Overlook Park and Dam at Canyon Lake (about 50-60ish miles from both Austin and San Antonio) is the…read morepublic park I visit most often since joining the CL community in June 2020. At least a couple of times per month, we make our weekend run over the dam from North Park and bask in the seasonal beauty of the big blue lake, the variety of plants on the slopes and forest, and the joy of other visitors taking it all in. Who knows how long it will last in these troubled times for public works, but today, the park remains free to enter from dawn to dusk. The enforcement of parking and capacity limits is by Comal County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), while the authority for the water and 1964-built dam falls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Game Wardens, and the Guadalupe - Blanco River Authority (GBRA). Finally, the Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) helps with safety signage and waste management around the park by providing free litter bags to make it as easy as possible for visitors to pack out their trash. The park technically doesn't promote swim access, and there is no lifeguard or buoy barrier system for protected swim zones, but you will see many swimmers and floaters in the cold water around the rocky shore during warm weather. The closer to the dam you are, the more likely you'll see fish swimming in the clear water, so bring your snorkel and enjoy. Keep in mind, depth drops off steeply down to 120 feet, so if you're not a strong swimmer, a life vest or other safety provisions may be in order. Certainly, keep an eye on your kids at all times. If you want a coveted spot for the day at the shoreline, you're going to need to plan ahead. Pack up your provisions, chairs, shade tent, what-have-you and get to the park as soon as possible after dawn to secure a parking spot. You'll need your goat feet and maybe an all-terrain wagon to get down the rocky trails to your place at the water. The shore is entirely limestone, so you typically won't be able to use stakes for a pop-up; plan to weigh down with something else, as Canyon Lake gets VERY windy. Restrooms are at the far southeast end of the park, near the Gorge overlook. You'll also find porto-johns near the dam gate and disabled parking spots. If you're still there by sunset, you'll hear the sheriff's deputy over a PA system asking you to leave. There is no camping or overnight parking allowed. Note that this park is also home to USACE headquarters for Canyon Lake. Their visitor center is open Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p except for federal holidays. A few times per year, special events may open up an opportunity to drive across the dam's paved path (a.k.a. the Verada Real). These spots are secured through a charitable donation to the DAM Community Alliance (damcommunityalliance.com) and tend to sell out fast. Otherwise, only pedestrians, strollers, and bicycles are allowed on the paved path. Dogs should be on leash and poop should be picked up, please, for the love of all that is holy. More to come....

We have lived next to Overlook Park and Canyon Dam for 10 years and it has gone to hell in a…read morehandbasket in the last two or three years. It's like the county government, in coordination with the Army Corp. of Engineers has decided that they just don't want people here. First it was erecting "no parking signs" on the road and handing out tickets by the sheriffs department. Then they installed tire flattener spikes at the exit and gate barriers so that access was restricted. They had the sheriffs department come in every night to throw people out at sunset. We used to call that person the "Dam Nazi" (Canyon Dam). Now they close the place early even before hours are over and sometimes they don't open it at all. And worst of all they've started lining tow trucks up to tow people's cars at sunset without warning. It's ridiculous. It's like they are practicing for totalitarianism. It's like the government has decided that they hate people. My daughter and son-in-law walked the over-the-dam walkway with our 3-year-old granddaughter; when they came back to leave, his pick-up truck was in the air - the tow truck driver said he would take $150 to lower it again so they could drive home. People are literally starting to move out of Comal County. It has become downright evil and the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority seems to be getting rich by selling all of Canyon Lake's water downstream. This is the rural version of Los Angeles, Seattle or Denver. It's getting nasty.

I can't say I recommend Lockhart State Park from my last visit here. Even though it's the only…read moreTexas state park with a 9-hole golf course, the hiking trails weren't very interesting and I was concerned about getting hit by golf balls as one of the trails cuts right through the fairway. The trail system here seemed almost like an afterthought, as there weren't any scenic viewpoints to look forward to. There were large shrubs everywhere and nothing interesting around. They say to my have a fishing pond, but it was small and it looked like it was devoid of any life. I thought the CCC group area and the day-use areas were cool. I can see locals taking advantage of the amenities. But for me, hiking trails are the biggest draw and unfortunately I left disappointed.

I enjoyed hiking the trails to take a break from the highway while on a roadtrip. It was well…read moreworth the $3 entrance fee. While I've seen prettier landscapes, the ones at Lockhart are decent. No waterfalls, apparently, the creek onky flows when it rains... But there are a few nice views from the higher elevations of the hiking trails. They have some flatter trails and a few that are more challenging. I hiked several as they were short. I managed to finish 5 in 30 minutes, and it was an enjoyable hike. Lockhart also has a golf course, camping spots, and a swimming pool (in season). It would make a nice place to camp out for a weekend get-away. The gentleman at the office was kind and helpful.

