Blonde Nightmar

Hello,

I'm looking for any advice anyone might have on primitive campsites within 2-3 hours of San Antonio. My boyfriend and I love to camp, but don't like to stay in the parks where you're camping tent to tent with other people. Recently we spent a week at Big Bend at their primitive sites, and had a blast. Any advice on places in the area? Also, if there is a lake or river nearby that would be wonderful as we both love to fish! Thanks!

-Holli

jeff parker

Hill Country State Natural Area near Bandera has lots of room to roam. Lost Maples might be a good bet this time of year also.

ploddinTod

The Goodwater Hiking Trail on Lake Georgetown, north of Austin, has some primitive sites.

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PloddinTod

Shannon

Welcome to Wild Texas, Holli!

It's hard to compare with Big Bend, but here are some possible opportunities for you:

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Fredericksburg also has some primitive campsites -- these will get you out among the granite, and away from the close confines of the walk-in campgrounds located off the parking lot/roadways.

I also echo the suggestion of Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera. I've camped there many times, and on my last visit checked out one of the primitive campsites -- "Wilderness Camp". About the only company you'll have are backpackers, horseback riders or cyclists passing by on the trail.

Both Enchanted Rock and Hill Country SNA have some (limited) water access, but I'm not sure how the fishing rates compared to, say, fishing the Pedernales or Guadalupe River. There may be limitations on fishing, for that matter, since both of the parks are State Natural Areas rather than State Parks. I'll check TPWD's site and post a follow-up when I get a chance to check on that regulation for you.

You might want to check out Inks Lake State Park, as well. I know it's the second most popular park in the State (or was, last time I checked), but it also has some primitive campsites; its added bonus is the lake access for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, etc.

Hope this helps...

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lost_but_found

a word of advice...
if you don't want to camp 'tent to tent,' don't go to enchanted rock. e-rock is an awesome place to go, don't get me wrong, but even the primitive sites there are over crowded (most of the year too). it is a big boy scout outing park. a wonderful place to go, but not for solitude. no fishing either.

you could also look into pedernales falls state park (closer to austin) as it is on the pedernales river and provides fishing oppurtunites. south llano river state park might also be an option. i have never been there, but i know it is nestled in the big hills around junction, tx. a beautiful place!!! hill country state natural area is a huge park with many trails to roam, but not much in the way of fishing. great park nonetheless, though. and, as ploddintod said, the goodwater trail on lake goergetown (north of austin) is a great place to fish and camp. not too many people out there that i know of either.

Shannon

Bummer... I had hoped there were at least a few that were secluded enough to offer the solitude Holli was seeking. One of the primitive areas is near a pond (perhaps its ephemeral/not present year-round?), which is why I thought it might offer a bit o' fishing opportunities. See, this is why we have forums -- 'cuz Shan don't know it all!

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Blonde Nightmar

Thanks for the great advice! Are any of these primitive sites drive-in or are they all hike-in? I ask because neither of us have packs that would allow us to carry all our gear.. we usually just pile it in the back of the truck!

lost_but_found

houston, we have a problem...

they are all hike in sites. i suggest trying hill country state natural area. i don't think that there are a whole lot of people that camp out there. but all the primitive sites at all the parks are at least a 1 mile hike.

ploddinTod

Brett raises an interesting point. If it's easy for you to drive up to a campsite, then it's going to be easy for your neighbor to hone right in on your perceived privacy . But is he gonna carry his fully loaded ice chest and boom box a mile down the trail to a more secluded spot? Not on your life
So my advice is to tell the boyfriend to get into shape because you're gonna load him down like a pack mule in order to reach that magical campsite a mile or two up the trail.

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PloddinTod

lost_but_found

LOL!!!!
oh so true. great wording, ploddintod!!

i totally agree with ploddintod. if you really want solitude and want to experience our wonderful parks here in texas, i suggest you venture into the amazing world of backpacking. (at least your boyfriend anyway!!) there is no better way to camp in my opinion.

Shannon

Chicks can carry packs, too, y'know... even blondes. ("I are one," so I can poke a little fun.)

I've seen some poor guys loaded down with both a backpack and an infant in a chest-slung carrier, while the woman walks around with nothing. Something wrong with that picture, IMHO, unless the gal has a back problem or something.

We're an equal opportunity outdoor recreation website, here, after all!

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- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com
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lost_but_found

sorry!! wasn't meaning it that way... one of those men are from mars, women are from venus misunderstandings.

meant it jokingly as she should MAKE him carry all the weight.

my girlfriend carries her own pack, but not too much weight though. i always end up with all the camping accomodations - tent, stove, pots, etc.

we try to stick with the recommended weight ratio, and she doesn't weigh very much. so she technically shouldn't carry too much weight. s'why i am in the ultralight world now! well...one of the reasons. i highly recommend it for anyone looking to hit the trails. i've got my base weight down to just below 13lbs now! under 30lbs of supplies for 7days of trails!!! and if i decide to spend the money and go with the henry shires tarptent i will cut another 1lb-3lbs off my back (depending on which tent i take - solo or 2person).

Shannon

Shush... no apology needed, since I was joking, too (except for the comment about over-loaded guys and a female companion who's carrying -0- gear on a trip.)


Sometimes, I feel like Justin and I need a Texas version of a Sherpa due to all the camera gear we carry. We'd have to seriously pare down our on-trail camera gear before we could do proper backpacking comfortably. I swear my camera bag and full CamelBak for long day hikes probably weighs as much as I should be carrying on an multi-day backpacking trip! Most of the weight is lenses and spare batteries, and wouldn't you know it -- whatever lens you decide you don't need always ends up to be the one that costs you a "perfect shot" on the trip!

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- Shannon Moore
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lost_but_found

i am probably going to get me a digital rebel soon, but i will still take my A80 with me on trips. it still allows me to set up a nice shot (when i take the time - unlike i did in bandelier!) and get some pretty wonderful shots. but it doesn't weigh too much and i have the best batteries on the market for it. a set in the camera and a spare set will last me a 7day trip. but the A80 will limit what you can and can't shoot. i recommend it though, if you want to bp and still take a decent camera. plus it is one solid camera!

i don't know if i mentioned this here or not, but when i was taking the pictures of the waterfalls in bandelier, i dropped it down at least a 60ft cliff and it landed in a bed of sharp jagged rocks. the lens was open and so was the lcd. broke the memory card door and jarred the camera body a little bit. but those wildflower pictures were taken with that camera - and i still haven't sent it to the canon to get it fixed!!! totally amazing camera!

if you truly want to backpack, just go do it. my girlfriend made it out to be some hardcore adventure that was beyond her capabilities, but when she did it, she walked away saying "that wasn't bad at all." there's really nothing to it but to do it!

ploddinTod

Brett,
I believe Shannon and Justin must be getting pretty close to taking the backpacking plunge. And with you "stoking the fire", that can only help. I'm not a camera buff so where would you recommend they go on their first trip? ( A trip that has decent photo ops on a trail that's rated fairly easy?)
I'm thinking that the Goodwater Trail might be a good maiden voyage for them. What do you think?

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PloddinTod