Hill Country/Explore

Theme

Hiking & trails

Trails, summits and the walks worth the drive.

89 places 33 towns

Park · San Saba

Colorado Bend State Park

Park 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily; headquarters 8:45 a.m.–4:15 p.m. · Hikers, paddlers and waterfall chasers

Park · Bandera

Bandera City Park

Daily 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; verify gates · Families and river picnics

Attraction · Bandera

Bandera Natural History and Art Museum

Tue–Sat 10 AM – 5 PM, Sun Noon – 5 PM, closed Mon … · Families and curious kids

Attraction · Bandera

Always accessible · History and road-trip stops

Attraction · Bandera

Western Trail Antiques & Marketplace

Mon–Sat 10 AM – 5 PM, Sun 11 AM – 5 PM · Antique hunters and couples

Blanco State Park

Open daily; reserve a day pass or campsite before arrival

Roland and Viola Bindseil City Park

Kreutzberg Canyon Natural Area

Dawn to dusk · Hiking, biking, bird watching

The Cibolo Center for Conservation

Trails open daily, dawn to dusk · Families and nature enthusiasts

Canyon of the Eagles Nature Park

Daily (sunrise to sunset) · Nature lovers, campers, and stargazers

Experience · Burnet

Spider Mountain Bike Park

Friday-Sunday 8 AM-3 PM for lift; uphill riding/hiking daily during daylight hours · Mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts

Experience · Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake Gorge

Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.), closed Sunday · Geology enthusiasts and guided hikers

Park · Canyon Lake

March: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM; April-September: 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM; October: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM · Picnics, boating, and trail walking

Park · Canyon Lake

Guadalupe Park and South Trail

Daylight hours · Nature walks and river fishing

Park · Canyon Lake

James C. Curry Nature Center

Daylight/always accessible · Nature lovers and hikers

Experience · Canyon Lake

Daylight/always accessible · Hikers and mountain bikers

Park · Canyon Lake

Overlook Scenic Viewing Area and Canyon Dam

Daylight hours (seasonal access applies) · Casual walkers and sightseers

Garner State Park

Open daily 8 AM to 10 PM · Families, hikers, and campers

Park · D'Hanis

Finger Memorial Park

Gates open daily from daylight to dark; walking trail access 24/7

Park · Dripping Springs

Charro Ranch Park

Daylight/always accessible · Nature lovers and bird watchers

Park · Dripping Springs

Dripping Springs Ranch Park

Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm · Equestrians, hikers, and event attendees

Park · Dripping Springs

Founders Memorial Park

Daylight/always accessible · Families, walkers, and outdoor recreation

Park · Dripping Springs

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Daily 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM by reservation · Nature enthusiasts and photographers

Park · Dripping Springs

Milton Reimers Ranch Park

7:00 am to civil twilight · Outdoor enthusiasts and active families

Park · Dripping Springs

Sports and Recreation Park

Daylight/always accessible · Families, athletes, and casual walkers

Experience · Dripping Springs

Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center

By reservation and guided tour only · Nature lovers and guided hikers

Park · Fredericksburg

Cross Mountain Park

Open daily dawn to dusk · Nature enthusiasts and history buffs

Park · Fredericksburg

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Open daily 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. · Hikers, climbers, and stargazers

Attraction · Fredericksburg

Fort Martin Scott

Grounds daily 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; site Tue–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m. · History buffs and families

Park · Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Nature Center

Nature lovers and birdwatchers

Park · Fredericksburg

Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park

Families, campers, and dog owners

Park · Fredericksburg

Old Tunnel State Park

Trail open sunrise to 5 p.m.; bat viewing after 5 p.m. · Wildlife enthusiasts and families

Attraction · Fredericksburg

Open daily 10am to 6pm · Families and nature lovers

Attraction · Garden Ridge

Natural Bridge Caverns

Varies by day, check website · Families, cave enthusiasts, adventure seekers

Mission Valley Historical Marker and Hondo City Park Complex

Park · Horseshoe Bay

Horseshoe Bay Nature Park

Sunrise to sunset · Nature walks and bird watching

Experience · Horseshoe Bay

Horseshoe Creek Hiking Trail

Hiking and nature

Attraction · Inks Lake

Devil's Waterhole

Daylight / always accessible · Swimmers and hikers

Attraction · Inks Lake

Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery

Daily 7 am - 3:30 pm · Families, birders, and nature walkers

Park · Inks Lake

Inks Lake State Park

Open daily · Families, campers, hikers

River · Inks Lake

Inks Lake State Park Boat Ramp

Daylight/always accessible · Boaters and paddlers

Experience · Inks Lake

Pecan Flats Trail

Daylight/always accessible · Hikers and nature enthusiasts

Experience · Johnson City

Johnson Settlement (National Park Service)

