Pedernales falls State Park Tx – swimming and hiking

Pedernales Falls State Park Tx is the right place to go for amazing views of the Texas Hill Country. To reconnect with nature, spend quality time with your beloved ones, far from city pollution.

The river’s elevation decreases by about 50 feet, and as a result, cascading waterfalls are created that are more than 3000 feet away.

The scenery in Central Texas is beautiful.

The crystal clear waters flow over the limestone formations and create ponds and waterfalls.

There is also a lot of lush vegetation and old cypress trees to hide under on a hot summer day.

The park has many trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking with different difficulty levels.

This offers a great opportunity to see the scenic views of the area.

The park is a great place to go for a day trip or even spend a weekend or the summer holiday.

There are plenty of things to see and do there.

Make sure you make reservations in advance if you want to visit the park. The park is very popular and crowded, especially during summer.

When the park reaches its maximum capacity, park headquarters decide to close it, and nobody is allowed inside.

For this reason, we advise you to get here quite early to secure your entrance to the park.

There are park entrance fees that you have to pay before entering the park: 6 USD per day for adults and children older than 13 years.

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Where is Pedernales falls park Texas United States

Address: Pedernales falls state park park road 6026 Johnson City Tx

Pedernales falls reservations is located about an hour away from the city of Austin. It offers amazing views of the Texas Hill Country.

The state park is without any doubt the most beautiful and scenic in Texas. It is also very easy to reach, thanks to its convenient location.

Pedernales Falls Park is located at 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, TX 78636.

The state park is located about 77 miles away from San Antonio. It takes about 1h and 20 minutes to get there by car.

Inside the park, you will find dripping springs, a swimming area, hiking trails, RV camping with electric hookups, picnic area, and primitive sites with fire pits.

Why you should visit Pedernales falls Tx

There is always something interesting to see in the park all year round. You can visit in any season and find something new.

This is a great place for nature lovers or people looking for a quick break. There are overnight campsites in the area if you want to stay longer.

The scenery inside this fascinating Texas park is unique and wild, and you will surely have a lot of fun if you choose to spend a whole weekend here or just a full day.

The best way to explore the area is to follow the Juniper Ridge Trail.

This trail is about 9 miles long and it is a difficult trail with great views of the area.

If you don’t feel like walking so many miles, I have good news for you: there are also shorter and easier trails in the park to enjoy nature’s beauty without a lot of physical effort.

If you’re looking for a place to relax and have fun, check out Pedernales Falls.

Pedernales state park activities

This is an area where you can swim, hike, and picnic. It’s the perfect spot to unwind after a long day at work.

Besides its stunning scenery and beautiful hiking trails, this park is famous for its beautiful sunsets.

If you love watching the sun set over the trees and the hills, then this is the place for you!

If you want to see a beautiful view, follow one of the park’s overlook trails. You’ll see a great view of the Pedernales River and the surrounding area. The rocks and plants on the river are really cool!

Although the area is not famous for being a great fishing spot, it is worth trying your luck here. The conditions are especially good for fishing after heavy rain when the river level rises.

You will have a good chance to catch catfish on the river and carp, bass, and perch during a normal fishing day.

The park is also well known because of the animals and plants there. It’s a good place to see different kinds of wildlife up close.

Many animals live here, including coyotes, white-tailed deer, and rabbits.

However, skunks, raccoons, and opossums can be seen less often.

Visitors of Pedernales falls Austin park can be everybody who loves nature, hiking, and wildlife.

You will find many trails here, with different lengths and difficulty levels, that are suitable for each of us. No matter how active we are, we can find a trail to fit our needs.

Seasonal hikers and explorers can be seen every day inside the park, regardless of the season and time of the day.

When you go hiking in the state park, bring your camera. You can take pictures of the beautiful areas and landforms.

Access to Pedernales Park Austin Tx

Certain parts of the park are wheelchair accessible, so don’t leave behind your immobilized friends when visiting Pedernales falls park.

There are wheelchair-friendly restrooms and showers at the headquarter and camping area, but unfortunately, most of the trails are not accessible for people who cannot walk.

Pedernales falls Austin

Pedernales falls state park Tx is quite a large park, but the river can be seen only from two points:

• the viewpoint of the falls
• the downstream area

The amount of water that goes over Pedernales Falls depends on how much rain falls.

To see the most impressive waterfall, we recommend you visit during the rainy season, in spring or autumn.

Pedernales Falls is a waterfall that has several pools and channels. The biggest pool is at the bottom of the falls. It is really deep.

Swimming, snorkeling, and any water activity in the area around the waterfall and in certain parts of the river is not allowed to protect aquatic life.

Pedernales falls State Park Tx hike

There are many different trails in the state park, and they vary in terms of difficulty and length. For more information about each trail, contact the park.

