Texas Hill Country

Texas Hill Country

During the first part of the week after Thanksgiving we stayed at the San Antonio KOA while going to doctor appointments.   Wednesday afternoon, we moved from San Antonio to Guadalupe River State Park.  We have already been to Guadalupe River State Park four times.  Two times in our fifth wheel and two times in our motorhome.

The park must have been busy over the Thanksgiving Holiday as the garbage cans were still full on Wednesday when we arrived.

Garbage Truck Collecting Holiday Trash
Garbage Truck Collecting Holiday Trash

Guadalupe River State Park is located between Boerne and Bulverde/Spring Branch Texas on TX-46.  This Texas Hill Country location is in one of the fastest growing areas of the USA.  On weekends, the park fills up.  It is close in to San Antonio Texas.  Since we were first in this park over 15 years ago, traffic has increased dramatically on TX-46.  Subdivisions are sprouting up all around the park.  Traffic jams are common around US-281 and TX-46 where Bulverde/Spring Branch are.

Informational Signage for Rafter Entry/Exit Point
Informational Signage for Rafter Entry/Exit Point

Outside of spring break weeks in March and the summer months, weekdays in the park are delightful.  The Guadalupe River runs through the park and is one of the entry/exit points for floaters along the river.  Given the park’s summer popularity, floating the river must be very good here.

Leafless Cypress Trees Lean Over The Guadalupe River State Park
Leafless Cypress Trees Lean Over The Guadalupe River

The river is lined with Bald Cypress Trees that lean over the river provide shade in the summer.  There are also majestic in many respects.  Their bark seems expressive.  The roots often have big knuckles sticking up above soil and water.

Big Cypress Knuckle
Unusually Large Cypress Knuckle

The roots of trees often intertwine creating a support structure for river banks that might otherwise wash away with high water.

Intertwined Cypress Tree Roots
Intertwined Cypress Tree Roots

Compared to other trees in the Texas Hill Country, these cypress trees are tall.

Cypress Trees As Tall As The Bluffs Behind Them
Cypress Trees As Tall As The Bluffs Behind Them

Several of the cypress trees along the river did poorly during the drought from 2009 through 2012.  The following floods didn’t help them either.  Cypress carcasses are common.

Cypress Tree Carcass
Cypress Tree Carcass

Thursday, I walked along the river to see the big cypress trees.  To get down to the trees, I walked toward the river from the Wagon Ford Walk-In Tent Area campsites furthest from the parking lot.  The river could easily be seen and heard from these campsites.  When I reached the river bank, I turned left and picked my way up river along the cypress tree roots.  This was slow going and a little slippery.  I was glad I was wearing my hiking boots instead of sneakers.

Floater Take Out Point Notification
Floater Take Out Point Notification

Up river from the above sign is the Day Use Area.  The Day Use Area has a nice gravel beach that is jam packed crowded in the summer.  I’m not sure how floaters could get by the Day Use Area without noticing that was a good place to stop but they must if they need a sign.

Just off the Day Use Area is a Bird Blind.

Bird Blind Feeding Station
Bird Blind Feeding Station

There are multiple bird feeders.

Bird Feeder At Bird Blind
Bird Feeder At Bird Blind

Good Bird Blinds have water for drinking and bathing.

Bird Bath
Bird Bath

There is a Discovery Center just off the Day Use Area parking lot.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t open the day I passed by.

Discovery Center
Discovery Center

Discovery Center displays are simplistic and look to be oriented toward grade school children.  I peeked through the door.

Discovery Center Interior
Discovery Center Interior

The Discovery Center interior is small and made for children.

From the Day Use Area, I walked the Barred Owl Trail to a Scenic Overlook.

Scenic Overlook From The Bluff Above The Guadalupe River
Scenic Overlook From The Bluff Above The Guadalupe River

The bluff was pretty high up and I got nervous approaching the edge.

River View From Scenic Overlook
River View From Scenic Overlook

Just below where I took the above pictures, the most gorgeous red berries were waiting for birds to come and eat them.

Red Berries - Winter Bird Food
Red Berries – Winter Bird Food

Next, I made my way toward the closed Cedar Sage Camping Area by way of the Cedar Sage River Trail.  I was curious about why the road into the Cedar Sage campground was closed.

Cedar Sage Camping Area Construction
Cedar Sage Camping Area Construction

The Cedar Sage campground bath house is being replaced.  Hooray!  From what I could see, this looks like the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department new bath house design.  We saw the new bath house design in Bastrop State Park.  It is quite nice.

After seeing the bath house work side, I retraced my steps on the Cedar Sage River Trail back to the Day Use Area.

From the Day Use Area, I walked back to camp along the main park road.  The glare from the sun made the walk up the road look much hotter than it was.

Park Road Glare
Park Road Glare

We setup our camp when we arrived in the park on Wednesday.  Linda and I emptied the back seat of the truck and the back of the Jeep to get out all of the camping gear we like to setup when we are staying in a state or national park for a spell.

Campsite Behind The Truck And Camper
Campsite Behind The Truck And Camper

We have portable dog fences, carpet, canopy, tent, stove, zero gravity chairs and a folding end table.  Inside the tent are more folding chairs and folding tables.  We do this so we have a large outdoor living room.  The truck camper is a bit cramped.

Campsite From The Street
Campsite From The Street

From the street, passers by can really only see the truck, camper and Jeep.  We really love campsites with privacy.

Hope to see you on the road ahead!

 

 

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