The Texas Hill Country is a little slice of Heaven on earth. One visit and you're hooked on the beautiful views, wide open spaces, city life and people.
Planning for our outdoor adventures big and small start with a bit of research to check for ease of access, the trail system and where we can stay. With our hometown being a suburb of Houston we often have to drive a few hours to our next hiking destination so marking off majority of our wish list is important.
Why we loved Pedernales Falls State Park
Pedernales Falls is clean with ample parking, it boasts an abundance of hiking trails for all abilities, the trails are well marked and maintained, they host several group hiking tours and activities and you can float the river! Tubing anyone? We didn't swim in the river while we were there (the outside temp was around 65 degrees and for us Texans that was just a bit too cold) but it was highly recommended.
The Twin Falls Nature Trail which leads to the Falls was my favorite trail of the day, it is only about a half mile walk to the falls from the parking lot. The trail was perfect for all ages and once you arrive at the falls there is still so much to see and explore. The water was really low when we visited so we got to walk through and under the rock formations. We always enjoy attempting to skip rocks across the water too.
FYI: this is a dirt trail and has descending stairs that lead to the falls.
If that trail is a bit too easy for you the maps are easily accessible and available online for planning your trip. One day wouldn't be enough to see everything available.
Star gazing is available at the park and you can even join in on a nighttime hike! Several trails were marked for mountain biking and horses so definitely bring those along if you have access!
Even though the park is located in a rural setting you can still enjoy the perks of being close to town. Johnson City has lots of eateries, shopping and local activities are only a short drive away.
Tent and RV camping is available at Pedernales Falls State Park but fair warning, these sites fill up quickly. The campsites were completely full when I tried reserving a site online before our trip but we were lucky enough to find an alternative campsite at Ranch 3232.
Camping at Pedernales State Park
Ranch 3232 is a privately owned campsite located only a few miles from the State Park. We were able to book a tent site for the weekend and I was so thankful to find this gem! The Ranch has a bathhouse with 6 individual bathroom stalls which included running water, a toilet, shower and outlets. Just outside the bathhouse is a community kitchen! We loved this addition, the convenience of not having to worry about packing every little food utensil and tons of water was a big relief. They even had a coffee maker to enjoy your sunrise coffee by the campfire without the work of building a fire and waiting for your pot to boil.
All of the little details is what made this campsite special. You could instantly feel the owners love for their property and outdoors. The campsites were large and included electricity; the tent sites had groomed mulch for a softer sleeping ground, the little solar lights made the walking paths to the bathroom safe and easy to follow. The center of the campground included Adirondack chairs with fire rings to enjoy the sunsets and company.
If you're not into tent camping they rent cabins and glamping teepees too! This campsite was picture perfect, we will definitely be back!
Book a reservation on AirBNB and use my invitation link to receive $55 off your first trip!
The memories we made were the most meaningful part of our trip. The little things like laughing and making jokes, telling stories and living in the moment without any outside distractions. Even if you only have time for a day hike, get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
Sound off! Have you been to Pedernales State Park? If you have leave me a comment on your favorite trail or anything I may not have known was a must see!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you click and buy something from a link posted. Please review my full disclosure for more information. Thank you for supporting my blog!