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The Best State Parks in Texas for Hiking and Camping

the-best-state-parks-in-texas-for-hiking-and-camping
When most people picture Texas, they see wide-open plains, bustling cities, and maybe a tumbleweed or two. As your guide to the Lone Star State, we’re here to let you in on a secret: Texas has some of the most diverse and stunning natural landscapes in the country, and they are protected and preserved in its incredible state park system.But with over 80 state parks, where do you even start? Whether you want to hike the rim of a canyon, camp under a blanket of stars, or just escape the city for a day, we’ve broken down the “best of the best” for hiking and camping. This is your practical guide to experiencing wild Texas.

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The #1 Pro-Tip Before You Go (Seriously, Read This)

Here’s the deal: Texas state parks are wildly popular, especially with locals. If you take away only one thing from this guide, let it be this:

YOU MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE.

You can’t just show up on a Saturday morning and expect to get in.

  • Day Passes: For popular parks (like all the ones on this list), you need to reserve your “Save the Day” pass online, often weeks ahead of time, especially for weekends.
  • Camping: For campsites, prime spots are booked months in advance. For a summer weekend at Garner, people book when the reservation window opens (typically 5 months out).

Always use the official Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) reservation site. This is the single most important step to a successful trip.

Our Top 5 Picks for Hiking & Camping in Texas

1. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (The Panhandle)

Often called “The Grand Canyon of Texas,” this is the second-largest canyon in the United States. The landscape is a stunning shock of reds and oranges, carved deep into the flat plains of the Panhandle.

  • Why It’s Great: The sheer scale and geological beauty are breathtaking.
  • Best Hiking: The Lighthouse Trail (5.7 miles round-trip) is the iconic, must-do hike to a stunning rock formation. For a challenge, try the GSL (Givens, Spicer, Lowry) Trail.
  • Camping: Offers everything from drive-up sites with electricity to primitive hike-in sites deep in the canyon. Note: It gets extremely hot in the summer; hike early.

2. Garner State Park (The Hill Country)

If you ask a Texan about their favorite state park, many will say Garner. This is the quintessential Texas summer experience. It’s built around a crystal-clear, cypress-lined stretch of the Frio River.

  • Why It’s Great: The perfect combination of river swimming, camping, and Hill Country views.
  • Best Hiking: The trails are steep but rewarding. Hike up “Old Baldy” (a short, 0.5-mile steep climb) for an unrivaled view of the Frio River valley below.
  • Camping: This is a camping destination. It’s famous for its nightly “Summer Dance” (since the 1940s), where teens and families dance under the stars. This is the hardest park to get a camping reservation for.

3. Big Bend Ranch State Park (West Texas)

This is the other Big Bend, and it’s the largest state park in Texas. Unlike the national park next door, this is a rugged, undeveloped wilderness. This is for the serious adventurer.

  • Why It’s Great: Unmatched solitude, epic desert mountain landscapes, and the darkest night skies in the state.
  • Best Hiking: Closed Canyon Trail is a short, spectacular slot canyon walk. The Ojito Adentro Trail leads to a hidden spring. The real prize is the vast network of 4×4-accessible backcountry trails.
  • Camping: Mostly primitive. This means no water, no electricity, and often no cell service. You must be 100% self-sufficient. It’s the best place in Texas for true backcountry car camping.

4. Pedernales Falls State Park (Near Austin)

Just an hour west of Austin, this park is famous for the river that cascades over massive, sloping slabs of limestone. It’s not a single “waterfall” but a spectacular series of rapids and pools.

  • Why It’s Great: A fantastic and accessible day trip from Austin or San Antonio for hiking and geological beauty.
  • Best Hiking: The Pedernales Falls Trail is a short walk to the main river observation deck. The Twin Falls Trail leads to a scenic swimming area (when water levels are safe).
  • Camping: Solid campsites, but they book up fast due to proximity to Austin. Great for a quick weekend getaway. Note: Swimming is not allowed in the main “Falls” area due to dangerous currents.

5. Huntsville State Park (East Texas)

Welcome to the “Piney Woods.” This park shows a completely different side of Texas—towering pines, swampy wetlands, and the 210-acre Lake Raven. It feels more like Louisiana than West Texas.

  • Why It’s Great: Lush, shaded hiking (a rarity in Texas!) and a great spot for fishing, kayaking, and spotting wildlife.
  • Best Hiking: This park is a hiker’s dream, with over 20 miles of trails. A segment of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (the longest continuous footpath in Texas) runs through the park.
  • Camping: A wide range of options, including screened shelters (great for the humid, buggy summers) and tent sites. And yes, there are alligators in the lake, so follow all safety rules.

A Quick Word on Texas Outdoor Safety

We want you to have fun, so you must be prepared.

  1. Heat is the #1 Danger: From May to October, temperatures can be life-threatening. Do not hike in the middle of the day. Carry more water than you think you need (at least 1 liter per person, per hour of hiking).
  2. Wildlife is Wild: Watch for rattlesnakes (don’t step where you can’t see). Do not approach alligators. Store food securely to keep raccoons away.
  3. Flash Floods: In the Hill Country and West Texas, a dry riverbed can become a raging torrent in minutes. If water is rising, get to high ground immediately.

Resources

For more planning and official information, use these high-authority sources:

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