The Texas Hill Country: A Hiker’s Dream Vacation

If you love hiking, you’ll love the Texas Hill Country. The region is renowned for its natural beauty and fantastic views. Filled with rolling hills, clear rivers, and rugged terrains the region offers a variety of trails that cater to hikers of all skill levels. Whether you are an experienced hiker, or just starting to break in your boots, here are some of the best hiking spots to explore when you head to the Texas Hills.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is one of the stars of the Texas Hill Country. The massive pink granite dome rises above the landscape, offering visitors the chance to marvel at the stunning view of the park from its peak. While the sights from above are truly breathtaking, guests will be met with gorgeous views from every spot in the park. 

The best way to see it all is to hit the trails. There are many trails that visitors can explore when around Enchanted Rock, but the two that come to mind are the Summit Trial and the Loop Trail. The Summit Trail is the pinnacle of the Enchanted Rock experience, as it’s the most direct route to the top of Enchanted Rock. The trail offers panoramic views of the Hill Country that will leave you in awe. This trail is a bit strenuous, but the views from the top are well worth the effort.

For less experienced hikers, The Loop Trail may be a better path. This trail circumnavigates the base of Enchanted Rock and provides a less difficult hike with plenty of scenic spots to stop and take in the beauty of the area.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Despite what the name would have you believe, the Colorado Bend State Park is not in Colorado. Located along the Colorado River two hours northwest of Austin, the park is a wilderness wonderland full of springs, waterfalls, caves, and beautiful scenery. To take in the beauty of it all on foot, we recommend hiking the Gorman Falls Trail.

The Gorman Falls Trail is the most popular trail in the park, but it’s not the easiest. The trail has little shade and gets steep and slippery, but the final destination is well worth the trek. Ending at a 70-foot waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation, Gorman Falls looks like a fantasy landscape come to life.

Colorado Bend State Park

If you like chasing waterfalls, we have a few more for you. Though less dramatic than Gorman Falls, the falls at Pedernales Falls State Park are still a “must-see” in the Texas Hill Country. The Pedernales River flows over huge slabs of limestone, creating several smaller falls. While the river can be turbulent, it’s usually very tranquil, making this the perfect place to relax and unwind. 

The park features several hiking trails, including the Pedernales Falls Trail System and the Wolf Mountain Trail. The Pedernales Falls Trail System is a series of offshoot trails around the site. You can spend an hour, or an entire day exploring the unique limestone landscape of the region. 

If you are interested in a bigger challenge try the Wolf Mountain Loop. This hike that loops around Wolf Mountain is filled with cedar woodlands, scrub lands, fresh springs, valley vistas, and beautiful views all along the way.

Pedernales Falls State Park

Inks Lake State Park is the perfect spot to enjoy fun in the water or on land. In addition to a sparkling blue lake, the park features 9 miles of hiking trails. Two of our favorites are the Devil's Waterhole Trail and the Pecan Flats Trail.

In contrast to its name, The Devil's Waterhole Trail is an easy hike that leads to a swimming hole perfect for cooling off on a hot Texas day. The trail is very short, and after a steep beginning levels off to become accessible to strollers and wheelchairs. 

The Pecan Flats Trail offers a longer hike through 2 distinct ecosystems. The first stretch leads through a grove of pecan trees, and the second through a rugged landscape full of wildflowers that are especially beautiful during the summer.

Inks Lake State Park

The Texas Hill Country is a hiker’s dream vacation destination. Full of picturesque hills and falls, lakes and streams–you can spend days exploring the parks and trails and still not see it all. 

To complete your Texas Hill Country experience, come stay at the Phoenix Nest Guest Houses. We offer a range of accommodations to fit everyone’s tastes. Each of our distinct guest houses was designed with privacy and comfort in mind. Whether you are on a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a solo adventure, enjoy our comfortable place to rest after a day of hiking in our beautiful state.

Stay at Phoenix Nest Guest Houses