What a delightful two-state-park weekend! While camping at Meridian SP, it was easy to persuade my companions (my sister and her husband) to visit nearby Dinosaur Valley SP. My sister and I visited the park with our parents when we were children. I must confess, I enjoyed the park even more as an adult!

There are several miles of hiking trails along a meandering river. The well-marked trails felt more like hiking to me than the trails at many parks—a bit more rugged, much less flat, with beautiful vistas. The eastern part of the park has mountain bike trails as well.

Down in the Paluxy riverbed, there are tracks from theropod and sauropod dinosaurs. Watching children climb around and exclaim all sorts of hilarious things at the tracks was one of the highlights :) The park seemed very family-friendly overall. Life-scale fiberglass dinosaur sculptures from the 1964 World’s Fair are showing their age, but still attract tiny humans in awe.

Appropriate for the modern descendents of dinosaurs, there are areas with breeding habitat for two endangered bird species, the Golden-Cheeked Warbler and Black-Capped Vireo.

We also scoped out the campsites, and chose our favorite. Hopefully we will be back there within the next year for more than day hiking :) 3 months ago

It was a cold weekend for our first camping trip to Meridian SP. The temps were perfect for day hiking, but chilly nights in the mid 30’s bring out the side of us that doesn’t really bother with camp cooking… hooray local Mexican restaurant and margaritas! :D

Meridian is a very small park. There are only ~30 campsites. With the cold temps, we were the only tent campers. It was SOOOOO amazingly peaceful! There ARE perks to freezing my patootie at night!

The trails were nice, especially Shinnery Ridge trail. It is a forest of cedar trees with a far-away magical feel. We saw lovely cedar waxwings, ruby-crowned kinglets, cardinals, lots of robins, black vultures, and a hermit thrush.

I really appreciate that Meridian’s lake is small and no-wake. Things feel more peaceful and natural to me without speedboat and jet-ski noise. The fishermen paddled about or fished from the shore with their pups. I would definitely go back to this park. :) 3 months ago

We took a three-day weekend to Huntsville SP in November, but with Thanksgiving and losing Dad thereafter, I haven’t had the time or inclination to post about it. I think my photos are somewhere, but at least there is a little collage from my phone to share :)

Huntsville is a park of tall piney-mixed woods and a nice lake. There are many miles of hiking trails. We got in a good 9 mile hike one day, and some shorter hikes on other days. The people were friendly, and a man at the next campsite taught me a few more campfire-building tips, which made my fires even more awesome :) So good, in fact, that we grilled veggie kebabs one night!

The nights were chilly and the days balmy and blue-sky-gorgeous. It was great camping weather. There were even a few fall colors in the trees. It was a very peaceful, beautiful place. I liked this park a lot and would be delighted to go back. 4 months ago

_{photo of my mad campfire skills ;)}

It has finally cooled down enough to spend whole days outside… thank heaven :) We’ve got campsites reserved each month until summer! Three parks will be new to us (Meridian, Huntsville, Mother Neff), while the other four are solid favorites. Yay for outdoorsy state park goodness and awesome family time! 7 months ago

I’ve been going to the same park over and over… granted, it’s the nearest to town, and the trail is a nice loop where I saw plenty of painted buntings in early summer. It’s been too hot to head out for longer excursions but camping season is just around the corner :D

The state divides the parks into regions: Panhandle Plains (north), Big Bend Country (west), Piney Woods (east), Prairies and Lakes (east central), Hill Country (west central), South Texas Plains (south), and Gulf Coast.

Hill Country (under 3 hrs)

✔ McKinney Falls SP, Austin TX, 8 miles, 17 min. Painted bunting capitol of Austin :D Hiked here too many times to count, but ought to give the primitive camping a go.

✔ Pedernales Falls SP, Johnson City TX, 40 miles, 52 min. Love this beautiful park.

✔ Inks Lake SP, Burnet TX, 66 miles, 1 hr 22 min. Lake stuff, good camping, hiking would be better when it’s cool out as there is no shade.

✔ Guadalupe River SP, Spring Branch TX, 79 miles, 1 hr 39 min. Amazing river, good hiking, a bird blind. Really gorgeous.

✔ Enchanted Rock SNA, Fredericksburg TX, 94 miles, 1 hr 43 min. The rock is truly enchanted ;) Primitive camping, so I’ve only hiked here so far.

Colorado Bend SP, Bend TX, 104 miles, 2 hrs 45 min. Caves, waterfalls, and camping. Currently low water and burn ban.

Government Canyon SNA, San Antonio TX, 92 miles, 1 hr 40 min. Hiking and birding, NO campsites. Stop here on the way to Hill Country SNA. Current burn ban.

Hill Country SNA, Bandera TX, 127 miles, 2 hrs 33 min. 40 miles of gorgeous hill country trails, primitive camping.

