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Blanco State Park, Blanco Texas

joanie7 — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:46:33 +0000

Visit our Blanco State Park Photo Gallery

Blanco State Park located In Blanco County Texas is yet another delightful Texas State Park in Texas Hill Country. This small clean park (104.6 acres) borders both sides of the spring-fed Blanco River. The park, on the south side of the town of Blanco, is only 4 blocks from the charming historic town square and partially backs up to a neighborhood separated from the park by a chain link fence.

Traffic noise from nearby U.S. Highway 281 does not interrupt the fun activities here of swimming, tubing fishing and camping. Only 40 miles north of San Antonio this park is popular with day trippers from both San Antonio and Austin. The best way to enjoy Texas Hill Country in the summer is to get into the water. Tubes, canoes and kayaks are available for rental. If you want to camp make reservations well in advance. Choose from 17 full hook up sites or 12 water and electric only. The small camping loop offers partial shade among the cottonwood trees but not a lot of privacy. Screened shelters have a great location overlooking the river. We liked the day use area and the 3/4 mile nature trail. A self-guided booklet for the nature trail is available for a small fee at the Texas State Park Store. Tip: the river is stocked with rainbow trout in winter and campers receive a good monthly discount November thru February.

Inks Lake State Park, Burnet Texas

joanie7 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:53:24 +0000

Visit our Inks Lake State Park Photo Gallery

Inks Lake State Park is a pleasant family oriented park in Burnet County just 60 miles north of Austin, Texas. This scenic 1201 acre park in Texas Hill Country is part of the Highland Lakes Chain (consisting of 7 lakes) on the Colorado River. Located on pink granite outcroppings of the Llano uplift, geology hikes are offered through the billions of years old granite hills. Hiking is also popular to the Devils Waterhole where swimmers jump off the cliffs into the cool clear water. Alternately you may join a canoe tour out to Devil’s Waterhole or rent a canoe or kayak at the Texas State Park Store and head out on to the 803 acre lake yourself. If you rent for 24 hours you may keep the canoe or kayak overnite at your campsite. Other activities include boating, water skiing and sailing on the lake, fishing from one of two lighted piers or ‘Fishing with a Ranger’ (2-3 times a week) also golfing on the 9 hole course operated by Highland Lakes Golf Club. Tee times are 1st come 1st serve. The golf course is located on park property with 6 of the holes lakeside, the entrance is outside the park. 7 1/2 miles of hiking trails for all skill levels include lakeside cliffs and hilltop trails. You will see many white-tail deer, wild turkeys and possibly armadillos and foxes. In Spring the area is blanketed with wildflowers including the Texas State Flower the Bluebonnet. In winter bird watchers keep a sharp eye out for bald eagles. Campsites at Inks Lake State Park consist of 9 primitive back-pack in 1.5 miles sites (no water, pit toilet on trail), 10 walk-in sites with water and electricity, 50 water only sites and 137 water and electric sites. Like Tyler State Park in East Texas, Inks Lake State Park In Hill Country is a wonderful park for families. Kids have a great time here with all the other kids and all of the activities. Also like Tyler State Park, Inks Lake State Park is popular and can be crowded. Be sure to make reservations. We loved the natural setting and scenic beauty of this park however please note the camp sites are set close together and will afford little privacy. There is very little shade so if you are camping in the hot Texas summer be sure to bring your own in the form of golf or beach umbrellas or a screen shelter.

Visit our Inks Lake State Park Photo Gallery

Mission Tejas State Park, Weches Texas

joanie7 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:28:55 +0000

Visit our Mission Tejas State Park Photo Gallery

Mission Tejas State Park, a small unique park tucked into the Pineywoods of East Texas is worth a stop for a day or two. Located in Houston County near the North end of the Davy Crockett National Forest it is home to two historic structures.First the mission, a commemorative representation of the original Mission San Francisco de los Tejas. This was the 1st Spanish Mission in the then province of Texas established in 1690. It was built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in 1934. It’s location near the campground gives you a good chance to take plenty of pictures and perhaps just sit and reflect on what life was like for the priests (Frays) who lived and worked here attempting to teach Christianity to the Indians. The other notable building is the Rice Family Log Home built in 1828. After it was given to the park by a Rice family member in was restored and moved to it’s current location in the park in 1974. It has been modified many times over it’s 160 years history but the log form remains original and it stands as an example of pioneer housing. Mr. Rice opened his home many times to adventurers and travelers as they crossed Texas on The Old San Antiono Road. Camping at this park is tranquil and serene. There are only 5 full hook-up sites. (7-11) We stayed in site #8. #5 assigned to us when we arrived was too small for our 30′ travel trailer. There are 7 water and electric sites, an additional three water and electric for tents only as well as two water only tent areas. A small pond for fishing, short hikes and nature walks are delightful in this rustic setting. The park says dogwood is a spectacular show the last week of March usually peaking about the 25th of the month. Attn. Geocachers!!! Mission Tejas State Park has 5 caches!! For more info go to www.geocaching.com

