Beautiful views, sandy shores, miles of hiking and horse-riding trails, perfect camping spots — Pedernales Falls State Park has it all! Only about an hour’s drive from Austin to Johnson City, Pedernales Falls is a local favorite because it offers an endless ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Plan for a day trip or overnight camping excursion to enjoy geocaching, bird watching, swimming, kayaking, fishing, mountain biking, and much more.
The park’s falls are a must-see! Only a short walk from the parking lot, the falls area is easy to get to and doesn’t require any difficult hiking. At this section of the park, you’ll find huge slabs of limestone with a dramatic series of cascades and pools, making unique rock formations that are exciting to climb around and explore. The water in this area can be turbulent, so no swimming is allowed at the falls, but the scenery of this area is really unique and beautiful.
While the falls area itself is a reason to visit this State Park, there is much more to explore! The park contains 8 miles of the Pedernales River as it meanders through plenty of hiking trails, a “beach” area for swimming, and plenty of places to enjoy nature. If you’re interested in hiking or mountain biking, there are some great options for those with a more advanced stamina. Check out this interactive trail map, showing the distance of trails throughout the park. If you’d like to kayak, you can put your watercraft in at the swimming area or Trammell’s Crossing Trail.
On a recent visit with our family, we enjoy a leisurely picnic by the river under the shade of giant cypress trees after a 5-mile hike. The cool water was the perfect place to wade and cool off our toes!
As with most popular State Parks, it’s important to reserve your day passes or camping spots in advance. Most weekends are filling up, so you would not want to drive out there and be turned away because the park is at capacity. You can view much more information and make your reservations on the Pedernales Falls State Park website. Before you go, it’s a great idea to review the latest COVID-19 policies to help everyone stay safe and healthy.
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