Open daily sunrise to sunset · History buffs and families

Park · Johnson City

Pedernales Falls State Park

Open daily; gates closed 10 p.m.–8 a.m. · Families, hikers, and nature lovers

Experience · Jonestown

Canyonlands Trail

Daylight hours · Nature walks and casual hiking

Park · Jonestown

Jones Brothers Park

Sunrise to 10 pm · Boaters, families, and picnickers

Park · Kerrville

Daily dawn-11pm · Families and active play

Park · Kerrville

Flat Rock Dog Park

Daily sunrise-sunset · Off-leash dog exercise

River · Kerrville

Kerrville River Trail

Partly reopened — check City notice · Walking and cycling

Park · Kerrville

Kerrville-Schreiner Park

Office daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Riverside closed · Hillside trails and camping

Park · Kerrville

Lehmann-Monroe Park

Closed until further notice · Birding and volleyball

Park · Kerrville

Louise Hays Park

Closed until further notice · Park and trail connections

Attraction · Kerrville

Riverside Nature Center

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm · Families and nature learners

Park · Kerrville

Singing Wind Park

Daily dawn-11pm · Sports, trails, and families

Park · Lago Vista

Arkansas Bend Park

Sunrise to civil twilight (Day Use), 24 hours (Boat Ramp) · Camping, boating, and family picnics

Park · Lago Vista

Shaffer Bend Recreation Area

Open 365 days a year from 7 a.m. to sunset · Camping, hiking, and horseback riding

Park · Lago Vista

Daylight/always accessible · Families, walkers, sports enthusiasts

Park · Lago Vista

Turkey Bend Recreation Area

Daily (sunrise to sunset) · Camping, hiking, and nature lovers

Experience · Lago Vista

Turnback Canyon Trail

Daylight hours · Nature lovers and casual hikers

Park · Lago Vista

Dawn to dusk · Hikers, birdwatchers, nature lovers

Attraction · Lake Buchanan

Lake Buchanan/Inks Lake Visitor Center

Daylight/always accessible · First-time visitors and families

Park · Lakehills

Bandera County Park at Medina Lake

Memorial Day–Labor Day: Thu–Mon 8 AM – 8 PM (closed Tue–Wed). … · Boaters and anglers

Bushong Mountain Park

7:00 am to dusk daily · Hikers and mountain bikers

Attraction · Leakey

Near Route of Famous Cattle Trail Historical Marker

24 hours · History buffs and road trippers

Park · Marble Falls

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Public areas dawn-dusk; headquarters Mon-Fri 8-4:30 · Hiking and bird watching

Experience · Marble Falls

Hidden Falls Adventure Park

Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm · Off-roading and camping

Park · Marble Falls

6:00 AM - 11:59 PM · Families, picnics, outdoor events

Attraction · Marble Falls

Saturdays 10 AM - 6 PM · Art lovers

Experience · New Braunfels

Dry Comal Creek Nature Trail

Daylight/always accessible · Hikers, mountain bikers, nature lovers

Park · New Braunfels

Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 9am-3pm, Closed Sunday · Families, walkers, and nature lovers

Experience · New Braunfels

Headwaters at the Comal

Wednesday to Saturday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sunday to Tuesday by appointment · Nature lovers and history buffs

Park · New Braunfels

Daily 6:00 am - 10:00 pm · Families, nature lovers, picnickers

Park · Pipe Creek

Bear Springs Blossom Nature Trail

Call ahead to arrange access · Birders and native-plant learners

Park · San Marcos

Purgatory Creek Natural Area

Daylight/always accessible · Hikers, mountain bikers, nature lovers

Park · San Marcos

Spring Lake Natural Area

Daylight/always accessible · Hikers, bird watchers, nature lovers

Attraction · Sattler

The Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country

Wednesday - Sunday 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM · Families, history buffs, fossil enthusiasts

Attraction · Sisterdale

Ottmar von Behr Historical Marker

Roadside, any hour. · German-Texan history and the Forty-Eighters

Park · Spring Branch

Guadalupe River State Park

Open daily. Gate: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Headquarters varies by season. · Families, campers, and paddlers

Park · Spring Branch

Honey Creek State Natural Area

Trails open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. · Nature walks and guided hikes

River · Spring Branch

Nichols Landing

daylight/always accessible · Paddlers and anglers

Park · Startzville

Open daily 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM (last entry 6:00 PM) during season · Families, swimmers, and picnickers

Park · Stonewall

LBJ State Park & Historic Site

Grounds open daily until dark; farm hours vary seasonally · Families and history buffs

Park · Vanderpool

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. · Hikers, birders, and nature photographers

River · Vanderpool

Sabinal River at Lost Maples State Natural Area

Open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. · Hikers, birders, and nature photographers

Park · Volente

Tom Hughes Park

Every day, 9:00 am to civil twilight · Swimming, sunbathing, and sunset watching

Park · Wimberley

Blue Hole Regional Park

Park open 8 am to sunset; Swimming 9 am to 6 pm (May-Sept) · Families, swimmers, and nature lovers

Park · Wimberley

Cypress Creek Nature Preserve

8 a.m. to Sunset · Nature lovers and walkers

Park · Wimberley

Jacob's Well Natural Area

Daily 8:00am to 6:00pm · Nature lovers and hikers

Park · Wimberley

8 a.m. to Sunset · Hikers and view seekers