5 Great Places in the Hill Country to See Bluebonnets in 2018

Spring is right around the corner and that means it is almost time for our beloved state flower, Texas Bluebonnets, to cover the Hill Country’s landscapes. While the flowers do have the tendency to move around from year to year, there are hotspots that regularly have incredible displays.

Turkey Bend Recreation Area – Marble Falls

Photo: Jason Weingart

Turkey Bend is nestled on a bend in the Colorado River. The field here was thick and hearty in 2017 and should be full of flowers again this year. There is a small admission fee. You can also camp under the stars next to a sea of bluebonnets at Turkey Bend.

Highway 16 – Fredericksburg to Llano

Photo: Jason Weingart

Highway 16 is an incredibly scenic drive through rolling hills, which makes for a nice day trip any time of year. The views are simply stunning during bluebonnet season with long stretches covered by bluebonnets and paintbrush.  Take a long detour through the Willow City Loop to see fantastic landscapes and wildflowers.

Wildseed Farms – Fredericksburg

Photo: Jason Weingart

Wildseed Farms has acres of wildflowers. There is always a large field of red poppies and a giant bluebonnet field during the peak of bluebonnet season.

The fields are fenced off but there are usually multiple areas of wildflowers that are open for exploring. You can even find the lesser-seen pink, maroon, and white bluebonnets here. Admission is free.

Highway 29 – Burnet to Mason

Photo: Jason Weingart

This stretch of the road through the Hill Country consistently has amazing wildflower displays. The roads are lined with color for most of the wildflower season. This is a dangerous Texas highway. Use extra caution when driving on this road and don’t get too distracted by the flowers.

The Bluebonnet House – Marble Falls

Photo: Jason Weingart

The funny thing about Texas bluebonnets is they are notoriously tough to predict. The house got its name because of the blue field that surrounded it each season. The field failed to produce much in the way of bluebonnets for several years until 2017 when it was once again was covered in flowers.

This is private property, so please enjoy the view from outside the fenceline.  The adjacent field has also been developed. Use caution when pulling on and off of Highway 281.

Happy hunting, y’all!

All photos by Jason Weingart