Hike the Cedar Chopper Loop

Gorman Falls is truly a gem of the Texas Hill Country. This waterfall is situated in Colorado Bend State Park, one of the most diverse state parks in the area, and is what is considered a "living" waterfall. While most waterfalls will get smaller over time, Gorman Falls gets bigger. This is due to the high concentration of carbon dioxide in the water that runs through the large limestone deposi...

Spicewood Spring is a spring-fed swimming hole in Colorado Bend State Park and can be reached in one of two ways. There is an out and back trail that will take about 3.6 miles round trip if you just want to swim, but I prefer turning it into a scenic hike that takes you through Spicewood Canyon and ending with a rewarding dip in the spring. There is convenient parking at the trailhead for both...

The Inks Lake State Park Trail is a 4.7 mile loop trail located within Inks Lake State Park, just outside of Burnet, Texas. Only a small portion of the trail follows the lake, then it veers off through the rocky and hilly terrain of the Texas Hill Country. The trail is only partially shaded at times (during the summer time make sure to brings plenty of water, as it gets extremely hot!).  The tr...

Inks Lake is located northwest of Austin and is home to about 200 campsites. For a more unique experience and to be set away from the parks many visitors, choose the Pecan Flats Trail Primitive Camp which is about a mile hike from the Pecan Flats trailhead.Once you enter the park, the Pecan Flats trailhead is located in the parking lot directly beside the parking lot for the headquarters. An i...

Located in the small but fun town of Llano, Texas, Badu Park is a great location for catching a sunset, fishing, picnicking, or just plain chilling. This location is located about an hour and a half west of Austin, Texas (75 miles) but is well worth the drive for a day trip!  The dam is a popular swimming, fishing, and photography spot. The parking lot is located right next to the dam and is ea...

The Longhorn Cavern State Park is a hidden gem in the Hill Country. The caverns are breathtaking and some of the walls are completely covered in Quartz. During prohibition, bootleggers used the caverns as a speakeasy and there are remnants left from that era. In order to view the Caverns you must purchase a ticket for the guided tour. All the information you need can be found here .