It’s quaint and precious and picture perfect.All smiles. Because looking up there, that looks easy enough, right?
Is it, or isn’t it? There seemed to be some confusion as to whether or not Port Isabel Lighthouse was still an official Texas State Park at the time of our visit in June 2018, or not. The evidence pointed both directions at the same time. Whether it was, or wasn’t, an official State Park at the time of our visit (and this blog), it was listed as one of the 99 Texas State Parks, so we included it.
Nestled on less than an acre of land, surprisingly Port Isabel Lighthouse is not the smallest Texas State Park (you know, if it was one). It consists of the lighthouse proper (which is supposedly only 50 feet above the ground, but my shaking legs and fragile resolve to climb to the top reckoned it closer to 500′), and a replica of the original lighthouse keeper’s cottage (complete with an adorable white picket fence). That’s it. The cottage contains some pretty interesting information on the lighthouse, how lighthouses work, etc., but the big attraction at PILSHS is the lighthouse, so let’s get to that.
It’s small. Intimate, if you will. As such, the State Park (you know, if it is one) cannot accommodate hoards of people climbing up and down the winding, see-through stair case all at once, or perching on the narrow outside “balcony” near the top, or packing into the round “room” at the tippy top. Thankfully. Because neither could I.
I somehow managed to keep it together enough to ascend the metal stair case after The Man & Kinder Frau left The Manling and me at the bottom. Like this would be nothing but sunshine and happiness. As we climbed, trying desperately not to look through the holes in the beautifully intricate metalwork under our feet, the Manling and I provided a mini-concert of moans, punctuated occasionally by breathy prayers of desperation that may have sounded like hyperventilation, and hugged the wall in what could be considered a semi-inappropriate way if taken out of context. In other words, this charming, unassuming lighthouse that looks super do-able from the ground somehow morphs into the Eiffel Tower on Halloween Night shortly into your ascent, so if you are wary of heights this will be a challenge. But a challenge well worth the cost of admission with beautiful 360 degree views of the surrounding area, the Gulf of Mexico and South Padre Island! Take a page out of Nike’s playbook on this one – Just Do It!
What I am not showing you is the extent to which my body is pushed against the solidity of the lighthouse with both my feet and hands. This was a super hard shot for me, but the rest of them stayed out there, walking all the way around, as I headed down the stairs.Happy to be back on good ole terra firma.
Why We Love Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site
Lighthouse. There just aren’t too many of these gems left, especially in Texas along the coast. It was worth the drive to plan a trip to experience a part of our history that may not be around too much longer.
Views. Beautiful!
Location. It’s the tip of Texas! It’s where the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and Texas all converge. That’s pretty special!
Must Do’s
Climb. It was hard. I’ll admit it. But I am also glad that I sucked it up and faced my fear of heights because the views were spectacular.
Learn. The Chamber of Commerce (located in the keeper’s cottage) has a great display to learn all about lighthouses. And being on site while you’re learning about it makes a more lasting impression than just reading about it in a book.
Visit. If you’ve never seen what the hype about South Padre Island is, then drive across the bridge. You’re right there. We chose to go geocaching, but there is shopping galore, restaurants, a water park, learning centers, and more.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site! Please share your thoughts on this piece of history on the tip of Texas in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Texas is big. Colossal. Massive. Ginormous. YUGE (as President Trump would say). As a resident of North Texas, you have to get up early and ride like the wind if you want to visit South Texas – because geography. (Or go halfsies, spend the night in an airbnb RV on a rural ranchette in Llano, TX, and drive the rest of the way the next day so that you’re not all Hunchback of Notre Dame from hours on end in the car once you reach your faraway destination.)
Father’s Day weekend 2018, we went the halfsies route.
Being unfamiliar with the South Texas Plains, I took to the internet and researched the area we’d call home over the extended weekend prior to our visit. I was specifically interested in two things: 1) What slithery neighbors we might encounter of the zero-legged nature; and 2) Is human trafficking a concern (because since I first saw Taken with Liam Neeson, this has been a back-burner concern of mine, being a mom of two attractive daughters). I researched, read, and then reached out to Texas Parks and Wildlife a couple of weeks before our trip because my diligence uncovered an incident involving drugs and pirates and kidnapping and I tend to obsess about such things. I was assured repeatedly (because I repeatedly asked the same question in varying detail about the aforementioned drugs, piracy and kidnapping – don’t judge) that they have had no incidents within their boundaries. That being the case, we booked a shelter with air conditioning (because, hello, it’s June in Texas) and prayed begging prayers that the no-incidents-within-the-park streak would continue through our visit. Because we’re myopic that way.
I called Falcon State Park on the road the day we arrived because we knew we would arrive after the HQ closed and we needed to know how to get into our locked shelter after business hours. Two things happened that were complete surprises upon our arrival: 1) We were greeted by State Park Police at the gate who were checking every single car entering the park; and 2) When we arrived at Shelter #9 – our home sweet home for the weekend – we discovered that the Park Staff not only left the light on for us by the door, but they had also turned on the a/c so that it would be cool upon our arrival. <3 The FSP Staff could not have offered a better welcome to their park for us – a feeling of safety and chill.
You served us well, air conditioned shelter #9 with the locked door.
Once we unpacked the Jeep, set up our beds, and ate our Fry-day dinner (Smith family camping tradition dictates deep fried food on our first night camping, which usually falls on Friday/Fry-day.), we headed toward the beach for some fishing. We parked at the boat launch parking lot, planning to do some shoreline fishing only to discover the water level wasn’t quite up to snuff. We prepped ourselves for some hiking to actually get to the water when a Park Ranger entered the parking lot. He explained that if we just drove through those trees there, we would be able to reach the beach in our Jeep.
Me: Um, really??? We’re allowed to drive our vehicle off road?!?!
At this point, I should probably point out that there are always, always, always taboo roads or paths at Texas State Parks and while your first instinct may be to explore them, the signage clearly indicates that it would be a no-no. This is the first time we have been invited to be “naughty” and explore off road and I’ve gotta tell you, we were having it!!
We navigated the Jeep past trees and deep ruts in the combo sand/dirt path, smiling and squealing like school girls as we were tossed about the interior of the car on our first off-road adventure in the Jeep. Not too far away, we saw several extra-large pick up trucks attached to boat trailers in what appeared to be the make-shift boat launch/parking area. We parked the Jeep beside one of the behemoth trucks and just as we were beginning to feel some size-related issues, the same friendly Park Ranger drove by and suggested we go further.
