campermom

We currently have reservations for a 3 day weekend, last weekend in April. It's Battle of the Flowers Parade in San Antonio and the kids don't have school. The last place I want to be is in a huge mob watching a parade. We take advantage every year and go somewhere, somewhere ELSE.

During spring break, we stopped in Sealy to check out the park (SFA). It was nice, but, the river is ugly and we saw several snakes. Is Somerville a "Fish Park" or is it nicer than that? We will be starting the weekend with a tour at Blue Bell, Friday afternoon, along with seeing the mini horses at the monastery. We hope to visit Washington on the Brazos while in the neighborhood.

It's not to late to change reservations. What do you think?

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Cheyenne1021

Hi, camppermom!

Stephen F. Austin State Park is the closest camping facilities to us, only about 15 miles away, so we have been there several times. It's an ok park for an overnight camp out, but there isn't really much to do other than walk, bike rides, or just enjoy the camping. I will say that the camp sites are spaced apart pretty well, so you don't feel cramped and crowded.

The Brazos river that borders the park on it's north side is nothing to brag about and not all that easy to get to. Once you get there all you see is really high river banks and muddy looking water. Unfortunately, that is the way the rivers just look here in the sandy coastal plains area. By the time the rivers get to this area, they have picked up a lot of sand, silt and dirt.

I have never fished at SFA, but it looks like it would be very difficult to do with all the over-hanging trees and the high banks. Swimming there is totally out of the question and not even permitted!

We have camped at Lake Somerville a couple of times a few years back. We did not stay at the State park, though, so I can not tell you anything about it. We stayed at Rocky Creek Park, which is a US Army Corps of Engineers park. Lake Somerville is suitable for swimming and fishing, but the water isn't crystal clear, like Lake Bastrop for example.

So, if you want to do swimming, boating, jet-skiing or fishing, I would recommend Lake Sommerville 100% over SFA.

I hope this help you out some...........

Happy Camping.
Cheyenne

4everfrio

Birch Creek on lake sommerville is nice. There isn't a whole lot to do unless you have a boat. Biking, hiking and swimming is about it. Watch yourself in the water, there are many stumps and roots that you can't see. The park is mostly post oak trees with youpon. Most of the sites are back in the woods and away from the water. We camped there often and then bought a lot at birch creek forest. There is a trailway from birch creek to nails creek that is biker and horse friendly. Sounds like you have a great weekend planned. Have fun !!

srds

Between SFA or Somerville ,Somerville ,It is mostly a fishing spot needing a boat.It does have a long bike trail and check out the corps camps around the lake.Bluebonnets should be out, and it is camping some where new.Have a good time.

srds
Have Fun

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ploddinTod

Somerville is reputed to have one of the best wildfower displays of any of the state parks. We're going to the Birch Creek Unit this weekend on our journey to see the wildflowers.

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PloddinTod