrian Trail is a free, public, day-use-only park on land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, like all the other land in the flood plain surrounding Canyon Lake. It is designated specifically for horseback riding, so everyone else must yield to those riders. If you get there before 9a on a weekday, chances are, you'll have the whole place to yourself for a 7-mile round-trip (out and back) trip from the trailhead around the north shore of the lake to Canyon Park Road (near Brookshire Brothers and Canyon Beach). The horses are more commonly seen on the weekends but may be there at any time, along with their owners' trucks and trailers in the dirt parking area. Just off the parking area, there are a few spurs that take you through the bushes to the lakeshore. This area is often used by anglers and kayakers to access the lake during good conditions for their sport, but its main purpose is for horses and their riders to take a dip after their ride. Toward the northeast from the parking area is the main trailhead, next to the informational kiosk. Take the path in the grass that heads north/northeast and follows the shore of the lake. About half the time, you'll have a water view; other times, it will be tall grasses, trees, or cow pastures. Depending on the time of day and time of year, you'll see a variety of birds, insects, deer, cattle, and maybe a big spiny lizard, a snapping turtle, or a harmless rat snake if you're lucky. In the spring, wildflowers and butterflies are abundant, but so can be the mud. In summer, it is hotter than Hades but the lake breeze is nice with the blue water and blue skies. In the fall, a few of the trees take on a magnificent red, orange, and yellow color scheme. In winter, everything is dried out and gray. I just love watching the seasons change here. At different points along the trail, you'll find rest benches, trail markers, and spurs down to the water, where you are welcome to go for a swim (at least at the time of this writing in June 2022). It's one of the last places around Canyon Lake where you can do that without paying a fee, but you've got to want it bad enough to hike there & back, and you can only bring what you can carry on your back. The trail (more like a dual-track dirt road) is mostly flat and open with sand, grass, or caliche surfaces, but there are a few challenging sections with short inclines, yards of bumpy rocks, and a couple of wet weather creek crossings. After a rain, there's also the possibility that some local dude from the adjacent neighborhood will have gone "night muddin'" out there in a 4x4 and made the ruts deep in some areas, but this has lately not been such a problem since the Comal County Sherriff has started warning about the potential $5,000 fine for using a motorized vehicle on the trail. A few words of warning: - This park property is between private land (residences, ranches, and businesses) and the lake. Be sure to stay on the trail and don't trespass over fences or beyond posted "private property" areas. - Shade is limited and the sun can be intense at least 10 months of the year, so wear a hat and sunscreen, make sure you're hydrated, go with a buddy, and try to time your trip for hours close to sun up or sundown. It would not be easy for an emergency vehicle to reach you out there if heatstroke happened. - No restrooms, water fountains, or trash bins are available to users of this trail. Pack in and pack out everything. Leave no trace. Litterbugs, shoo, stay away!

The Old Hancock Trail is primarily a trail for horses, but it also makes a good hiking trail. If it…read moreis warm outside, beware because there is lots of sunshine on this trail and little shade. Investing in some SPF 40 might be a good idea. It is mostly a dirt trail that skirts the northern side of the lake and stretches for about 3 1/2 miles to end at Canyon Park. To find the trailhead, just find your way to FM 306 (I took FM 12 out of San Marcos and it was a scenic drive). Once you pass FM 3424 on the north side of the lake, continue for about 1.9 miles on FM 306 until you see a street sign for Hancock Road. This road passes by a small airport and then dead ends at the trailhead where there is tons of free parking. Take a picnic with you and maybe a swimsuit, because there are several places along the trail that would be a good stop for a swim and a bite to eat. I mostly felt like I was hiking on someone's ranch road that happened to be next to a nice lake. I saw several deer and birds along the way, and there were a few people on horseback also. I'm sure this trail would be full of wildflowers and butterflies in the Spring. Anyway, I hope this encourages you to check it out when you have a free day to play in the sun. I'm not sure how Yelp ended up with this in Lubbock, but don't worry, I am working with them to fix this error. Yes, it is on Canyon Lake. Google Maps must hate Canyon Lake for some reason. :-)

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.

