Cats14Dogs2

South Llano State Park, south of Junction has a primitive area not too far from the regular campground. It can be reached (almost) by your vehicle, but you will still have to carry your gear about 50 feet. Note please, that you will not be able to park there. It is well shaded, so the sun won't be so brutal, there is an outhouse, and a central water spigot. So much for primitive camping there. Parking is on the main road, and a little hike from the primitive area. Showers are even further away. One of the hiking trails goes past there, and of course you cross the Llano river to get to the park. We enjoyed our stay at the campground, and there is plenty to see and do.

lost_but_found

this is a great idea! i wouldn't call the photo ops the cream of the crop out there but there are some good shots. it will probably be better now with spring showing its colors though. i was there in the winter, so the colors were a little bland.

i think that pedernales falls would be a good trip too. the trail out to wolf mountain is fairly easy - easier than the trails on the south side of lake georgetown for sure. and the photo ops are about the same there - with the option of taking a day hike down to the falls to get some good shots.

Shannon

We don't need vistas and drama, necessarily. Some of my favorite photos (and hikes) involve "intimate" nature -- observing wildlife and birds we only see when we slow down enough to begin to blend into their environment, and so forth.

Summer's not my favorite time of year for camping, but business demands have kept me occupied for most of our "comfortable weather" camping season. The only deals Justin and I've made in our years together is that I won't subject him to another summer camping trip to HCSNA or similar -- that trip, we pretty much wanted to run around in birthday suits just to generate SOME sort of airflow in which to cool off. We didn't, obviously, but it was quite tempting! Similarly, he has agreed never to do another hike of Palo Duro Canyon in August with only 1 pint of water per person and a start time of something like 10 AM (might as well be noon, out there!)

For some reason, it took us several years to realize it's easier to warm up in cold weather, at least in Texas, than it is to cool off in the summer. :laugh:

Pedernales as our first backpacking overnight sounds tempting, although we have hiked about 3/4 of the Wolf Mountain Trail (years ago, before we got married... and it was, you guessed it, August!) Sensing a trend, here? Our timing is not the best in the world, but we should get points for effort... or something... lunacy, maybe?

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Shannon

PS: For folks that wonder -- the trip reports section of WildTexas.com is not quite in step with all the outings we've taken since 1997. Not everything gets documented, and there are still a half dozen or so parks that need reviewing and posting. WildTexas.com isn't my full time job, though it's closer to that now than it used to be in years past; as I complete other projects, that change will benefit the site more (and increase my freedom to get out and camp more often...)

Just an FYI, because sometimes even I wonder why I'm running this site if I seem to get out less than anyone who is posting! :eek: :rolleyes:

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

munkee

I just read the post here and a good starter trail in central Texas that has not been mentioned is the loop at Bastrop State Park. It's an 8 mile loop and pretty much flat. You only have to hike about 2 miles in and you can camp anywhere as long as it is 100 feet off the main trail. However, I would not suggest it for the summer. Because of the Pine trees, there is almost no wind. But the pine needles do make for a comfortable bed. And the chances of camping next to someone are grim to none. Just another option.