The Most Important Thing to know about the Outdoor Guide
This website is a searchable database best used for identifying those recreational sites that offer specific outdoor activities within geographic limits that you select while running a search. For example, go to the banner and select kayak trails from the first pull down and then 10 miles and Spring Branch from the next two pull downs. The search results will be our suggested kayak trips that are approximately 10 miles from Spring Branch. More search information is available at Search Tips.
Purpose of the Outdoor Guide
We have produced this travel guide for the primary purpose of assembling into one easy to access location an enormous amount of information regarding our favorite outdoor recreational activity destinations in the Texas Hill Country. We have included many of those out of the way, hidden, off the beaten path, and difficult to find locations you have heard about over the years and some that you probably have never heard of until now.
This travel guide is a searchable database that provides descriptions of well more than 500 destinations that include campgrounds, swimming holes, fishing spots, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, horseback riding facilities, wildlife and wildflower viewing areas, tube and kayak outfitters and suggested paddle trip locations, birding and bat viewing areas, scenic drives that will take you out to the sticks, vineyards and wineries, lavender farms, some other miscellaneous attractions, and taaah daaah – beer gardens.
The information we have amassed is based on years and years of exploring the Hills, and on several thousands of miles traveled looking for that next sparkling swimming hole, inviting campsite, breathtaking trail or exhilarating kayak run. To the extent available, along with our descriptions of sites and activities we have included telephone numbers, addresses, driving directions, email information and a website link for each of the locations. Whether you are new to the Hill Country or have lived in or near the area for years, this comprehensive guide of outdoor recreational areas should be of great assistance when you are identifying potential destinations for your next excursion into the captivating Edwards Plateau region of Central Tejas.
There is something we probably need to explain about the area for which we have included information in the database. Our definition of the Hill Country is going to be different than a lot of folks' definition for the region. Because of that, there will be places you know exist that are not in the database because we have decided they are not within what we consider to be the Hill Country. Some of those choices might strike you as being somewhat peculiar, but we had to draw a regional boundary somewhere and that might explain why certain places are not available through the website. One more thing, because the focus of this guide is on the Hill Country portion of Central Texas do not expect to find many places east of IH 35 in our database. We do not have anything against the prairie region east of IH 35, it is just that we very much prefer the hills.
Places to Go, Things to Do in the Texas Hill Country
We have developed this Outdoor Guide to place at your fingertips information for outdoor recreational activities that would take countless hours to find online (even if you were lucky enough to find them all) and years to collect by driving around in the Hill Country. Years we tell you, years. Even though there are several other resources out there that can provide you with information regarding some of the locations and activities discussed in this Outdoor Guide, there is no other searchable database for the Hill Country that provides you with detailed yet succinct summaries and location information for:
· Close to 130 tent campgrounds located on or near the water, 68 of which are pet friendly
· More than 215 destinations where you can go swim or play around in the water at springs, rivers, lakes and stream crossings
· Over 140 spots where you can try your hand at wetting a line, along with references to our favorite bait stores
· More than 30 mountain biking destinations
· Over 100 areas were you can stretch your legs and do some hiking
· Over 70 destinations available for wildlife and wildflower viewing (not counting all the campgrounds)
· Almost 120 river outfitters who rent kayaks, canoes, rafts or tubes
· Over 60 ideas for kayak trip put in and take out locations
· 40 destinations where you can go horseback riding
· More than 60 areas for birding and bat viewing (not counting all the campgrounds)
· Over two dozen vineyards and wineries
· Close to 25 scenic drives that will take you out to the middle of nowhere and to lots of interesting places
· Over 100 locations where you can go to enjoy an adult beverage on a patio, deck or beer garden
· A dozen lavender farms, and
· Many more attractions on top of all that.
Also, because we can appreciate the fact that folks do not always want to go tent camping we have included almost 500 listings for cabin, cottage and bed and breakfast locations, over 90 of which are pet friendly to some extent. The listings for the lodgings do not include detailed descriptions regarding accomodations so you will have to go to their individual websites to get information about whether they have claw-foot bathtubs or a microwave oven. However, we have included information regarding the number of bedrooms, whether there is a fireplace or deck onsite, and the outdoor activities that are avilable at the lodgings and nearby areas.
The Key to Life and Fun is Water
Our biases are numerous and somewhat arbitrary, so let us summarize the one that is most relevant to compiling the information for this Outdoor Guide. We believe the key to having the maximum amount of fun in the Hill Country is to incorporate water into your outdoor activities. What we really enjoy doing out in the Hills, or at least what we are willing to disclose, is swimming, wading, tubing, kayaking, floating, snorkeling, fishing, riding in, driving through, photographing near, camping by, hiking alongside and otherwise spending time in, on or next to the water. Dagnabit, there are even places where you can scuba in the Hill Country and we have done a little of that as well. Maybe it is the negative ions associated with certain water bodies that is the main draw to lakes, rivers and streams, who knows? In any event, we have focused our efforts on directing you to places that will be adjacent or nearby to water because we think those are the most fun places to visit.
Do Your Homework
We have attempted to ensure that all of the information contained in this Outdoor Guide is accurate as of the time of publication. However, virtually nothing stays exactly the same (just ask any of your ex-significant others) so do not be surprised to find that places have gone out of business or changed ownership, campgrounds no longer allow you to bring your yaks onto the property because they now rent them, names and telephone numbers have changed, hours have changed or places might be closed for the season, road signs are missing, or (one of the worst things that can change) the sign with the number of the county road has been replaced with a sign indicating the new name of the road -- the horror. It is always best to make a phone call or hop online when possible to obtain confirmation of the information that is most important to you before you take off. However, if you want to throw caution to the wind, run a couple of searches, and then head for the Hills and go see what there is to discover on your next expedition. “Turn me loose, I’ll never be the same.”
Disclaimer
The Hill Country Outdoor Guide is provided for the sole purpose of offering only suggestions for places to consider visiting and the OUTDOOR GUIDE MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES as to the fitness of any site for the activities we have included in our descriptions, and as to the completeness or accuracy of the information provided by this website. The information on our website is provided "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. We strongly urge you to TALK TO SITE OWNERS ABOUT ANY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER AND DISCUSS PROPER PRECAUTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN DURING YOUR VISIT to our suggested sites. Many of the locations on our website are in a natural, undeveloped state and can pose potential risks. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU COULD BREAK YOUR NECK, PUT YOUR EYE OUT, OR IF YOU ARE VERY UNLUCKY YOU MIGHT EVEN END UP KILLING YOURSELF OR AT LEAST SUSTAINING SOME SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES AT ANY OF THE PLACES WE HAVE DESCRIBED IN OUR WEBSITE . Do not go blaming us because WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR your acts or omissions, the conditions found at any of the sites we have described on our website, or the information contained in our descriptions of the destination site. Be careful and watch what you are doing or you COULD BE INJURED at virtually any of the places described on our website. However, if you get hurt at a butterfly ranch it might be best to keep it to yourself.
Adios
After you collect some information from running a few searches turn this darn computer off and head out to enjoy the spectacular scenery and recreational activities available in the Hill Country. Have fun, and take care.