South Llano River SP, Junction TX, 141 miles, 2 hrs 42 min. River, camping, turkeys.

✔ Garner SP, Concan TX, 166 miles, 2 hrs 55 min. I’ve camped here but would love to go back in the fall, when it’s less busy, and do the big hike.

Lost Maples SNA, Vanderpool TX, 149 miles, 3 hrs 0 min. My favorite trees, no brainer :D Rugged limestone canyons. Pretty excited about all the parks in this region, actually.

Prairies and Lakes (under 3 hrs)

✘ Lockhart SP, Lockhart TX, 33 miles, 46 min. I’m gonna be honest, this park looks like it sucks. I could go there and verify, but it’s basically a golf course and a swimming pool. I really have no intention of going here.

✔ Bastrop SP, Bastrop TX, 37 miles, 54 min. Something magical about these pine trees. Haven’t been since last fall’s wildfires.

Buescher SP, Smithville TX, 42 miles, 56 min. The less-awesome of the two SPs in Bastrop, but probably worth checking out based on proximity. Love Bastrop, and at worst, it’s 12 miles from what I know is good hiking.

Palmetto SP, Gonzales TX, 53 miles, 1 hr 10 min. Strikes me as kind of dinky. Why am I not excited about this one? I could at least stop in for a hike since I drive past it once per month… :)

Lake Somerville SP, Ledbetter TX, 88 miles, 1 hr 57 min. Meh… lake stuff and birding. EDIT: last week I heard such great things about the birding here, and some nice hiking trails to get to bird ponds… so much more tempted by a flock of wood storks… :)

Mother Neff SP, Moody TX, 101 miles, 2 hrs 4 min. Also not as excited about this one, but it’s the park that started the Texas parks system. Camping, birding.

I am not that excited about these parks, which maybe means I ought to give them a chance, otherwise I will keep overlooking them. And they are all under 2 hours.

✔ Meridian SP, Meridian TX, 135 miles, 2 hrs 26 min. A small park with camping and a no-wake lake (yes!!!). Habitat for golden-cheeked warbler :) They also provide a bird checklist.

✔ Dinosaur Valley SP, Glen Rose TX, 161 miles, 3 hrs 12 min. Slipping in even though over 3 hours, because it’s DINOSAURS. I’m pretty sure we went here as kids but not for camping. Looks pretty and has hiking and river stuff, and river stuff>>lake stuff ;)

South Texas Plains (under 3 hrs)

Goliad SP, Goliad TX, 127 miles, 2 hrs 30 min. Busy: Dec-Mar. On the San Antonio river, camping, historical stuff.

Choke Canyon SP, Calliham TX, 151 miles, 2 hrs 40 min. Lake activities, camping and birds.

Piney Woods (~3 hrs)

✔ Huntsville SP, Huntsville TX, 167 miles, 3 hrs 17 min. The closest park in the tall pines of East TX. Will have all the eastern birds... :D and camping.

Gulf Coast (3-4 hours)

Brazos Bend SP, Needville TX, 169 miles, 3 hrs 30 min. YES!! This one is all about birds. There is a variety of habitat directly in popular migratory path, as well as over-wintering birds. Wheee! Is 100 miles/2 hrs from parent’s home, also. Maybe this one over the holidays?

Lake Corpus Christi SP, Mathis TX, 184 miles, 3 hrs 15 min. Lake stuff…. heehee

Mustang Island SP, Port Aransas TX, 244 miles, 4 hrs 15 min. Camping on the beach, lots of birds (also on a migratory path). 138 miles/2 hrs 30 min from parents’ home. Would be cool to get them to meet us in CC sometime.

These are all a sort-of reasonable distance for a weekend trip (4 hrs is pushing it). I’ll save the further away parks for a different entry, for future times, when I have a car that I wouldn’t fear falling apart on the way o_O 8 months ago

on Sunday, but without camera since the goal was walking and talking with friend… :)

• Red Rocks
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Mt. Evans Wilderness area (for climbing Mt Bierstadt)

The Texas park visiting will have to pick up a bit more when the sun is less blistering hot! I do love the summertime, but sunburn, not so much. Night time, when it’s still 96 degrees—that’s where it’s at :) Should instigate a hammock plan…! 10 months ago

Thank goodness for three-day-weekends :) My second time camping at Inks Lake SP, but my first time on this amazing campsite.