Among the most popular trails are:

• The Wolf Mountain Trail is a 7.5-mile trail located in the park’s southern section. The trail goes uphill and crosses two hills.
• The Juniper Ridge Trail, which has almost 9 miles and it is quite challenging but equally beautiful
• Madrone Trails gets its name from the madrone trees that can be found there. The trail is moderate in terms of difficulty.
• There is a 5.5-mile loop trail that goes to a part of the park where not many people go. The trail includes a river crossing, so be prepared to get wet if you take this route.
• Twin Falls Nature Trail is a 5 miles trail with a scenic view of the Twin Falls.

Things to do inside the park

The list of activities available inside the park varies depending on when you choose to visit the area.

Generally, swimming, kayaking, and canoeing are available all year round, considering the temperature, on certain parts of the river.

Another activity available all year round is hiking on different trails available inside the park; it is a good way to observe nature, admire its beauty, and relax.

Two trails for horseback riding are accessible all year round, depending on the weather conditions.

The North Loop Equestrian Trail and the South Loop Equestrian Trail are both great for horseback riding.

Camping in Pedernales falls state park Tx

There are 69 campsites spread inside the state park.

Some of them offer water and electricity, while others have primitive conditions and fire rings, perfect for a getaway in the middle of nature.

In order to reach the campsites with primitive conditions, you need to hike for about 2 miles.

No matter which type of camp you choose, make sure you book your place in advance. This is especially important during summer when the camp becomes very crowded.

You can use the Pedernales falls online reservations system to reserve a camping spot for an overnight stay.

Group Camp, for example, is open to any youth group accompanied by an adult.

There are picnic tables, outdoor grills, chemical toilets, and lantern posts perfect for a day in nature.

Pedernales Falls Park hotels

The closest town to Pedernales falls Texas is Johnson City. It is a beautiful town with some interesting places to stay overnight.

You can choose to stay at Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, a beautiful winery, and combine outdoor activities with wine tasting.

If wineries are not what you are looking for, you could spend a few nights in a luxury tent near town in the middle of Hill Country at Tentrr Signature Site – Agave.

The hills around the state park are full of incredible cottages, glamping, and amazing vacation homes.

Deer Trail Ranch-Blue Cottage is one of the coziest and most beautiful cottages in the area that can accommodate up to 2 families in 2 bedrooms.

The cottage has a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your meals, a bathroom with showers and a toilet, bed linens, and towels.

Tips for visiting Pedernales falls state park Johnson City Tx

If you’re looking to visit Garner State Park, be sure to make reservations ahead of time.

The park is especially busy on weekends and during the high season.

For this reason, we recommend that you book your ticket online, and you should do it in advance, especially on weekends.

If you are a nature lover and plan to visit more state parks and attractions in Texas in a single year, then you should consider buying the Texas State Parks Pass.

This pass includes free entrance to almost 90 state parks, no matter what time of year you visit them.

The park is quite large, and there are plenty of activities and hiking trails to follow to discover the beauty of the area and the wild creatures that live here.

Plan your day ahead to make the most of your time in the park. Get a park map to help you orient yourself inside the protected area.

Signs are telling you not to swim in the river in some places.

This is because not all parts of the river are safe for swimming.

You can find places where swimming is allowed by looking for areas that are marked as safe.

Conclusion

Pedernales falls state park Tx is undoubtedly among the state’s wildest and most beautiful attractions.

The house is located close to Austin. This means that it is easy to get to the city. There are also a lot of outdoor activities nearby so that you can have a lot of fun with your friends and family.

The waterfall is located in a protected area, so you will need special permission to get close to it, and you are not allowed to swim in the pools from the bottom of the falls.

Still, there are plenty of other interesting activities to try in the area, and the scenery is incredibly beautiful.

It will take at least a weekend to explore the whole area. If you’re adventurous, you can spend a short holiday here and not get bored.

FAQ

What is there to do at Pedernales Falls Park?

The list of outdoor activities you can do inside the Pedernales Falls reservation is quite long; among the most popular activities, I would like to mention camping, hiking, mountain biking, geocaching, picnic, bird watching, and horse riding.

You can also swim, go kayaking, or tubing on certain parts of the river marked accordingly.

How much is a day pass at Pedernales Falls Park?

The price for an entrance ticket to Pedernales falls park is 6 USD per adult.

Kids who are 13 years old or younger can enter for free.

Can you swim in Pedernales Falls?

No, you are not allowed to swim at Pedernales Falls as the waterfall is located in a protected area full of incredible water creatures and fauna.

Near the waterfalls are designated areas for swimming, tubing, and kayaking, amazing activities for you and your family.

You can bathe in these areas. So, take your swimsuit with you when exploring the state park.

What city is Pedernales State Park in?

The closest city to Pedernales falls is Johnson City. It is a small but charming town with a few restaurants and places to stay for your overnight visit.