Friendly Park Ranger: Keep driving until you get to the beach. You can park over there.
Me: Are you for real?
Friendly Park Ranger: Yes, ma’am.
And we did just that, dear reader. We drove further off road. We parked on the beach. Like rule breakers. Like rebellious fisher-people.
And then, giddy and completely feeling ourselves, we fished. And photographed. And explored the beach. And watched as other awesome people did the same, but with jet skiis, kayaks and boats, too! It was the magic moment during our weekend spent shelter camping on the border of Mexico. Sure, we enjoyed the bat show in the evening and the peccaries that came to see us off at 6:30am, but that off road fishing adventure? That was epic.
Breathtaking beauty at the borderLike Father……like son.
Why We Love Falcon State Park
Air Conditioned Shelters. No need to let the Texas summer heat keep you from enjoying camping. Staying in an air conditioned shelter was a new experience for us and we loved it! The a/c worked so well in our beloved Shelter #9 that we felt like we needed more blankets. Awesome problem to have when it’s 100* outside! (Note: The outlets are very high on the walls, so bring an extension cord for electronics.)
Off-roading. The fact that you can drive onto the beach is priceless! Seriously awesome! (Just make sure you have a vehicle that can take the beating of the uneven, deeply rutted sand/dirt paths.)
Water. Fishing, kayaking, boating, jet skiing, swimming, wading…Falcon State Park offers it all!!
Wildlife. Fish. Butterflies. Bats. Scorpions. Peccary. We had some pretty amazing encounters, and all of them ended positively. Awesome!
Safe. Initially I was afraid, but this park takes safety seriously. Not only do they have Park Rangers, but they also have State Park Police and Border Patrol. Oh, and those bolted locks on the screened shelters are a nice addition.
Must Do’s
Camp. FSP’s peak season is winter when all the northerners head south for a milder winter. Take advantage of that during the summer months. We felt like we had the whole park to ourselves and we loved that! And with the Shelters with A/C, there’s no reason not to enjoy all that Falcon State Park has to offer, year-round.
Beach. Look for shells. Build a sand castle. Go off-roading (in an appropriate vehicle). Swim. Kayak. Jet ski. Fish. Boat. The water is where it’s at in the summertime in Texas, but FSP takes it one further and has a genuine beach! Felt like we were at the Gulf of Mexico for a fraction of the cost of vacationing there! You’re welcome.
Photograph. It’s too beautiful not to point out – the beach at sunset was gorgeous. The lighting, divine. The scenery, dreamy.
Explore. There are almost 3 miles of trails to explore, but there is a lot of beach, as well! The park has geocaching, which is one of my favorite ways to explore because it’s exercise with a purpose!
As The Man walked back to the car from the garbage, Kinder Frau pointed out the locals coming to say good bye.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Falcon State Park! Please share your thoughts on this awesome border beauty in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
In the effort of full disclosure, I don’t think we were able to give Lake Casa Blanca International State Park our wholehearted attention during our visit mid-June 2018 because of this –
Dry heat may be better, but 103* feels hotter than H-E-double hockey sticks no matter if it’s served up dry, or wet.
Other than snapping our traditional entry photo, Kinder Frau did not exit the vehicle. Honestly. She sat in the air-conditioned Jeep tending her social media. The whole time. She knows what she’s about. We, on the other hand, exited the vehicle in an attempt to seize the day in the blistering Laredo mid-afternoon summer heat. What that seizing looked like was this for about fifteen minutes –
Really beautiful spot, but with the temps over 100* even the sturdiest of anglers begin to melt.
-followed by this for about forty-five more minutes…
Nobody’s fool, The Manling gave it the ole college try – in the shade.The Manling was working the shade under the fishing pier. The Man and I were doing the same on the pier proper.
…before he cried uncle, packed up his gear, and headed for the great indoors of the Jeep.
The Man at this point was still hopeful for some hiking, so choosing the shorter option of the two the Park Staff suggested, we parked near the trail head of the Osprey Hill Loop, which promised to give us the best views of the park and surrounding Laredo. The Manling and Kinder Frau opted out of this adventure, instead offering to keep the Jeep cool for our return. They are self-sacrificing that way. The Man packed waters for us while I prepped my borrowed trekking poles (to fend off any foes that may try to assail us on our 0.75 mile travels) and with a wave we headed onto the dusty, dry trail.
The Man has a habit of being all about business when we hike, so this is oftentimes my view. Hate to see you leave, babe, but I love to watch you go. 😉
Once we appreciated the views properly, we noticed a side trail and decided to explore it and discovered this little architectural gem!
Looks like a building something important must have happened at, right? We never saw signage and a quick peek through the window revealed nothing. Really pretty though, right?
Later, when heading toward the parks HQ during our premature exodus of the park, we discovered we could have driven to that neat building perched atop the hill. Such is life.
Why We Love Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
Trails. Since LCBISP is about 7 hours from home, we weren’t able to bring our bikes. The trails at this park would be great for exploring via bike.
Fishing. Shoreline fishing in the middle of the afternoon in the heat of a Laredo summer day proved unfruitful for us, but there were some anglers on the lake that may have fared better in deeper water.
Must Do’s
Arrive Early. Timing is important when the temps soar above 100 degrees.
Hike. Great, easy trails, but remember to take more water than you think you’ll need. And plan your hikes for early in the morning or at the end of the day when the temps are more bearable.
Fish. The fishing pier and surrounding area is great for shoreline fishing, but plan to do so at the beginning or end of the day.
Try Something New. The park offers some activities that are out of the ordinary that would be fun to do – tennis, volleyball and basketball courts in addition to a softball field! There is also a convenience store for tube, kayak and boat rentals. Or you can download the Geocaching app and go modern-day “treasure” hunting.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park! Please share your thoughts on this international treasure in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Only, I won’t because we had such an incredible time there mid-June 2018 that I need to get out all my feels about it, so here goes. But first…
Enchanted Rock is full of boulders and rocks to climb and these three have that carpe diem thing down. This was shortly after sunrise, the best time to enjoy the park in the summer as far as I’m concerned.
Enchanted Rock was a place The Manling and I had originally planned to explore in early June on our first State Park road trip. Because of storms the night before that stubbornly lingered into the morning, we ended up postponing our visit because who wants to trudge through muddy trails or scale thoroughly wet granite, right?
