Thread: Pedernales nice, but too populated...

Originally Posted by BigBendHiker

That is no fun, for sure. Are you looking for parks near the Johnson City / Fredericksburg area? If so, McKinney Falls State Park may work. If you really want to get away from it all and have some isolation, head west to:
1. Big Bend National Park and zone camp,
2. Big Bend Ranch State Park,
3. Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (next to Big Bend and VERY isolated).

BBH

Yeah, the western ones might be better. I live in Houston, so I'm looking for short weekend getaways. Something I can possibly get to before dark if I leave work early on Fridays... You get the picture, I'm sure.

Thanks, I'll check out those destinations!

Maybe somewhere I can cook over a small fire too. Pedernales said NO FIRES! I was disappointed, obviously.

It's a different type of camping than you may be interested in (beach camping), but Padre Island National Seashore, as far down island as your vehicle can get you, might yield the solitude you seek. The only people going by would be 4x4s (and, sadly, tanker trucks -- there's inland drilling at the refuge) traveling even further down-island than you.

The primitive campsites at [http://wildtexas.com/parks/hcsna.php]Hill Country State Natural Area[/url] are pretty nice. You might have the occasional hiker or horseback rider go by, but they won't literally be going through your campsite/area. Wilderness Camp would be my pick at HCSNA, but there are a couple I have not laid eyes on that could be better.

Lost Pines/Bastrop State Park has primitive campsites but having not camped in them or even seen them, I don't know if they take you away from the usual foot traffic of hikers.

No TPWD State Parks or wildlife management areas are going to permit ground fires -- too much risk, especially with summer approaching, of Joe Camper setting the whole place up in smoke.