Your Ultimate Guide To State Parks In Texas

More than 870,000 people annually visit this expansive park just an hour's drive north of Dallas-Fort Worth. Boating, fishing, and swimming in the waters of the 29,000-acre lake tops the list of things to do in Ray Roberts Lake State Park. The Sanger Unit of the park has the full-service Lake Ray Roberts Marina, while a smaller one, Lone Star Lodge & Marina, is across the lake in the Jordan Unit. The park has several campgrounds, including eight equestrian campsites in the Isle du Bois Unit. In the fall, you can hike, bike, or ride horses on the 20-mile Greenbelt Corridor.

In the summer, this park is famous for its nightly Jukebox Dances, when parking lots often reach capacity. Of course, there are many other things to do in Garner State Park, starting with paddling or floating the 2.9 miles of the beautiful Frio River that runs through the park. You can rent tubes and kayaks there. On land, this Texas Hill Country destination has over 16 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging. Trail features include overlooks of hills and the Frio Canyon, a rock fence, huge live oak, and the 30-foot-deep Crystal Cave. The park has several campsites, screened shelters, and 17 cabins for overnight stays.

People in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are within easy proximity to this park 18 miles southwest of Dallas, making it a popular getaway from the bustle of urban life. While the gravel beach of the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake is a popular spot in the summer, the many things to do in Cedar Hill State Park year-round make it one of the best state parks in Texas in winter, too. You can tour the historic Penn Farm, hike or ride miles of excellent mountain biking trails, and fish for bass, crappie, and catfish. The park has 350 campsites across its campgrounds, with 150 of them having full hookups.

Things to do in Palo Duro Canyon State Park – besides taking in the glorious views, of course – include hiking, biking, and horseback riding on the park's 30-plus miles of trails. An all-terrain wheelchair is available to reserve. Tuesday through Sunday in the summer, you can see the TEXAS Outdoor Musical at the Pioneer Pavilion. The park has 97 campsites with electricity, including three certified ADA-accessible sites. There are an additional 19 tent-only campsites with water; 10 equestrian sites; four primitive, hike-in sites; and two group-camp areas. If you prefer a cabin, there are three on the cabin rim and four cow camp cabins on the canyon floor.

Things to do in Guadalupe River State Park center on river activities, since there are about four miles of it weaving through the park. You can fish, float in a tube, swim, kayak, and canoe at the natural paradise 38 miles north of San Antonio. On land, there are over 13 miles of trails for hiking and biking. This park has 85 campsites with electricity in two different areas – Turkey Sink and Cedar Sage, plus nine walk-in campsites with water only.

People who prefer tent camping extra close to nature love this natural getaway that is just a two-hour drive north of Austin. All of its campsites are primitive, with 15 that are drive-up, close to the Colorado River, and even allow self-contained RVs that are 30 feet long or smaller. There are an additional 28 walk-in sites, which are on the river bank. Campers also can choose among eight backcountry hike-in sites or three group camps. Besides enjoying the views after setting up camp, the top things to do in Colorado Bend State Park include hiking or biking over 35 miles of trails, including a three-mile rocky round-trip to the beautiful Gorman Falls and a short hike to the popular Hill Country swimming hole, Spicewood Springs.

This park is located about 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth and, as you may have guessed by its name, a dinosaur discovery experience is its claim to fame – dinosaur tracks, that is. Set up camp and head straight to the Paluxy River to see the fossilized footprints in the riverbed where dinos once roamed. There are 44 campsites with electricity (no trailers over 35 feet), eight walk-in primitive campsites, and seven hike-in primitive sites. The hike-in sites require you to wade the river, so be sure to check typical water levels in advance before landing on that plan. The park also has two group camps that accommodate 20 or 40 people when reserved ahead of time. Besides scoping out the dino tracks, other things to do in Dinosaur Valley State Park include hiking and mountain biking, geocaching, swimming, paddling, fishing, and horseback riding.

Experience the unique natural setting of this park that's just 45 minutes southwest of Houston and about an hour north of the Texas Gulf Coast. Things to do in Brazos Bend State Park focus on exploring nature along 35 miles of trails meandering through moss-cloaked bottomland forests, marshes, prairies, several lakes, and, of course, the Brazos River. Most trails are moderate or easy, like the half-mile, fully paved Creekfield Lake ADA Trail, which has interpretive stations that include touchable bronzes of different native animals. The park has 73 campsites with electricity, 40 of which are premium with 50-amp hookups. All have a picnic table, fire ring, upright grill, and nearby restroom and shower facilities.

This park is just an hour's drive northwest of Austin and a hot destination for year-round fun on land and water. Things to do in Inks Lake State Park include boating of all types, including a no-wake zone for paddle sports. The park rents most types of paddle boats, plus life jackets and paddles. People can also swim, waterski, and scuba dive. Nine miles of hiking trails beckon folks who like to explore on land, and for those who do, get ready for some stunning wildflower views. The park has 117 campsites with electricity and water, nine of which are wheelchair accessible. There are 47 more with water only that allow one RV per site (up to 26 feet long), and four of those spots are wheelchair accessible. There are four additional tent-only sites with electricity and water.

