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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

There are multiple bird feeders.

Good Bird Blinds have water for drinking and bathing.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

 

 

• Texas