Second time around, we scheduled an early morning visit over Father’s Day weekend with The Man and Kinder Frau in tow. When I say early, I mean really early. As in, I am usually the only one that sees this part of the day in our family – which is why when our iPhone alarms did their jobs at 5am, no one was feeling it but me. I had called ERSNA earlier in the week to see what time the gates opened (which, in many cases, is before the HQ opens) and was thrilled to learn we could enter the park as early as 6:30am, which is pretty close to sunrise in June in the Texas Hill Country. Since the HQ would still be closed at that hour, the friendly Park Staff spent time with me during my phone call to help me plan an excellent route for an early morning hike at her park.
Once we arrived and registered our vehicle at the self-pay station, we headed left toward the trail head for The Loop, located near the playground and tent camping sites. The Loop trail, which was blissfully wide (as the Park Ranger had promised), consisted of crushed rock and, for the most part, was a gentle ascent. The Loop trail soon made us forget our 5am woes with its breathtaking beauty bathed in the early morning sunshine. We chatted. We laughed. We photographed. We passed a few who were heading down, having slept in more primitive spots in the higher elevation. In short, we (ahem, “I”) was so diverted by the scenic views and sparkling conversation that I barely gave a thought to what slithery critters might be lurking in the crevices of the park…
…until we switched to the Echo Canyon Trail at Moss Lake, a narrower trail, but still do-able by my city standards. As we progressed on that trail and passed the lake, the trail seemed to morph into a narrower path that would occasionally open onto wide granite flats before narrowing further still.
Switching from the w i d e Loop Trail to the slightly narrower Echo Canyon TrailScenic Moss LakeAt this point, is this even still considered a proper trail?
We passed some areas where rock climbing was permitted (all rock climbers must check in at the HQ), which proved a great inducement for us to want to return to Enchanted Rock since we love rock climbing!
Eventually we made our way to the Summit Trail at which point The Man and The Manling took off, leaving Kinder Frau and yours truly to catch our breath and enjoy the scenery before following the menfolk.
I’m not sure in degrees how steep the Summit Trail actually is, but it is the great equalizer in a race to the top. Once Kinder Frau and I began hiking it, we soon caught up to the menfolk and began an almost choreographed ascent as Kinder Frau, The Man and I took turns as 2nd, 3rd and last while The Manling left us coughing in his dust.
After several “false summits” –
You know, when you look up and think you are surely about to crest the thing you’re climbing only to see that you were oh-so-wrong and you’d better just look down and focus on putting one foot in front of the other because if you undergo even one more disappointed hope that you’ve finally made it to the top, you may suffer a fainting spell like in ye days of ol’, which would be very, very bad because of math & science – ie. the aforementioned steep angle of the Summit Trail “times” the physics that would guarantee your speedy descent should you faint “equals” disaster –
we finally – nay, GLORIOUSLY! – reached the Summit of Enchanted Rock!
The 360 degree views of this land called the Texas Hill Country that I am, in fact, falling head-over-heels in love with…oh, seeing them as the mid-morning sun’s rays brilliantly broke through the fluffy clouds made my heart feel full and a smile spread across my lips. It was the kind of brilliant feeling that makes you want to hug your loved ones and feast your eyes on the spectacle before you – like when the Griswold’s are on the front lawn awaiting Clark’s Christmas lights, arms enter-twined, on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It produced exactly those kinds of warm and fuzzy feels.
Why We Love Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Hiking. ERSNA has almost 11 miles of beautiful trails. Talking with the Park Staff helped us choose which trails we would enjoy the most. (Basically The Loop on the left side of the map is more scenic; on the right side of the map is more shaded. Since we were there in the coolest part of the day, we opted for scenic and were not disappointed. From The Loop Trail, we connected to Echo Canyon Trail on the back side of the park to cut through the middle and connect to the Summit Trail to the top of Enchanted Rock on our visit. Our Park Staff could not have planned a better route for us!)
The Summit. Not too many places in Texas are high. This is a huge selling point for The Summit. The views are gorgeous and the birds fly “beneath” you while you’re atop Enchanted Rock. Pretty cool.
Rock Climbing. We love parks that offer rock climbers a place to do their thing “in the wild.” Huge kudos for offering several spots to climb. Just make sure you check in at the HQ before you begin.
Must Do’s
Arrive Early. This is a super popular park and because of that, they periodically have to close the park to more guests. Check the website before your visit and plan to arrive early – as in before they open early to have the best chance at getting in.
The Loop. Half of it is shaded; the other half is scenic. Seems like a win-win whatever the time of day. Make sure you carry enough water with you because it is over 4 miles in length.
Echo Canyon. Unlike the part of The Loop we hiked, it is actually pretty lush in a lot of spots and completely seems like a different park. Plus, it’s where the rock climbing spots are located.
Moss Lake. While you cannot swim there and the park website doesn’t list fishing as a park activity, Moss Lake is really pretty and peaceful. Definitely makes for great photos.
Photograph. It’s beautiful at Enchanted Rock. Take lots and lots of photos. And then take some more. In my opinion, filter-free. It’s that gorgeous…naturally.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area! Please share your thoughts on this enchanting place in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Waking in the wee hours of a Saturday morning in mid-June 2018, the final four of our fam set out on a day trip to Fort Parker State Park in Mexia, Texas, with our family mascot, Rosie. The park promised a little something for everyone: hiking for The Man, fishing for The Manling, photo ops for Kinder Frau, frolicking for the Awesome Aussie, and history for The Mom.
Introducing our Awesome Aussie, Rosie. She loves swimming, running, barking, wallowing in dirt, peanut butter, and her family. She is up to an adventure anytime, anywhere.
We arrived about an hour after the HQ opened, one group out of a few checking in at that time. When our turn for some face time with the Park Staff came, we were made to feel surprisingly unhurried. No “treat ’em and street ’em” mindset at FPSP. Each guest is made to feel like a V.I.P. and that definitely deserves a shout out, in my opinion.
Once we were squared away with our registration, our Park Staffer helped us plan our day enjoying this new-to-us State Park. And that’s saying a lot because all four of us had different ideas of how that would be best accomplished. First off, he said, I would hike while it’s still cool. If you park by the Recreation Hallhere on the map, you can easily get to the pontoon bridge here (circling it on our map) and then you’ll be on the Springfield Trail which will take you past the cemetery (a San Jacinto survivor is actually buried there!), Group Camping, Springfield Lake, the Dam – oh, and if you listen for the spring about here (pointing to the map), you can follow the sound to see the spring! – and then past the historical marker where…” All that to say, Mr. Park Staffer hooked us up with an excellent adventure that checked all of our boxes!
