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3 Great Hill Country State Park or Natural Area Camping Sites You’ll Want to Book in Advance

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Tony Maples Photography

 

One of the best ways to experience the Texas Hill Country is from a campsite. The air just seems fresher, the water clearer, and you could literally spend all night looking up at the starry Texas sky. With that in mind, here are some top-notch places to pitch a tent in the Hill Country, offering opportunities to swim, fish, hike, paddle, and just about anything else you can think of doing in the great outdoors.

1. Garner State Park, Concan

3 Great Hill Country State Park or Natural Area Camping Sites You’ll Want to Book In Advance

Photo: Facebook/Garner State Park

Garner State Park consists of more than 1,700 acres of beautiful Texas Hill Country property located in Concan. It includes access to almost three miles of the Frio River, not to mention 11 miles of hiking trails. Visitors can not only camp, picnic, ride bikes, and the like, but there are a ton of water recreation activities to keep busy at too, such as tubing, fishing, and kayaking. The park regularly holds jukebox dances in their pavilion each spring and summer, and it’s one of the most popular places in Texas (often at capacity in peak season). Campers can choose from tent sites, screened-in shelters, and cabins, and should check availability and make reservations online.

2. Colorado Bend State Park, Bend

3 Great Hill Country State Park or Natural Area Camping Sites You’ll Want to Book In Advance

Photo: Facebook/Colorado Bend State Park – Texas Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Bend State Park is nicely situated on the Colorado River and is home to the amazingly beautiful Gorman Falls. Hiking to the falls is permitted, as is touring caves and going birding, swimming, and kayaking. There’s much to see and do in this beauty of nature, and visitors can call ahead (512-389-8900) or check online for availability. Remember that in peak camping seasons, this park can fill up fast. Reserving a campsite in advance is always best.

3. Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool

3 Great Hill Country State Park or Natural Area Camping Sites You’ll Want to Book In Advance

Photo: Facebook/Quinn Bergeon Photography

Situated in the Sabinal River Canyon, with actual access to the Sabinal River, Lost Maples State Natural Area is another wonderful place to camp out in the Texas Hill Country. Visitors can hike, swim, and fish, and spend time at their campsites simply enjoying the peacefulness of nature. Although many would recommend camping here between mid-October and mid-November for peak fall foliage viewing, Lost Maples have some wonderful sites serviced with water and electricity, as well as a handful that are primitive for those that really like to rough-it. It’s also situated close to Utopia and Bandera, so making treks into town aren’t cumbersome if you’ve forgotten something. Check online for availability and reservations, and enjoy your time camping in the Texas Hill Country!