Located On the Cool, Clear Frio River near Concan, TX, Garner State Park is a great place to visit for a swim or hike, or to enjoy a relaxing weekend. With 2.9 miles of Frio River winding through 1,774 acres of scenic Hill Country terrain, the park offers lots to see and do!

Swim in the Frio River or float its waters on an inner tube, operate a paddle boat, and hike 16 miles of scenic trails. You can also camp, study nature, picnic, canoe, fish, play miniature golf and ride bikes.

Located in Fredericksburg, TX,
The massive pink granite dome rising above Central Texas has drawn people for thousands of years. But there’s more at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area than just the dome. The scenery, rock formations and legends are magical, too!

Your whole family will find plenty to do here. Take a hike or a photo, go fishing, look for birds and other wildlife, camp, backpack, stargaze and hunt for geocaches.

Lost Maples protects a special stand of Uvalde bigtooth maples. Many folks come here to see colorful leaves on these and other trees in autumn. The show varies, depending on weather conditions. Check our Fall Foliage report (starting mid-October).

Flowing over and around huge slabs of limestone, the Pedernales River can be turbulent. But most often it is tranquil, and a great place to relax and recharge. We are just 30 miles west of Austin. Come over for an afternoon swim or hike, or load up your gear for an overnight adventure. The river awaits!

Here at Pedernales Falls State Park, you can camp, hike, mountain bike, picnic, geocache, bird watch and ride horses. On the river, you can swim, wade, tube or fish. Look for local wildlife and plants at the bird blind and butterfly garden.

Hill Country State Natural Area is a scenic mosaic of rocky hills, seasonal flowing springs, oak mottes, grasslands and canyons. The terrain ranges from flat, broad creek bottoms to steep, rocky canyons up to 2,000 feet high.

West Verde Creek provides a small oasis against the backdrop of rocky hills and limestone cliffs.

The natural area pro­vides habitat for a great variety of birds, mam­mals and am­phi­bians, as well as various reptiles. Several different plant communities grow here, too.

Spend a weekend exploring the unspoiled wilderness of Colorado Bend. We’re two hours northwest of Austin. Marvel at the beauty of Gorman Falls, cool off in Spicewood Springs, fish or paddle the river, take a cave tour, and test your limits on 35 miles of hike and bike trails.

Many folks come here to swim, but the park is more than a great swimming hole. Beautiful scenery and colorful history await, just a short drive from San Antonio and Austin.

With four miles of river frontage, the Guadalupe River takes center stage at the park. Step away from the river to find the more peaceful areas.

On the river, you can swim, fish, tube and canoe. While on land, you can camp, hike, ride mountain bikes or horses, picnic, geocache, and bird watch. We loan fishing gear for use in the park.

Inks Lake State Park offers family fun on water and land. With its sparkling blue water, colorful rock outcrops, and striking sunsets, this gem of the Hill Country is just an hour northwest of Austin.

Inks Lake State Park is great for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Because the lake’s level usually stays constant, you can play here year-round.

On land, you can camp, backpack, geocache, play volleyball, picnic, and observe nature. We have 9 miles of hiking trails through shady forests and across rocky hills. Stop by our bird blind to see who's visiting. Rent our group picnic pavilion for your next family reunion. Contact us to ask about our all-terrain wheelchair, available for your use in the park.

On the water, you can swim (no lifeguards on duty), boat, water ski, scuba dive and fish. We have set aside a large, no-wake zone for paddling.

Bring a sense of wonder and your spirit of adventure to Kickapoo Cavern State Park. Head west from San An­tonio to explore this lightly-developed park with its many caves, birds, bats, trails and more.

The park offers hiking and mountain biking, caves, camping, bird-watching, geocaching and evening bat flight viewing (in season).

Hike or bike miles of trails, catching glimpses of wildlife along the way.

Within easy driving distance of both Austin and San Antonio you’ll find a quiet getaway.
Spend a relaxing night camping under the stars. Tee off on our historic golf course. Look for geocaches and wildlife while exploring our trails. Try your luck fishing in Clear Fork Creek year-round, and swim in our pool in summer. Pick up a souvenir at our park store.

Admire the quaint waterfall flowing over a CCC-built check dam, next to the Park Rd. 10. Continue to the top of the hill and take in the view from the terrace of the historic group recreation hall.

Many stories and legends surround Longhorn Cavern. But geology is what makes it truly unique. Explore the cavern for yourself, just 1.5 hours northwest of Austin.

Tour the cavern! Before or after your tour, hike one of our trails, picnic, or learn about the Civilian Conservation Corps and its work in Texas (see the exhibit in the original administration building). Entry to the park grounds is free; entry to the cavern is by paid guided tours.

Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, was born and raised in the Texas Hill Country. But his story is not the only one told here. Experience life on a Texas-German farm and marvel at American bison and Texas longhorns.

Spend the day exploring this unique historical site in Stonewall, TX. Visit the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Walk 1.2 miles of trails, passing bison, longhorns, wildflowers, creeks and historic cabins. Tour the adjacent LBJ Ranch.

Fish in the river or play tennis or baseball year-round.

A little piece of the tropics lies just an hour from Austin and San Antonio. With multiple sources of water (including the San Marcos River), Palmetto State Park is a haven for a wide variety of animals and plants. Look for dwarf palmettos, the park’s namesake, growing under the trees.

This small park offers a large amount of fun, both on water and land.
You can swim, fish and paddle here. Besides the flowing river, the park also has an oxbow lake, an artesian well and swamps.

South Llano River State Park in Junction, TX provides refuge for wildlife and people on the southwestern edge of the Hill Country. Bring your hiking boots, water toys, camping gear, and sense of adventure!

Many folks come to the park to swim, float, paddle and fish the South Llano River. But that’s not all we offer. You can also camp, hike or bike, geocache, spot turkeys and other wildlife, and marvel at the stars.

On the north side of San Antonio lies a 12,000-acre wil­der­ness that protects the city’s drinking water.
Government Canyon State Natural Area offers more than 40 miles of trails. You can also camp, attend a program or guided hike, geocache, picnic, take nature photos, and look for birds and other wildlife.

In Fredericksburg, TX an old railroad tunnel provides a seasonal home for around 3 million bats. Join us for a bat program to learn more about these flying mammals and to watch them embark on their nightly search for food!

Besides viewing the bats, you can also picnic, hike, bird-watch, stargaze and look for wildlife. Explore our short (less than 1/2 mile) nature trail, watching for wildlife, a view of the tunnel, and signs with bat lore and railroad history.

Bring your own drinking water, as water is not available in the park.

This protected piece of land in Spring Branch, TX harbors plants and animals nurtured by a 1.5-mile spring-fed creek. Access to Honey Creek is only by guided tour.

Honey Creek has grown by 515 acres, due to a recent land purchase. Read more in this press release. TPWD has not set an opening date for this property.

We lead two-mile tours of the natural area at least once a week.

Some 3 million bats emerge in a swirling mass from the Devil’s Sinkhole in search of food on warm nights. Marvel at the amazing spectacle at this state natural area northwest of San Antonio.

Bats are the main attraction here, but not the only one. We also lead nature walks, and birding tours through the 1,860-acre natural area.

Access to Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area is only by guided tour. Reservations are required. All tours begin at the Devil’s Sinkhole Visitor Center in Rocksprings.