An example of some of the great trails at FPSP.One of the more ferrel trails
Following the Park Staff advice, we followed the Springfield Trail to all of those wonderful spots, which happen to contain signage along the way to educate adventuresome hikers like us on the unique history of FPSP. With our morning hike behind us, The Manling settled in for some fishing at one of the three spots that Mr. Park Staff highlighted on our map while The Man played fetch in the water with our Awesome Aussie (She’s quite ferrel when it comes to getting her country on.), Kinder Frau updated her online presence, and I got some reading done.
Shoreline fishing at “The Point,” which is just past the Recreation Hall. Nada. (A nearby fisherman told us he hadn’t caught either and was going to try the river near the boat launch.)Rosie is a country dog at heart. She LOVES getting wet followed by a good wallow in the dirt and a nap.
Finding spot #1 a dud, we moved to spot #2, which looked to have a small Boy Scout troop getting ready for a canoe trip upriver. We cast in the full sun. We cast from a tree that had fallen into the water. We cast from the shade. We were using lures, corn and worms. Nothing. Because catching is more fun than fishing, I was about ready to throw in the towel and read while the guys continued their quest. I cast one last time in a shaded spot to the left of the boat launch and BAM! My bobber disappeared! I yanked and reeled her in only to find that my worm had disappeared, too! The Manling hooked me up with another worm and I dropped a line in the same spot. Within seconds, my bobber was underwater AGAIN. I yanked and reeled her in a second time to find my worm was MIA again. I asked The Manling what I was doing wrong. “Is my hook too large for this fish’s mouth, maybe?” No, it’s fine. You’ve just got to…(insert man-spanation here because – teenager). This song-and-dance continued for several more casts before I managed to hook something – the tree that was providing the shade over the water. While The Man helped me disengage my hook from the tree (via the snapped line method) and then repair my reel, The Manling thought he would drop his line in where I was getting the only action on the river. And BAM! The Manling quickly landed the thing that had been stealing my worms! Super happy for him, I offered him a heartfelt congratulations and asked him how he did it. Smaller hook, he replied sheepishly. Really, man? (In his defense, he truly felt guilty for catching “my” fish. I spent quite a while assuring him that I was just glad the little booger was caught and even more glad that he was the one that got to catch it. I think he was maybe feeling guilt about the mansplaining about how I was somehow fishing incorrectly when it ended up being the very thing I had asked him about, but I’m his Mama and I could exact my revenge when I wrote about it later. Patience is a virtue the old possess.)
This is another spot near the boat launch on the river that we fished.I spy The Man, who found the shade of the trees to the right of the boat launch the best place to drop a line. (That tree in the foreground? That is all I caught that day.)THE catch of the day was this little guy caught by The Manling in the shaded water under the tree I caught.
Why We Love Fort Parker State Park
Park Staff. Truly some of the finest people on the planet! Ours hooked us up! Our hike even did double-duty, checking off the physical with the historical!
Beautiful. One of the Boy Scout leaders that The Manling had early on in his scouting career said you should always take into consideration what you’re going to be looking at when you camp. Beauty is important. FPSP has beauty in spades and around every corner. It’s just gorgeous greenery against the backdrop of the water and the bluest skies. Every location is picture perfect.
Fishing. The Park Staff can direct you to where the fish have been biting lately, but we found the river to be our luckiest spot on our visit. FPSP also loans fishing gear for use during your visit. AND…they have worms you can buy at the HQ. They go out of their way to help turn your fishing into catching.
Rentals. You can rent canoes and kayaks at FPSP and really enjoy the water on hot summer days.
Hikes. Their trails are (mostly) wide with the shade of the tree canopy overhead. Plus hiking the Springfield Trail gives you a historical tour of the place at the same time. Win-win.
Trees. There are tall trees everywhere at FPSP and because of that, most of the picnic tables and camping spots are gloriously shaded.
Must Do’s
Springfield Trail. Did I mention how much The Man loves hiking and I love exploring the history of the area? This trail combines the two and throws in beauty, shade and water features. It might just be the perfect hike, so don’t rush. Linger. Explore. Enjoy.
Fish. Start at the river. Drop a line in the shade on the right side of the boat launch using worms that you just bought at the HQ. Trust me.
Camp. They have some EXCELLENT spots! We recommend #43 and #49 in the primitive area because they are really big; spots #13-16 at the end of the camping loop are equally spacious sites and provide privacy and shade in spades.
FPSP has some of the most beautiful views. They were literally everywhere, like this view of the lake from the Springfield Trail.Pier fishing mid-afternoon proved hot and fruitless this trip. But a group of three buzzards came hopping around the fish cleaning station and then went under the pier for some shade. They reminded us of the buzzards in The Jungle Book – remember them?
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Fort Parker State Park! Please share your thoughts on this precious piece of paradise in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
The first TexansTravel.Life road trip was epic! We were tempted to drive 4.9 miles around the ‘hood just to make it an even 1000 miles, but we were tired, gross and ready to be home.
The Manling and I learned some valuable lessons the hard way on our first Texas State Park road trip:
Water. Stay hydrated. It’s about a thousand degrees in the summertime in Texas. Whatever amount you think you will need to stay hydrated, triple that amount. Seriously. And plan your activities in the hottest months around water – swimming, fishing, tubing, canoeing, paddle boarding. Get wet.
Shoes. Two things: 1) Get shoes with grippy soles because I’m telling you, you won’t regret them when you hit the trails. These have served me well. 2) Break in your shoes before your trip because blisters are a pain and a real kill joy to exploring all the great state of Texas has to offer!
Clothing. Pack lightly by making smart fabric and clothing choices. You can wash clothes in the sink and hang dry to rewear on the same trip, which will allow you to pack lighter and save valuable space in the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside – but even she has her limits, man!) for the important stuff like coolers of water – see #1 above – and fishing gear.
Maps. iPhones are great and Waze may rock your world in the city, but when you’re traveling the isolated country roads of Texas, have paper back up. You won’t regret kicking it old school when your phone is in an area with no service. Trust us. We bought this inexpensive map the day after we got home.
Car. We logged almost a thousand miles on our first road trip, three-fourths of which were on tiny, twisty, isolated back roads in Texas. Always get a check up on your car before setting out on your adventures. (At the very least, make sure your tires are good. Firestone will even check your pressure and eyeball your treads for free.)
Bonus Things We Learned
Research. Check websites before heading out for important things like hours of operation and closures because that kind of stuff can put a real damper on your experience.