11 months ago

Leisurely walk/hike at dusk at McKinney Falls SP. It would be nice to camp here. 3.5 miles.

runneth over

gnarly bark

baby hawk

rain lily

pewee bird

tarantula hiding
12 months ago

A national park, but a place I’ve wanted to visit for several years…
A special habitat for golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos. The time finally arrived for this hike to happen.

as so often is the case

hot on the warbler trail

nymph, central Texas leaf-katydid, red form

well hello mr. snakey snake

yucca view

of the grandmother who loved birds and cacti

the odd mossy branches

and wildflowers

sunset deck well before sunset
12 months ago

Guadalupe River SP is a gorgeous park! The river is a beautiful blue-green, surrounded by rooty bald cypress trees, bluffs, birds, flowers, unclouded skies and peace.

13 months ago

...yesterday evening, no luck! Just called the park and they haven’t heard any reports of them being back just yet. So, try again soon! However, we had a nice 2 mile hike and saw many birds and other cool things :)

13 months ago

Repeat parks:
McKinney Falls SP, for buntings this month!
Inks Lake SP, already booked for camping soon
Lake Texana SP, marsh birds

New-to-me parks:
Guadalupe River SP, also booked for camping!
World Birding Center!!!!
Brazos Bend SP, birds
Choke Canyon SP, more birds ;)
Franklin Mountains SP
Palo Duro Canyon SP
Caprock Canyons SP
South Llano River SP
Lost Maples SP, fall colors
Hueco Tanks SHS, bouldering
Hill Country SNA, backcountry
Buescher SP, pine forest13 months ago

More to brainstorm destinations than a checklist that must be crossed off. World Birding Center? Yes please!!

Perhaps there are a few more I’ve visited with my parents as a kid, but can’t place the memory with a location. We did visit a number of public park places, on day trips to look at wildflowers or to historic monuments when we passed through. Squeezing history, biology, knowledge, on a shoestring budget. My parents are amazing for such things.

A

Abilene State Park
Atlanta State Park

B

√ Balmorhea State Park
Barrington Living History Farm at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center
√ Bastrop State Park
√ Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (Part of the World Birding Center)
√ Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Spring State Park
Blanco State Park
Bonham State Park
Brazos Bend State Park
Buescher State Park

C

Caddo Lake State Park
Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway
Cedar Hill State Park
Choke Canyon State Park
Cleburne State Park
Colorado Bend State Park
Cooper Lake State Park
Copper Breaks State Park

D

Daingerfield State Park
√ Davis Mountains State Park
Devils River State Natural Area
Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area
√ Dinosaur Valley State Park

E

Eisenhower State Park
√ Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Estero Llano Grande State Park (Part of the World Birding Center)

F

Fairfield Lake State Park
Falcon State Park
Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site
Fort Boggy State Park
Fort Leaton State Historic Site
Fort Parker State Park
Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site & Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
Franklin Mountains State Park

G

Galveston Island State Park
√ Garner State Park
√ Goliad State Park
Goose Island State Park
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Governor Hogg Shrine - Operated by the City of Quitman
√ Guadalupe River State Park

H

Hill Country State Natural Area
√ Honey Creek State Natural Area
Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
Huntsville State Park

I

√ Indian Lodge
√ Inks Lake State Park

J

Jim Hogg - Operated by the City of Rusk

K

Kickapoo Cavern State Park
Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites

L

Lake Arrowhead State Park
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Lake Brownwood State Park
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
Lake Colorado City State Park
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Lake Livingston State Park
√ Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway
Lake Tawakoni State Park
√ Lake Texana State Park
Lake Whitney State Park
Lipantitlan State Historic Site
Lockhart State Park
√ Longhorn Cavern State Park
Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site

M

Martin Creek Lake State Park
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
√ McKinney Falls State Park
Meridian State Park
Mission Rosario State Historic Site
Mission Tejas State Park
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites Historic Site
Mother Neff State Park
√ Mustang Island State Park

O

Old Fort Parker - Operated by the City of Groesbeck

P

√ Palmetto State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
√ Pedernales Falls State Park
Penn Farm
Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site - Operated by the City of Port Isabel
Possum Kingdom State Park
Purtis Creek State Park

R

Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Resaca de la Palma State Park (Part of the World Birding Center)

S

San Angelo State Park
√ San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
√ San Jacinto Monument
Sauer-Beckmann Farm
Sea Rim State Park
Sebastopol House State Historic Site - Operated by the City of Seguin
Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
South Llano River State Park
Stephen F. Austin State Park

T

Tyler State Park

V

Village Creek State Park

W

Walter Umphrey State Park - Operated by Jefferson County
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
World Birding Center
Wyler Aerial Tramway

Z

Zaragosa Birthplace State Historic Site 13 months ago

This month, painted buntings arrive at McKinney Falls SP :)

I bought a park pass on 13 March at that park, but haven’t been back yet. We also have camping plans at two other parks in the next two months. To get the best bargain out of the pass, I ought to go at least once, perhaps twice per month.

So when I visited the TPWD homepage to start scheming some park visit plans, there are birds plastered all over! 630+ species in Texas. And a calendar of birding events at state parks :D way cool. 13 months ago