Visit our Mission Tejas State Park Photo Gallery

Rusk/Palestine State Park, Texas

joanie7 — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:53:53 +0000

Visit our Rusk State Park Photo Gallery

Note: Since we visited Rusk State Park the control of both Rusk and Palestine State Parks and the Texas State Railroad has been transferred to American Heritage Railways. These two parks, Rusk and Palestine are home to the Official Railroad of Texas, the Texas State Railroad. Come on out and ride the steam engine train through the piney woods 50 miles between parks. You may board on either end. The trip is 1 1/2 hours in each direction with a 1 1/2 hour layover at a victorian style depot where you may shop for railroad related memorabilia and picnic in the park. The Palestine park in Anderson County offers primitive, water only campsites. There are no showers. The Rusk park in Cherokee County offers 32 pull-thru full hook up sites and 38 water and electric sites with tent pads. We stayed in site #6 one of the full hook ups. Situated on a hilly rocky area it offered great views of the park. The train track actually loops into the park. If you choose campsites 21 thru 31 you will have a noisy front row view as the train clamors by on it’s way to Palestine. This park is a delight to wander and explore. There is a short nature trail, a small (15 acre) stocked fishing lake and a fishing pier. In season paddle boats and canoes are available for rental. The park at Rusk is right off of U.S. 84. If you choose campsites 16, 18, 20 or 22 you will see and hear the highway traffic.

Visit our Rusk State Park Photo Gallery

Daingerfield State Park, Daingerfield Texas

joanie7 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:04:55 +0000

Visit our Daingerfield State Park Photo Gallery

Daingerfield State Park located 35 miles East of Lake Bob Sandlin State Park is in Morris County just Southwest of Texarkana. This small park (506 acres) hugs the shores of the small (80 acre) picturesque Lake Daingerfield. The loblolly pines at a height of 100 feet plus dominate the landscape. Spring brings blankets of wildflowers to the rolling hills while fall bursts with the reds and golds of the sweetgum, oak and maple trees showcased against the dark contrast of evergreens. Photographers delight in this quiet scenic park. In season visitors rent canoes or paddleboats from the concessionaire and quietly float the cool clear waters of this tranquil, no wake (5mph) lake. The day use area is impressive with it’s stately bathhouse dated to the park’s opening in 1938, a swimming beach beckons, a swim platform sits right off shore and a playground with slides and swings is here to be enjoyed. The Civilian Conservation Corp built cabins and a group lodge in the 1930′s. These have been recently renovated and should be reserved well in advance. 30 campsites offer water and electricity with an additional 10 large pull-thru lakeside sites with full hookups. Sites #6-10 offer direct access to the shore in a pleasant private setting. We stayed in site #8 and enjoyed views of the water through the pines. There is primitive tent camping at the Cedar Ridge Loop and water only sites at the Mountain View area. A trailhead is located in this hilly heavily wooded area. The entire 2.5 miles connects to the hike around the lake. The facilites here are older but kept clean and maintained. We loved this park for it’s peaceful serene setting and natural beauty.