Ask Questions. Especially of the Park Staff. They love their parks and want to ensure that you do, too! Talk to them when you arrive and ask them anything. They are your best resource for planning a most enjoyable experience.
Consider Products. Let our sunscreen and bug spray be your friends when you’re exploring the outdoors.
Explore Unhurried. Enjoy living in the moments without the need to stick to a rigid agenda. The unplanned is where the magic happens.
Vanity of vanities…Knowing my selfies are a sorry collection of proof that I am über unphotogenic, I actually put on make up and decided to take my hair out of it’s pony tail every time we took photos. Even though it was a thousand degrees that morning.
The Manling and I visited Mother Neff State Park in early June 2018. Our trusty map app had trouble locating the entrance, but the reason became clear once we did. MNSP is situated on the Leon River, which sometimes floods the plains around it. In 2015, the park relocated the HQ and campsites outside of this flood plain so that the park could remain open, even when the Leon River was disagreeable to the notion. Our map app apparently didn’t get the memo.
The Manling and I were impressed by the newness of this State Park. It was all so immaculate and driving up to the HQ felt akin to arriving at the model home of a new neighborhood! As we approached the building in the early morning, I asked the Park Staffer who was tending to the flower gardens around the HQ if he’d found anything interesting. He replied that he’d already relocated them. “Them,” I asked? The snakes, he replied with a mischievous grin. “For real,” I asked again, to which his smile only widened. The Manling passed him by and kept walking the paved garden path to the doors of the HQ to register our visit.
Per our usual, we chatted with the State Park Staff on-duty and learned that we had underestimated the extent of closures in this particular park due to the recent floods. While several short trails, the Cave, the Tower, and Wash Pond were still accessible, the big attraction for The Manling was and always will be water access for fishing. (Did I mention that fishing is his love language?) And that part of the park was completely & disappointingly inaccessible to park visitors.
Tourist Tip #1
Don’t choose a destination based on proximity and assume everything will be kosher when you show up. Actually visit the website and do your research because the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is fantastic at keeping you up-to-date on information that will be important to know for your visit – like the inaccessibility of the water feature due to flood damage. Lesson learned.
Park Map in hand, we went back to the car to drive to the trail head of the Cave, our first stop. After circling half of the roundabout, we saw a somewhat towering gate extremely reminiscent of Jurassic Park, toward which we pointed the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside). I would be remiss to not point out here that we both began humming Welcome to Jurassic Park (and continued to do so until we parked at the Cave’s trail head!).
Tourist Tip #2
Download Welcome to Jurassic Park to your phone, buy the soundtrack for your car, or download it on Spotify in case you don’t have service (We didn’t.) because this is the perfect score for that gate and the tree-canopied drive through the park. It will elevate the ride to epic instantly.
To abbreviate our short, uneventful trip for you, dear reader, we visited The Cave (which was kind of neat), The Tower (which was our longest hike at the park, but super short compared to our hikes at other parks), and Wash Pond (which was super low on the day we visited). To be honest, The Manling wasn’t feeling MNSP because of the closure of the river end of park and our brief hikes consisted of a lot of quiet punctuated by me either stomp-walking or making noise with my water bottle (you know, to scare the snakes) with the occasional “Are you okay? You seem upset with me” thrown in because, well, The Manling seemed upset with me and all brooding teenager, which is unlike him. So, after our third mini-hike (to the Tower), I asked if he just wanted to head home and plan to come back when more of the park was open (ie the river for fishing). In his funk, he managed to deliver a heart-warming reply in a half-hearted tone – “I’ll do whatever you want to do, Mom. This is your trip, too.” Bless him. We hit the restrooms and then pointed the Tiny Toyota Tardis for home, vowing to revisit Mother Neff when she was recovered from the flood.
The Cave. The Manling offered to explore, but since it didn’t seem trail-like enough at either end of the Cave, I politely declined his offer.
Note the rocks (good camo for rattlesnakes) and the tall grass ahead (good hiding spots for rattlesnakes), both of which may have made me annoying to The Manling because I walked behind him in a “heard” manner, like the Park Staff suggested.Taken atop the Rock Tower, which was pretty cool and the only time I wasn’t attempting to “make us heard” by any snakes in the vicinity, which The Manling appreciated because my noise may have fanned the flames of his disappointment with the park’s river closure.
Why We Love Mother Neff State Park
It’s new. I confess that I was digging the new digs at MNSP. The HQ was awesome, cold (important in 100 degree temps!) and homey with ginormous windows overlooking the brand new porch with an assortment of chairs welcoming you to sit a spell.
It’s historical. I love experiencing the places of yesteryear. I enjoy reading about it and imagining what it would have been like so many years ago. MNSP is steeped in history!
It’s road. We are a sucker for a beautiful drive and the main road through the park offers a delightful canopy of trees over the small road, punctuated on one end by the fabulous Jurassic Park-esque gate and by the Leon River on the other (though at the time of this publication, that part of the park was closed due to flooding).
It’s possibilities. The Manling loves state parking for the fishing. The Man loves state parking for the hiking. I love state parking for the history. This little park offers a little of each of these.
Must Do’s
The Cave. This was a short little hike from the main road and it was pretty cool to contemplate people actually living there. Read the information posted at the entrance to the cave.
The Tower. It literally is a tower in the middle of trees that you can climb to get a 360 degree view of the park. Neat trail that includes a bird blind if you use the trail head across from the restrooms in the new camping loop.
The Pond. You’ve got to see the pics on-site and read the info about Wash Pond in order to appreciate it when the water levels are low (like they were when we visited).
Fishing. Once the river portion of the park reopens, we plan to return and take our own advice on the Leon River.
Camping. The new campsites look fantastic and there were quite a few campers enjoying them during our visit, even though it was in the 100’s. There are two playgrounds nearby, as well as the Live Oak Trail, which leads to a shaded bird blind and The Tower.
Sitting. Spend some time just sitting and enjoying the flower gardens and the view from the HQ’s porch on those lovely new chairs.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Mother Neff State Park! Please share your thoughts on one of Texas’ oldest State Parks in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
A couple of posts ago, I mentioned in passing about the “Tour of Texas Waterholes” that the fam did several summers ago. One of the waterholes we visited on that trip was the Devil’s Waterhole, which happens to be located inside Inks Lake State Park. During said trip, the fam focused exclusively on the waterhole all. day. long. At one point, we even rented a canoe to see the spectacle up close before we ventured a try ourselves.
