Hill Country State Natural Area — Attraction in Bandera

Yet another awesome, breathtaking state park.

The trails - you have GOT to check out the Ice Cream Hill Trail and the West Peak Overlook. The West Peak Overlook is the highest elevation point in the park but Ice Cream Hill Trail has some good elevation changes too and is a challenging, yet fun hike. If you are only able to do one of them, I recommend Ice Cream Hill.

Most of the trails I took to reach these two trails were in full sun, so be aware of that. Probably only 10% shaded.

Tips: *Ice Cream Hill Trail has a lot of overgrown twisted sotol in places, so wear long pants or you’ll get scratched up like I did.

*Very equine friendly and it shows on some of the trails if you know what I mean - watch your step!

*Primitive camping available on the Wilderness Trail near the Ice Cream Hill Trail. It’s a couple of miles to hike to, depending on the route you take. Tent camping closer to the roads with picnic tables and bbq grills toward the southern end of the park.

*They have a group lodge you can reserve.

*There’s a group camping and picnic area with 6 or 7 RV spots with electric hookups, a horse stable, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, lights, and electricity.

*There’s a water spigot near the start of the trailhead, one at the park HQ, and several at the group camping area for the RV hookups, but as of August 2018, they all had warnings that it was non-potable water. The signs said it “contains testing chemicals.” Not sure how long this will last, so bring PLENTY of water SERIOUSLY.

*The park HQ hours changed recently to 8:15a to 4:45p - I scared them when I strolled into the office at about 8:05am, LOL.

*Most of these state natural areas close the trails when they get rain, and so does this one. I always check their Twitter feeds before I go out, and this one said the trails were open on my first visit. I got there and found out the trails were closed, so all I got to do was walk along the miles of roads and check things out. My next visit was a success though, and that’s what this review is about!

*Wear hiking boots, or at least hiking shoes on the trails I mention above. I don’t recommend regular tennis shoes. Parts of it are rough. You’ll thank me for it. You’re...

This is a hidden gem. Hardly anyone was there the weekend of July 12-14 so it's great if you're looking for seclusion and relative quiet. I saw rabbits and deer a few times and the frogs make such a beautiful soundtrack at night. I stayed in site 129, which was like my own personal park - absolutely stunning, huge, with magical trees. There are 40 miles of trails! I hiked most of Bandera Creek Trail (dry creek when I was there), Spring Branch Trail and Wilderness Trail with the overlook trail that comes off of it. Great vistas with sunny and shady parts, but confusing sometimes since they cross over each other and the road multiple times. I say don't worry if you get disoriented, you'll eventually get back to where you started but bring twice as much water as you think you'll need! I liked the part of the trail leading up to the Madrone Trail, very shady with leafy trees. The flat, pastoral trails are surprisingly pretty at sunset. I didn't love the Comanche Bluff Trail and the view of the sunset was obstructed. The Chaquita Falls trail leads to a nice creek but you can't really see the falls from there. If you get hot and need to cool down in some water, I recommend driving into town and hitting up the Bandera City Park. That part of the river is lined with Bald Cypress and it's really lovely. I am already looking forward to my next trip out here. There were several fields that I could tell were covered in wildflowers last month so I think springtime must be...

The drive to the park was amazing with great views of the hills, stayed one night alone with my dog, apon arrival, the park ranger was very nice and helpful. Asked which backpacking camp was the longest so I did the hike from the parking to the Hermit Trail to the Butterfly Springs camp site. Great views along the way with plenty of shade. Was about 5 miles, so bring plenty of water and a water filter as well. When I finally got to the camp, there was literally a picnic table there! First time I've seen a table at a backpacking area. There was a lot of shade at the site, set up my tent and a tarp above my tent, there was suppose to be some small clouds with rain passing through which turned into a storm with heavy rain! Fast strong winds! And a lot of lighting and thunder! It was the most intense backpacking trip I've had in all my solo trips! It was well worth it! In the morning it was cold and breezy so the hike back was more enjoyable for my dog and I. Definitely plan on going again to camp at the wilderness camp area, and the hermits shack. Highly recommended! Greatest getaway I've...