Visit our Daingerfield State Park Photo Gallery

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, Pittsburg Texas

joanie7 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:04:05 +0000

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park located in Titus County is near the small East Texas towns of Pittsburg and Mount Pleasant. With close proximity to both I-20 and I-30 this is a popular park with folks from the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex approximately 140 miles distant. Reservations are recommended and should be made well in advance for weekends and school breaks. Although small (639.8 acres) the park feels spacious with 4 distinct camping loops. Located on the North side of the large (9,400 acre) Lake Bob Sandlin, a popular bass fisherie, you may cast your line from a lighted fishing pier, the shoreline or take advantage of the boat ramp to get right out on the water and snag one of those rainbow trout the lake is stocked with. There is also fishing in the trout pond located at one of two remote hike-in primitive camping areas. 66 back in campsites, nestled in the pineywoods offer electric and water. 9 of these are premium lakeside sites. We noticed that most of these sites were not very long so call ahead if you have a trailer or RV to make sure you can be acomodated. When not fishing there are almost 5 miles of nature trails that you may hike or mountain bike on beginner to intermediate trails 5 miles through the forest passing two ponds with crossings on 8 footbridges. You may spot bald eagles in winter as well as white tailed deer at any time of the year. Bobcats, although rarely seen live here and share their territory with at least one black panther who roams this part of Texas. A small cemetery in the day use area dates back to the days of Fort Sherman, a wooden stockade fort that would have been located in or near the park, built in the 1840′s to protect settlers from Indian attacks. The facilities here are older, the park was opened in 1987, but very clean. If you visit this park in the fall you will be rewarded with the spectacular red and gold colors of oak, hickory, redbud and maple trees. The staff at this park is outstanding. We were picnicking in the day use area when our puppy was startled and bolted off into the woods. When we reported this the rangers immediately went into action hiking the trails and helping us search. By the following morning this dog of ours was still on the loose. He was spotted by the ranger on duty who called us on our cell phone to advise where he had seen him. Happy ending we reunited shortly thereafter.

Volunteer in Texas State Parks

joanie7 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:38:36 +0000

Get involved with your Texas State Park system and be a volunteer. Most parks use volunteers all or part of the year and love to have dedicated enthusiastic folks join their team. The biggest need is for Park Hosts with their own RV or travel trailer. They will live in the park and support park staff. General duties usually include meeting and greeting visitors, answering questions, perhaps light maintenance (keeping campground clean and possibly restrooms as well) and maybe fee collection. In exchange the park provides a campsite free of charge. These are often among the best campsites in the park. Many of the volunteers are campers who like the park they are staying at so inquire about available openings upcoming for the host position. Often these are arranged a season or even a year in advance. You may also call each individual park you are interested in to inquire about openings. An application will need to be filled out and submitted. (see tips on how to do this effectively in my volunteer blog posts.) A great resource for all state park volunteer opportunites can be found at volunteer.gov go to volunteer links and click on volunteer resources

Stay Connected to your Texas State Parks

joanie7 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:35:50 +0000

Keep up to date with all the news you need. Go to Texas Parks and Wildlife and sign up for a the free newsletter ‘State Parks Getaways’ that will be delivered periodically to your in-box. You may also sign up for e-mail updates on certain subjects of interest to you. Choose from a variety of topics that range from fishing, camping, hiking, boating, wildlife, caving, climbing as well as horse, camel and llama outings. There is a kids’ corner as well. You may even sign up to be notified of current job vacancy postings. Texas Parks and Wildlife also hosts a weekly half hour program on PBS (Public Service Broadcasting) throughout the state and in selected markets throughout the country. You may also listen to a radio show weekdays and subscribe to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine or read it on-line.

Texas State Park Pass

joanie7 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:54:04 +0000

You many purchase an annual Texas State Park Pass (a full 12 months) for $60 ($75 for two passes if you reside in the same household) which will grant you entrance to more than 90 state parks and state historic sites waiving the daily entrance fee for you and your guests in the same vehicle. (non commercial) You will be issued a temporary pass for immediate use when you sign up. Your permanent pass will arrive in the mail with coupons for discounts on camping (50% off for the first night with a 2 night minimum stay required) as well as a discount (75% off the newstand price)for a subscription to Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine. A 10% discount is available immediately at all State Park stores. TIP: Purchase your State Parks Pass at an REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) store and receive an approximate 15% discount.Texas State Park Pass

Free Fishing in Texas State Parks

joanie7 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:59:20 +0000

This popular program was initiated for one year and has now been changed to ongoing. Your fishing license requirement and any accompanying stamp is waived once you have paid the entrance fee if you fish inside the property boundary of a Texas State Park. This applies to adults and children in either fresh waters or salt waters. You may fish from the banks of the lake, a pier, a river or creek as well as from a boat if the body of water is fully contained with the state park boundary. You may even wade fish from a coastal park. Special fishing events will be held at various state parks throughout the year. Check www.tpwd.state.us/family fish for more information.