I guess at this point I should confess that I am using the royal “we” here because I let my fear keep me from experiencing this particular Texas water hole with the fam on that particular visit. You see, there are two options for reaching the Devil’s Waterhole – by trail system or by free swimming across a tiny section of the lake. Years ago, hiking on the trails was not a thing that was going to happen because I love my dear family. Nope. God had given me a brain and I was going to use it – because snakes. What about the other route, you may be asking? Well, dear reader, the other route may not be as perilous as the one on dry ground – because snakes –, but it was an equal no-no to me at the time – because catfish. While The Manling is up for anything involving fish (including noodling!), I most assuredly am not. And neither is Kinder Frau. So the two of us staked claim on a rock in the water directly across from the Devil’s Waterhole and watched The Man and The Manling have all the fun. Until Kinder Frau decided to man up and swim across (at an Olympian’s pace, mind you, because of the fish sharing the water) and join the menfolk having all the fun. I admit that I felt embarrassed to be shown up by my baby, but hand-to-God, every single time I put my feet in the water to try to cool off, a dang catfish came up like I was feeding them my toes!! (Seriously, ILSP should host a fish fry or something because that lake is teeming with catfish!) So, I tried to buoy my self esteem the rest of the day with the fact that I was serving the family by taking photos of their adventure. It didn’t work, but I kept telling myself that anyway. And here are a few proofs –
God bless poor little Kinder Frau. She is making the most of that smile with the sun full in her sweet little face.The Manling was fearless! He took full advantage of the underdeveloped part of the brain in youngun’s that seem to make the males feel invincible. He jumped from ALL the heights. Multiple times. On purpose.Sweet Kinder Frau showed her Mama up like a courageous conquerer! Note that The Man is treading water, waiting for her to jump in so that she could basically boulder on him back out of the water. Catfish.
Long story short…I was photographer and chief cheerleader on our first trip to Inks Lake State Park. Missing out on participating at the Devil’s Waterhole on that trip is my biggest regret from that whole vacation.
Fast forward to early June 2018 and you can almost share my excitement to redeem that lost opportunity! For starters, I was a bona fide hiker now. On trails, man! Also, I don’t want to brag, but I had even hiked with a back pack once, so (at least in my eyes) I was was a recent inductee to the elite sub-category of a backpacker! With The Manling’s help, the plan was to conquer those aforementioned trails at Inks Lake State Park, face the trifecta of my fears at the Devil’s Waterhole (heights, fish, & snakes!), and then enjoy some relaxation while we basked in the glory of the day’s accomplishments by fishing in the lake. Like I said, that was the plan.
The way the plan actually unfolded was like this…Earlier in the day while we were logging miles in the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside), I very cooly, very casually, asked The Manling if he was excited to do the Devil’s Waterhole again, to which he replied that he wasn’t going to. I was all, What do you mean, man?! I can’t brave the water or the trail solo! You’ve GOT to do it! and he was all, Nah. Not without Dad. So my much-anticipated shot at redemption flew out the window as we drove those Hill Country back roads toward ILSP.
When we arrived mid-afternoon, we snapped our obligatory entry photos with the State Park sign and then headed into the HQ to hatch our plan of attack with the Park Staff. By this visit, I knew enough to help myself to both the Park Map & the Trails Map while The Manling took care of our entry into the park with his State Park Pass. I was terrifically relieved to see a heron as the chosen clip art for the trails map instead of the dreaded rattlesnake, and did a quick flip of both pages to make sure one wasn’t hiding on the flip sides. Satisfied, I asked the helpful Park Staff if they could recommend a good trail (or two) for The Manling and me to hike. After highlighting a couple of options (Park Staff are famously fond of highlighters!) on our map, I sought verification for my presumption regarding the clip art.
“So, I assume the chances of us coming across critters this time of day on the trails are slim?”
Oh, no! Not at all, I was told. Gulp.
I replied, “Really? Is there a chance we will see snakes? Like rattlesnakes?”
I’d say so, the helpful staffer answered. We have a LOT of rattlesnakes and I’d never tell someone they wouldn’t see one.
I stared, blankly, at the honest staffer before turning to The Manling and cooly commenting, “I’m kind of tired already. This heat. Sheesh! Wanna skip the hiking here?” to which he (thankfully!) replied, “Sure, Mom.” (His passion is fishing, so anything other than that is his generosity toward me. “It’s your trip, too, Mom.” Gotta love The Manling.)
Just to recap: Devil’s Waterhole was scrapped before we drove into the park. Now that we were inside the park, hiking was scrapped, too. That left fishing, reading and being – all of which are fantastic activities to do at ILSP. “We” had already done the Devil’s Waterhole before, and I’m a new backpacker, so fishing could be the new thing we did there that day. Still a win. Don’t judge.
Seriously? That is gorgeous, right? He’s fishing on a rock ledge under the water. Beautiful!
By this time, Mama was tired. The heat beat me and I stayed in the Tiny Toyota Tardis with the a/c blasting while The Manling dropped a line at a different spot.
Why We Love Inks Lake State Park
Devil’s Waterhole. Come on, the name alone intrigues you, doesn’t it? And Texas Waterholes are where it’s at when it’s 100* in the summer in Texas. I still regret never having taken the plunge. (Note: There are underwater hazards, so heed all warning signs regarding the Devil’s Waterhole and proceed with all caution.)
Park Staff. Not only were they honest with us regarding the possibility of coming across snakes, they were helpful in planning our time so that it would be enjoyable to us. This is a priceless service they provide, free of charge!
Fishing. The Park Staff highlighted 3 good fishing spots to try on our visit that day. The South Pier has a fantastic sign detailing what’s in the water, photos of real people who’ve caught certain fish at ILSP and even info on the type of bait they were using when they caught them. Super helpful!
Beautiful. It truly is beautiful at ILSP. Just look at the above photos, all taken either on my iPhone 4 or my iPhone 6 (not on a fancy-pants digital camera), and all of them are beautifully unfiltered.
Must Do’s
Devil’s Waterhole. At least go and watch. It’s quite the spectacle. If you’re braver than I, maybe consider participating. Maybe. (That said, caution is always recommended. We watched for at least an hour before they swam over there. Then they talked to others who’d already taken the plunge, and watched from a perch on the cliffs for an even longer while before venturing off the very lowest spot. Land where others are landing. There are underwater hazards, so proceed at your own risk. Don’t do this lightly.)
Fishing. We didn’t catch anything the day we were there, but we saw a great many under the clear water. They just weren’t eating what we were casting that day. Both piers are suppose to be great for fishing, but probably not during the heat of the day (which is when we were there).