Beautiful secluded nature preserve outside of Boerne. Lots of trails, wildlife and bird viewing…read moreblinds.

Wish I could say more aboutthe place as the drought has the water so low. the view is great and I…read morehave been there when the water is up and it's beautiful

What a neat park so close to home that is manageable in size and interesting in, well, nature…read more Perfect for a quick hike alone to watch birds eat and bathe in a sanctuary built for them. Also great for getting the energy out of the kids with fairy doors to look for, a chimney structure created for a specific feathered friend in mine and other fun rocks and benches and more to crawl on. The path is a mix of mulch and dirt. Dog bags and can provided so it's great for the four legged friends as well. There is a small rustic pavilion and picnic benches scattered. No restrooms. The map at the trailhead definitely needs to be updated but I guess that makes part of the charm in the unknown discoveries. Wish I had more pics to share with you but you should probably see the rest of it for yourself.

This trail is so peaceful and interesting! There was no one else there on a Sunday afternoon,…read moreexcept for a deer and several birds. There are landmarks scattered throughout the trail, spaced every 10 minutes or so to encourage you to keep going. The park feels like someone's backyard instead of a regular hiking trail, but in the best way. I'm not sure how long the trail is; maybe one mile? It took about 30 minutes to complete while stopping to look at the signs and structures along the way. It's definitely worth visiting! There are plentiful directional signs around the park so you never feel lost. A very unique experience.

* A pleasant easy historical hike *…read more The feature of the hike is Sam and Eliza Johnson's old home. They were LBJ's grandparents. Don't confuse this spot with the LBJ ranch about 14 miles away. This is a very flat pleasant 1 mile hike through open pasture that has some longhorns, horses, a barn, the old cabin, etc. Things are preserved as part of the national park system, and there are a few information signs to let you know the history of the spot. Perhaps the most amusing thing to me was the sign warning, "Longhorns are dangerous" or something such as that. Now you might say, "What is so damn amusing about that?" Well, after the Rodeo Lagarita (http://www.yelp.com/biz/rodeo-lagarita-san-francisco#hrid:Vy__bRH77fu2__2ZwXzCfg) experience seeing a bull maul a rider, followed the next day by my run-in with a bull near Los Altos (http://www.yelp.com/biz/los-altos-de-eros-san-francisco#hrid:M5uFMaTCnVMkQ01JHcXxOw), the sign just rang true and amused me!

This short trail of around 1 mile was educational, scenic, and easy…read more It is good for seniors. I plan to bring my parents next time. My history buff Dad will enjoy it. You learn a lot more about LBJ's childhood lifestyle. There is not much shade but there is a lot of greenery surrounding you.

A great trail and right when you come in. My 11yr old daughter and I loved the creeks. The path is…read morepaved and perfect for all ages and the doggos.

Wolf Mountain is my new favorite hiking trail and my little secret path into the wild undiscovered…read more The only reason I am writing this review is because I am nice and like to share:) This beautiful trail is an easy hike through the Hill Country above the Pedernales River. Most of the trail is gravel used to access the primitive camping site. There is plenty of water right now thanks to all the recent rain. In addition to being a beautiful outdoor adventure you will discover some historical places along the trail including an old cemetery at the top of the hill and some ruins of an old ranch house. Jones Spring is a beautiful spot to stop for a snack or lunch break and swim - see pics! There is several other beautiful water spots along the trail to cool off as well. Wolf Mountain is a short 45 minute drive from Austin but a world away from city life!!! This trail is most easily found if you follow the Primitive Camping directions. Upon entering Pedernales State Park continue driving approx 3 miles into the parking area for Primitive Camping you will see the trail head at the end of the parking lot. Happy Trails.....