Everything is bigger in Texas and the amount of state parks located around this large state are no exception. With around 89 state parks in total, there is much more to see in Texas than there is time to visit all of them.
If you aren’t sure what state parks to visit this summer, here are some of the most popular state parks in the Lone Star state.
Longhorn Cavern State Park www.visitlonghorncavern.com Burnet
Developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the park’s star attraction is Longhorn Cavern, an underground wonder created by the dissolving and cutting action of an ancient river.
Located just outside of Austin, this cave of legends is one of the most popular state parks, according to tripadvisor.com. Visitors are invited to tour the caverns, hike the various trails, ride their bikes, have a picnic, or learn about the CCC and their contributions to Texas.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon Canyon
Known as the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” the Palo Duro Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the country, nestled into the Texas panhandle.
Visitors can explore the canyon by foot, mountain bike, horse, or car. There are also 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails for people to enjoy. Among other things to do are camp, geocache, study nature, or bird watch. During the summers, enjoy a performance of TEXAS Outdoor Musical.
Caprock Canyons State Park www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caprock-canyons Quitaque
Wind and water over the eons shaped the rugged beauty of Caprock Canyons State Park in the panhandle of Texas. Today, bison roam the plains, bats roost in Clarity Tunnel, and you can explore 90 miles of trails, according to tpwd.texas.gov.
Besides marveling at the bison and bats, you can hike, ride horses or bikes, camp, geocache, or take a scenic drive. Lake Theo offers no-wake boating, fishing, and swimming. Or, if you’d like, have a picnic in nature.
Brazos Bend State Park www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend Needville
Just 45 miles from downtown Houston, Brazos Bend has all the nature anyone could ever want. The park revolves around nature and preserving the habitats, which support a diverse range of plants and animals. To make the most of it, it’s recommended to bring walking shoes, binoculars, and your best camera.
Besides spending time in nature, visitors can also hike and bike, fish, picnic, geocache, ride horses, and stay over-night. With miles of trails and various ponds and lakes throughout the park, some visitors might even run into an alligator or two!
Big Bend Ranch State Park www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/big-bend-ranch Marfa
Big Bend Ranch is a remote park featuring rugged mountains, steep canyons, amazing views, unparalleled night skies, and solitude in a high desert setting. The park stretches along the Rio Grande in far west Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Visitors can hike, mountain-bike, backpack, paddle, ride horses, or explore by vehicle. The park has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, so stargazers will like camping out in the park. As the biggest state park in Texas, there is more than enough to satisfy every type of adventurer.
Davis Mountains State Park www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/davis-mountains Fort Davis
Known for its trails and tranquility, Davis Mountains is perfect for hiking, biking, stargazing, camping, and even geocaching. What’s more, there is a historic frontier fort nearby that visitors are encouraged to learn about.
Visitors can watch birds at the “best little bird blind in Texas.” The blind offers an enclosed viewing station, a shielded outside patio, and watering and feeding stations. Visitors can also go to the interpretive center to see what birds are being fed at the station there.
Pedernales Falls State Park www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/pedernales-falls Johnson City
The most significant part of Pedernales Falls is the river, which runs through the park. Although it can be turbulent at times and lead to flash flooding, most of the time it is calm and peaceful. Visitors are invited to walk along the river, camp, swim or tube, and fish to their heart’s content.
According to www.tpwd.texas.gov, visitors can hike or bike the scenic Hill Country. Trails range from easy to difficult. Take the half-mile Twin Falls Nature Trail and stop at the scenic overlook over the falls. Or tackle the six-mile Wolf Mountain Trail. This challenging trail wraps around Tobacco and Wolf mountains and winds along the small canyons created by Mescal and Tobacco creeks. There are a variety of trails, creeks, and rivers to be found in Pedernales Falls.
For more information on each of these parks as well as ideas for more parks to visit, go to www.tpwd.texas.gov.