Camping. One of the Park Staff called it “the Village” while we were talking with them in the HQ and that was about as apt a description as could be given. It would seem the whole of the park was for camping. It is a masterfully organized community of camp spots, shelters (with a/c!), and RV spots. And both times we have been, they have been used. At the time of this publication, there was a warning about reaching capacity on the State Park’s website; apparently they are so popular they have to sometimes turn people away!
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Inks Lake State Park! Please share your thoughts on this Texas Waterhole in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
For kicks and giggles, we are going to pretend that I am just a bad photographer, not that I intentionally cropped myself out of yet another wretched selfie attempt because of my vanity.
Continuing in the tradition of transparency in sharing our adventures, I confess that our visit to Longhorn Cavern State Park in early June 2018 was not all it could have been. The big attraction at LCSP is, after all, the cavern. And we didn’t tour it. (Like I shared here, Texans Travel is a passion project and at the point of this writing, funded solely by The Man – God bless him. The pictures on the State Park website look truly amazing, but $17.50 per person to take a gander at the same up close & personal was too rich for our budget.)
After a much needed bio break following the drive to Longhorn Cavern State Park, The Manling and I made a beeline for the long-haired mature lady behind the information counter. She naturally asked if we were there for the cave tour (like the dozens of others buzzing about the gift shop). A tad bit embarrassed that we weren’t, I asked if there was anything else to do at LCSP other than tour the caverns. To my surprise, she smiled and said Absolutely there is! After reaching for a copy of the Park Map, she highlighted a great walking tour of the park that very conveniently began just outside the back doors to the building – which she walks or bikes every night with her husband and dogs. Because she lives there! She genuinely seemed glad that we wanted to explore her park and didn’t give us even the slightest vibe that she thought we were nut jobs for coming to a cavern and not looking at it.
In no time, The Manling and I were out the back doors and on the trail. A delightful trail, too! It was completely shaded, except for a patch around the middle, which made our exploring all the more pleasant. The trails were mostly wide dirt paths with a few rocky points thrown in for good measure. They were well-marked. And we even saw a few people along the way, also enjoying the one thing to do at LCSP besides the cavern tour. When all was said and done, I commented to The Manling that while I couldn’t have visited with a stroller when he and Kinder Frau were wee creatures, they would have loved running through the treed trails and climbing over the rocks as preschoolers and little folk.
Why We Love Longhorn Cavern State Park
Park Staff. I say it so often it’s becoming my mantra, but the Park Staff love their park. They want you to love it, too. Talk to them, even if you’re embarrassed that you’re not doing the expected while you’re there. They will inevitably have alternative ideas to make your visit a memorable one.
Trails. Shaded. Pretty. Kid-friendly. Great photography ops (though ironically I took no photos. The Manling and I were enjoying the sights and sounds on the trail and were obviously engrossed in super important conversation, which supersedes the need for remembering to snap pics on my iPhone.)
Must Do’s
Enjoy the Trails. There is shaded beauty awaiting you on the LCSP trails. They are well-marked, short trails that all intersect to make a longer trek if you’re game. See why our long-haired hostess enjoys them nightly with her hubs and pooches.
Tour the Cavern. I cannot speak from personal experience, of course, but I feel like I’d be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to check them out. They are why there is a State Park there, after all.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Longhorn Cavern State Park! Please share your thoughts on this underground gallery in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
Several summers ago, the fam did what we called a “Tour of Texas Waterholes” that included Pedernales Falls State Park. At that time, Texas was in a drought (which appears to be a yearly state of affairs, at least since I’ve become a citizen of the great state of Texas). At that time, PFSP was more exposed rock than falling water, which was fine by us because we enjoyed bouldering what would normally be unseen because it would be under the water of the river (queue precious yesteryear photos of The Man, The Manling and Kinder Frau – awwww).
We returned to Pedernales Falls State Park in early June 2018, excited to see what it looked like under normal conditions. After mapping a good route for a mid-morning hike on the w i d e s t trails with the gracious staff at the HQ, I turned the Trails Map over to see how far we would actually be hiking that morning. My breath caught as I stared down at my arch-nemesis – the dreaded rattlesnake – in clip art form. I took a deep, cleansing breath and then looked back at the staff member. I swallowed probably louder than I intended before I asked, “Do you have a lot of rattlesnakes in the park?”*
Yes, she answered.
And then continued with the spiel that obviously must be learned verbatim in order to pass State Park Staff School – But they won’t bother you unless you step on them, or scare them, or get too close to them. Just stay out of the tall grass and don’t climb any fallen branches and you should be fine. They are more scared of you than you are of them.
Here’s the thing…They don’t know how scared I am of THEM, so how do we actually KNOW who is the scaredest of whom?
I took another cleansing breath, verified that the trails we were going to hike were w i d e (“A car can drive down them, ma’am.”), and that they would definitely lead us on a scenic route to the falls so that The Manling could do some fishing. We returned to the Tiny Toyota Tardis (because the Yaris is bigger on the inside) and drove to the far end of PFSP to park, where we then found the dirt road that lead us to the Hackenburg Loop Trail, which ends on the beach of the falls just below the Pedernales Falls Overlook. Except it didn’t. Not on the day we were there. I don’t think.
Here’s what happened. The Manling (whom I’d like to point out is an Eagle Scout and, as such, is somewhat knowledgable of the outdoors, including hiking and orienteering) took the lead on the trail because 1) I am the only other person, and 2) I would be useless as our trail guide since my motto is Don’t touch anything green! and I may be overly paranoid about snakes. The dirt road from the parking lot was wide – YAY! – so I felt somewhat confident at this point that this would be a positive experience, meaning I wouldn’t inadvertently step on my biggest fear because we were on a wide path and we could walk down the middle of it without some rattler being scared by us, or us by it. The dirt road led to what was clearly the Hackenburg Loop Trail, exactly as described by the helpful park staff. Score! It consisted of two dirt tire tracks with grass growing between and on either side, which was a little more unnerving, but still doable. (I was going to be so proud of myself for finishing this trail like a boss!) The Manling and I talked off and on, mostly of his love of the outdoors as this trail reminded him of Philmont, or that field to the right reminded him of such-and-such campout where Mr. So-and-So said this and…just good, naturally flowing Mama-Manling convo. Eventually the tire track path became a single dirt trail with unmown grass growing on each side. My breathing quickened, but The Manling kept walking and talking, unfazed by the change, so I followed, loosely keeping my cool. As The Manling shared memories, his Mama desperately tried to concentrate more on his words than the fact that her breathing was becoming more labored.