Settle in comfortably at one of the park's 35 campsites with electricity, 10 with 50 amps, and the remainder with 30 amps. Then set out to explore more than 90 miles of hiking and biking trails and take in the natural beauty of these vibrant canyonlands in the Texas Panhandle. Besides seeing the state bison herd, another of the most popular things to do in Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway include hiking to Clarity Tunnel, an abandoned railroad tunnel where as many as half a million Mexican free-tailed bats make their home each summer. Head to the 120-acre Lake Theo for cooling off with a paddle, a swim, or relaxing for a few hours while fishing.

Things to do in McKinney Falls State Park include fishing or taking a dip in Onion and Williamson creeks and just enjoying a natural enclave in one of the state's largest cities. Campers can choose among 81 sites with electricity and water. Favorite sights along the nine miles of hiking trails include the falls, of course, as well as an ancient rock shelter, a massive cypress tree that is over 500 years old, remnants of the McKinney homestead, and numerous outcroppings and rock faces. Road bikes and strollers take well to the 2.8-mile Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail, which has a flat, hard surface. An all-terrain wheelchair is available for reservation if needed.

Tackle over 11 miles of Hill Country hikes at this natural area beloved by many. While hiking and enjoying nature top the list of the best things to do in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, there are many formations for rock climbers to tackle, stars to be gazed upon, and animals and birds to see. If you want to camp, there are 35 campsites with water, 20 primitive hike-in campsites, and a big, 50-person hike-in group camp called Buzzards Roost.

This beautiful natural area is one of the best state parks in Texas in the fall for its extraordinary foliage. These kinds of colors are unexpected for a region about two miles northwest of San Antonio. Things to do in Lost Maples State Natural Area extend beyond seeing the vibrant hues of its unique stand of Uvalde bigtooth maples. You can fish in the Sabinal River or Can Creek, look for endangered birds like the golden-cheeked warbler, or set up camp at one of the 28 sites that have electricity and water. Backpackers can choose among 50 hike-in primitive sites. The park's five trails cover 10 miles and range from easy to challenging.

Things to do in Tyler State Park range from fishing from the 64-acre, spring-fed lake to exploring over 13 miles of trails. The star of the trail system is the one-mile Whispering Pines Nature Trail with remnants of a wading pool and a small waterfall, all of which the Civilian Conservation Corps built over 70 years ago. If you want to set up camp and stay a while at this Northeast Texas gem, the park has 57 campsites with full hookups and 42 with water, 12 of which also have electricity. The park also has 29 screened shelters and six cabins.

This park in the West Texas town of El Paso is named for the natural basins formed in rocks there, or huecos – pronounced "whey coes," as instructed by the parks service. The tanks in the name is because the basins collect rainwater, which drew people to this arid Chihuahuan Desert site for many thousands of years. Hiking the rocks to see the petroglyphs and pictographs left by some of these early explorers is one of the most popular things to do in Hueco Tanks State Park. The park also offers excellent opportunities for rock climbing, and several guide services offer climbing packages. Campers can choose among 50 campsites, some with electricity and all with water.

This International Dark Sky Park in far West Texas calls itself "the other side of nowhere" and offers what many say is the best stargazing in the state. Things to do in Big Bend Ranch State Park range from scenic drives, exploring rugged trails in 4x4 vehicles, horseback riding, backpacking, and mountain biking on land. Birding is a draw, too, with over 300 species documented in the park's Chihuahuan Desert diverse habitats. As for water activities, you can raft, paddle, and fish along the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo. The nearby Balmorhea State Park has the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the world.

Birdwatching is hands-down the top activity among the many things to do in Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, which is situated along the beautiful Rio Grande along the US and Mexico border. At this park, you'll see flashy, bold colors of green jays, great kiskadees, and Altimira orioles, as well as thousands of migrating hawks during spring and fall migrations. Bring your binoculars or rent them at the park's store, where you can also rent a bike. The park has seven miles of trails for hiking, and biking is allowed on all but the 1.8-mile, wheelchair-accessible, 1.8-mile Rio Grande Trail.

Spectacular stargazing, water recreation, and herds of bison and longhorns all converge for a truly Texan experience at this park in the Concho Valley of West Texas. The top things to do in San Angelo State Park include seeing tracks of animals that predate dinosaurs (albeit named the Dinosaur Trail); over 50 miles of trails in total; and fishing, swimming, and boating on the O.C. Fisher Reservoir and Concho River. There are 81 campsites with electricity, 10 of which are for equestrians. The park also has 33 primitive campsites, a log cabin, and a group bunkhouse that may be reserved.