near san antonio - lakes, picnic, hiking? park suggestions - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

sheisaeval · 03-24-2006, 01:13 AM

I'm looking for some suggestions for parks in/near san antonio. (within an hour)

1 - a nice park that has a lake/river/pond running through it, nice hiking/scenery, with picnic areas, secluded

2 - like above but with camping areas.

3 - this can be within a few hours drive, but where is the best beach in texas? and can you camp on the beach?

4- what are some "must-see" parks near san antonio? why?

5 - what are the best places within an hour from san antonio that you can pick your fruits/etc?

Thanks!

Shannon · 03-24-2006, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheisaeval

I'm looking for some suggestions for parks in/near san antonio. (within an hour)

1 - a nice park that has a lake/river/pond running through it, nice hiking/scenery, with picnic areas, secluded

2 - like above but with camping areas.

3 - this can be within a few hours drive, but where is the best beach in texas? and can you camp on the beach?

4- what are some "must-see" parks near san antonio? why?
Thanks!

I can't help you with the picking fruit one, but here are my recommendations on the others:

1 & 2. Anything near a major metro area isn't going to qualify as secluded, for
the most part, unless it's got the kind of trail mileage that lets you put some distance between yourself and the masses. For river running through it, picnic and campsites -- Guadalupe River State Park. This park gets very busy on spring and summer weekends and holidays.

For more actual seclusion, but more primitive facilities (picknicking would have to be done at a trailhead or, if camping, at one's campsite -- no day use picnic facilities), then I recommend Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera, TX. There is a picturesque pond near the non-backcountry campground, and there's another pond in the interior of the park, accessible from the hiking trails and the backcountry campsites. You'll be sharing the park with mostly equestrians and mountain bikers, but there are plenty of miles of trails to make that a happy mix for all concerned.

There's also Pedernales Falls State Park which has not just a river but (in non-drought conditions) also waterfalls accessible by hiking upstream a bit in the river-cut gorge. There are numerous camping areas, and I'm fairly sure there's a day use area. You can view a map on the linked page and confirm that. And there's Lost Maples State Natural Area which is known for its fall foliage (and quite busy at those times), but offers up some great hiking above and in a small limestone canyon, developed and primitive/hike-in campsites, and some day use picnicking areas. There are several small ponds easily accessible in the park; in fact, you drive by a pond/stream after passing the ranger station. Another pond is accessible off the Maple Trail, and there are others.

3. I haven't been to South Padre Island so I don't know how it compares to the beaches there. However, our favorite beach is Padre Island National Seashore. There are several named beaches in the seashore. If you have a 4x4 vehicle, you can go many miles down-island and pitch your tent and camp. The less far you drive down island, the more traffic you'll probably have driving by your location to head down-island, but at night the quiet is deafening. The quality of the sand changes depending on which named beach your on. Malaquite and the 'frontage' beach at Padre are soft, fine sand. Down island on Padre are Little Shell and Big Shell beaches, named aptly for the types of shells found in abundance, mixed in with the same fine sand.

4. Any park with a red arrow next to it on our San Antonio Area Parks list is one of our favorites. As San Antonians, these are parks we've visited many times in varying seasons over various years.

03-24-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannon

3. I haven't been to South Padre Island so I don't know how it compares to the beaches there. However, our favorite beach is Padre Island National Seashore. There are several named beaches in the seashore. If you have a 4x4 vehicle, you can go many miles down-island and pitch your tent and camp. The less far you drive down island, the more traffic you'll probably have driving by your location to head down-island, but at night the quiet is deafening. The quality of the sand changes depending on which named beach your on. Malaquite and the 'frontage' beach at Padre are soft, fine sand. Down island on Padre are Little Shell and Big Shell beaches, named aptly for the types of shells found in abundance, mixed in with the same fine sand.

Does it cost much to camp on the beach? Are there bathrooms? Any other facilities?

Shannon · 03-24-2006, 10:25 PM

Camping is free on the beach except at the developed camping areas, which includes the Malaquite Beach Campground, among others. Developed campgrounds at Padre Island NS include access to showers/restrooms. Check the link I provided for more info. There are NO facilities at the undeveloped beachfront areas except for an occasional composting toilet. Pack in what you pack out. Ask a ranger for more info. Phone number is provided at the link I provided.

dwalsdorf · 03-25-2006, 09:32 AM

Fredricksburg is only an hour away--lotsa fruit picking there, Also some in Blanco-Burnet-Marble Falls areas. All about an hour away. Peaches and berries mostly.

CyberCelt · 03-26-2006, 06:23 PM

If you are traveling to San Antonio, you do not want to miss:

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park was established to preserve and interpret the chain of Spanish Missions that were built along the San Antonio River in the 18th century.

Start your trip at Mission San Jose with a 23-minute film, a ranger guided tour, and a visit to restored Spanish Colonial flour mill. Museums are located at Missions San Jose, San Juan, and Espada. Espada Aqueduct is the only functioning aqueduct from the Spanish Colonial Period in the United States.

Spend the day visiting missions that still serve as parish churches, light candles in dimly lit alcoves that echo with the prayers of centuries, and view some of the most pristine lands remaining on the San Antonio River. It is a breathtaking and a humbling experience.

Visit the National Park Services website to plan your visit.

Sorry, I forgot all your question about the beaches. You may want to see this thread because there is a lot of good information about beaches.

Also, Medina Lake is fairly close to San Antonio. From there, you can journey to Bandera--Longhorn Cattle, cowboys, apple orchards, and some of the most scenic drives.

Have a great time and welcome to Texas!

BigBendHiker · 10-30-2006, 04:53 PM

Finally getting around to catching up on some posts...but another place to check out is Government Canyon State Natural Area...

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...rnment_canyon/

BBH

ploddinTod · 10-30-2006, 05:38 PM

BB Hiker,

Have you been there? What did you think?

BigBendHiker · 10-30-2006, 05:51 PM

No, I have not. We had planned on going there this past weekend, but had a change in plans. Hope to get there sometime in November. Everything I have heard and read speak highly of the park...

BBH

Shannon · 10-30-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBendHiker

Finally getting around to catching up on some posts...but another place to check out is Government Canyon State Natural Area...

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...rnment_canyon/

BBH

It's an awesome place for mountain biking. That's mostly what Justin and I have done there (well, back before I got pregnant; my OB doesn't like her pregnant patients mountain biking... she compared it to whitewater rafting! Hrmph!)

I didn't enjoy it as much on the couple hiking trips we've made out there, but that could have been because it was summer and some of the trails are such that there is no shade.