The “tire track” part of our trail, when I was still confident enough to take photos and laugh like life was good.This is when The Manling left me to see if he could see a trail at the river’s edge. He did not. Nor did we see signs marking the trail we were supposedly still on.
I won’t make you finish that trail with us, as I’m not sure we were on the actual trail a few minutes later. Instead of ending at the beach and strolling beside the river to the falls like the park staff said, we found ourselves in the thick of the woods, uncertain which way to go, retracing our steps, squeezing through tall, tight boulders with our backpacks on, stepping on fallen branches, and basically disregarding the verbatim instructions I mentioned earlier that I assume they memorize regarding snakes in State Park Staff School in our attempt to make it back to some semblance of a genuine trail – ANY genuine trail! – because I think we were on a game trail or a rogue trail some rule breakers made that was about as wide as my size 9 foot and I kind of started to mildly hyperventilate which concerned The Manling because there was no way he could pack me outta there. I kept it together only because I was absolutely certain that if I passed out all the snakes would slither from their hidey-holes en masse to crawl all over my fallen body which would definitely put a damper on my enthusiasm for hiking, Pedernales Falls, state parking, and nature in general.
Honestly, I don’t remember much toward the end of that, ahem, “adventure” other than I genuinely felt like the most thankful woman on the planet when the trail widened and we eventually found ourselves at the TOP of the Pedernales Falls Overlook – which is the absolute opposite of where the Hackenburg Loop Trail leads. And just because I want to share the degree to which I was fouling the air with my presence after the aforementioned midday “trail” hike, here is the haggard, sweaty pic I snapped to send to The Man:
Yeah. And that was after I had regained some composure.
Thankful to have the hike in the past, I plopped down on the stairs that lead to the bench at the overlook (above pic) to wait out my wobbly legs, cool my jets and basically get my stuff together while The Manling plodded down the masterfully crafted stairs to Pedernales Falls below to go fishing. (Seriously, these are excellent natural stairs! I even went down them SOLO.)
Not many fish were caught by any of the anglers trying their luck in the full sun of Pedernales Falls that day, but from my shaded perch atop the overlook, I got my extrovert on and met some truly interesting people. One person in particular that I continue to think about is the older lady who wore a doggie backpack and her little white doggy companion. As I sat exhausted from my ordeal, she stood at the overlook, chatting with a young family. When the young family headed down the stairs to the falls, she turned her attention on me – sitting on the stairs, looking like I do in the above pic. I shared my harrowing experience with her, and what The Manling and I are doing this year (99 State Parks. 12 Month State Park Pass. 1 Awesome Adventure!) before I asked what brought her to PFSP that day. Through the course of our conversation, I learned that her husband used to work at PFSP. He had retired because of an illness, so PFSP was the last place he worked. The park was super special to her and she wanted to spend the day enjoying the park with her dog like she used to do with her husband. Before he became sick. With cancer. And sadly passed away. That particular day was their anniversary – some huge milestone anniversary, too, like 50 years or something – and being at PFSP was the closest she could come to spending time with her beloved husband on their special day.
Yeah, it hit me square in the feels, too. Still does just writing about it, so let’s take a moment to collect our feels with a rousing game of Where’s Waldo? because The Manling is in every single one of these pics taken from my perch at the Pedernales Falls Overlook.
See the sand down there? That is where we were suppose to end our hike.
I met quite a handful of interesting people while The Manling tried his hand at fishing spot after spot at the dehydrated falls, mostly by offering to take group photos of people wanting pics with the above views as their background. (You can meet a lot of people that way!)
Why We Love Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales River. The park sits on a few miles of the Pedernales River, which offers opportunities to fish, swim, kayak, tube or conoe – any of which would fit the bill on a hot, Texas summer day. There are restrictions on which activities can be enjoyed where, so check with the park staff before taking to the river with your wet activity of choice.
Pedernales Falls. We’ve yet to see the falls in all of their glory, but we don’t really mind. The rock that the diminished water supply exposes is fun to boulder! So either way, the falls rock. (Get it? R O C K? Because they’re made of r o c k?)
Exploring. PFSP offers a host of trails to choose from, including a whopping 10 miles for use on horseback. (NOTE: At the time of this publication, no outfitters were on-site from which to rent said horse, but if you have your own rideable pet, this would be awesome!) And let ours be a cautionary tale – take the trail map with you.
River bed. As previously stated, we’ve never been there when the river had “volume,” but that fact doesn’t diminish the PFSP experience. The exposed river bed is EXCELLENT for exploring. Seriously! Literally everyone that I met headed up the exposed river bed on an adventure. It’s all smooth rock, not mud. And remember to take water. This is a full sun activity.
Parking Lot. This may very well be the first SP that we have visited that offered some shaded parking spots in any parking lot. It is such a colossal blessing when it’s a thousand degrees to have your car parked in the shade of a tree. It makes a difference. Plus…and this is a biggie…PFSP has vending machines in the parking lot to the falls! The Manling and I LOVED that they offered cold drinks for the visitors that maybe underestimated their hydration needs! Kudos, PFSP, for anticipating and meeting the need! (That said, geez, don’t rely on that as your sole means of intake. It’s hot as Hades in Texas. Have a well-stocked cooler of water in your car and use this as a last resort.)
Must Do’s
Hike. Talk with Park Staff at the HQ and map out your hike with them. They love their park and want you to have an excellent time visiting it. And echoing what I said above regarding exploring, take the trail map with you. Trust me.
Fish. The Park Staff were able to point out some great areas to drop a line. Talk to them as you’re registering your vehicle to get the inside scoop on where the fish are biting. (The Manling said the falls were great for carp and I can verify because I saw two men catch some whoppers from my perch on the overlook. Plus the water seems pretty clear there.)
Swim. Look, they have signage for a reason. Don’t swim except in the designated areas. It might seem too hot to be a reasonable request, but if you need to cool off, go to the designated places. You can swim til your heart’s content in those areas. Bad things tend to happen when people go rogue. Don’t be a rogue. Be a rule follower.
We’d love to hear about your experiences at Pedernales Falls State Park! Please share your thoughts on this righteous river region in the comments.
*In all natural areas, you are a guest. Educate yourself on what lives in the areas before your visits, always talk to the Park Rangers upon arrival and take precautions so that your experiences end as positively as ours.
