Guadalupe SP? - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Mean Machine · 01-07-2008, 02:08 PM

We're thinkign of heading down to Guadalupe SP this coming weekend. Has anyone who has ever been there have any notes or suggestions about the park?
Thanks
Gary

Shannon · 01-08-2008, 05:25 PM

Need info -- are you tent camping, RV camping, have kids or no ids, plan to canoe/float down the Guadalupe or not, etc.?

campermom · 01-08-2008, 06:32 PM

GRSP is a nice park. We usually day trip in the summer on Mondays and Tuesdays when the subdivision pool is closed. It's only 40 minutes away. We have camped there before in the water only part. We got a huge corner lot next to the playground which was great for my son. I could see him from the site while cooking or relaxing.

There is a guided hike to the Honey Creek natural area which is a protected section of the park. I've never done it but it's been suggested you go at least once. I think they only offer it on Sat mornings, but the check the site for more information.

I would bet the park would be fairly empty since it's winter. There are trails to hike and river to explore. You can even wait to shop for groceries until you get to the park. On HWY 46 there is a huge HEB, 10 minutes from the park.

You could even drive up to Blanco state park to fish for trout that are being stocked this coming Thursday. You won't need a fishing license to fish in a state park, but only take 5 per day per angler. There is no size limit. Yellow Power bait (in a small canister) works best and is very easy to handle, 1/4 oz sinker, a size 14 trout hook and 6# test line. Fresh trout in foil with lemon and dill on a campfire is good stuff!

Let us know how it goes when you return.

Happy camping.

Mean Machine · 01-09-2008, 07:56 AM

Basically, my son and I(he's 12) are looking for a place to just get away for the weekend after the holidays and GRSP is a park we haven't checked out yet. We have a '79 VW Westfalia camper for our adventures. Sounds like a pretty neat park, we'll either hit it or Goliad, since we're history buffs too.

The hiking sounds great and I like the fishing idea too. I so much prefer camping this time of the year, cool weather, no crowds, nice to just get out and away.
Thanks for all your tips.
Gary

srds · 01-09-2008, 07:24 PM

Very nice park ,good camping spots,great hiking,And very friendly park rangers.GSRP has alot to do in the cooler months,hope you have a good time.

srds :cool:
Have Fun

Electric Water Boy · 01-09-2008, 10:24 PM

I used to work there 20 years ago. Funnest job I ever had, which is probably why they didn't pay squat.

I still kick myself for not spending the night up there when there was a big flood coming. The river rose overnight to the fence at the restroom and was almost back in its banks by the end of the next day. The flood of '78 covered the parking lot.

Shannon · 01-10-2008, 03:49 PM

Subsequent floods in more recent years have done the same thing. They have some impressive pics of more recent flooding in the ranger station/park HQ (no, none of ours -- we've never been at the park at or shortly after flood stage.

crawdude · 01-10-2008, 11:20 PM

my brother took his kids to blanco for the trout fish last week, no one was catching anything on anything except for one guy who was catching them on little chunks of cheese, but not just any cheese, they were only accepting garlic flavored cheese, fished on the bottom

good luck

Turn Key · 01-11-2008, 06:26 AM

Great park. The following two part review should give you some info;

Guadalupe River SP, Spring, 2004 (Part 1 of 2)

Guadalupe River SP, Spring, 2004 (Part 2 of 2)

Hope it helps and you have a great trip!

Happy Camping!

Mean Machine · 01-14-2008, 09:55 AM

Well, what a really nice time we had at GRSP. We arrived Saturday morning and the the super friendly ranger at the entrance station assigned us spot #24. It was great, secluded, nice trees, view down the little valley and close to the trail that led down to the river.

We had a great time, hiking down along the river, and riding bikes int he park. On Sat evening, park intepreter Craig Hensley led a presentation on Owls in Texas. After a nice slide show in the amphitheater, we then went over to teh Honey Creek natural Area to try to call some owls. While there were no owls calling back, it was a beautiful night, great for star gazing.
It was a great evening, when I woke up that morning, it was also pretty chilly, 21 degrees!

We inquired about what seemd to be a lot of construction going on down near the parking area of the river section. The ranger siad they are making a huge new parking lot for summertimes when the park I would imagine get pretty crowded for folks enjoying the river. But wow, it was a HUGE lot.

I can imagine though how nice the river must be to enjoy on a hot summer day, it is just perfect, nice rock shoals, water moving along quickly. We probably will head down than there in the summer to check it out.
Enjoy the journey,