Twas a nice and short trail in the community! Had a nice 1 hr 15 walk on Saturday afternoon! The…read moreweather is great, nature is awesome and people are beautiful! A lot of shades are there which was nice! Like it a lot and wish the creek is not dried up

Didn't realize all the pics I got here were with my baby boy. Lol easy walk. Little off trail…read moreaction. Little confusing at first but was able to use my all trails app and it directed me where to.

This is the head of the series of parks that you can walk through on the paved paths. There is a…read morebathroom and parking lot at this side. You can walk alongside the river for most of this parkway. There are some bridges and a historical building alongside the river too. You can fish and swim here. The water is surprisingly warm.

This is the park just off of Charles Austin Drive. Surprised I didn't see a review for it, because…read moreit seemed like a very popular place. I really liked this park. It's got the river flowing right through it, and it's right by the university. My friends and I eschewed the tubes and just floated down ourselves. The river's got a nice current in this area that carries you right along. Plenty of bridges, steps and ladders. Great for kids, families, hot college girls...you get it. Looked like they do allow alcohol, but probably no glass. The river is man-made, and there's plenty of trees for shade. Definitely wanna check this out, if you've got a day to spend in SM.

It's time for a summer 2024 update on my review of Guadalupe South River Nature Trail (GSRNT,…read morelocated just below the Canyon Lake Dam off South Access Road in Canyon Lake, Texas). I still love this park and trail system, and everything wonderful in my original review holds true, but there is an important caveat to share (read to the end to find out). Please, if you visit this wonderful park, leave no trace. Pack out what you bring in, and if you are able bodied, get bonus karma points by bringing in a WORD mesh bag (you can pick one up at the trailhead) to carry out any trash you may see along the trail. If we all work together, we can keep this place as a clean and harmonious place for all to experience the wonder and awe of Mother Nature. GSRNT is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with contributions by the local nonprofit Water Oriented Recreation District (WORD) of Comal County and the Lindheimer Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists https://txmn.org/lindheimer/, plus semi-annual Eagle Scout projects for trail rehabilitation and Keep Canyon Lake Beautiful (KCLB) for trash pickup. Most people doing work on this trail system are unpaid volunteers who care about this community. Parking for about 30 vehicles is available on the tree-shaded dirt/gravel lot on the river side of the South Access Road, and the trailhead is at the corner of the lot. Walk carefully as you follow the trail, as there are quite a few rustic steps and tree roots with a bit of elevation change if you continue to the end of the 1 mile, single-track path. The 30 markers along the trail highlight some of the native plants that thrive near our Hill Country waterways. See the guide online at https://txmn.org/lindheimer/guadalupe-river-south-trail/ . If you aren't a hiker, there's great fishing on the bank and cold water for floating or lounging in a short chair. Bird watching is an option, too. Access to GSRNT is unfortunately restricted on weekends from Friday evening to Sunday evening since May 2023. Why? During the pandemic, exponentially more people began spending time outdoors and many new visitors discovered the beauty of the parks in the Texas Hill Country. Unfortunately, too many of these folks left behind litter and destruction, with no regard for the impact to other visitors, park maintenance volunteers & staff, or the natural habitat. This negative behavior resulted in changed policies and reduced hours at numerous parks, including GSRNT. The restricted access is a bummer for locals and conscientious visitors alike. Most people work during the week and only have time for hiking on the weekends. It's a shame that a few bad apples ruin things for everyone. :-( On the other hand, I am grateful that the damage to GSRNT is being minimized and it's in good shape whenever I am able to visit on weekdays.

Who doesn't love a free nature park or trail! We came to…read morecanyon lake on new years weekend and had a list of their trails and parks we wanted to hit but a lot of it was closed except for this special trail. They had a decent parking lot and we began our trail. The trail is large and lengthy, there were a few benches and some decent pic spots, it's on the other side of the river and the housing area. The water in the river is also pretty clear. It was a nice free nature thing to do especially when the weathers nice!

A nice small trail system. Not a very long trail but quite beautifully wooded, partially shaded,…read moreand easy to navigate. I did a little over 6/10 of a mile on my lunch break in 18 minutes so not a lot of up-and-down. Quite a few birds, mostly Cardinals, but I did see some warblers and a couple of deer while hiking. Surrounded by neighborhoods I imagine that it's a pretty cool little getaway for people that live here. .

Schulle Canyon Nature Area is a small "pocket park" near TSU. It is well maintained by the San…read moreMarcos Greenbelt Alliance and has some very nice trails in a nice-ish area. It is on the very small side at 21 acres with about 1.2 miles of trails if you do them all. But, if you want a chance to catch some local birding or need to stretch your legs and soul between classes, this might be the place for you. If you are looking for an easy hiking area for some very young kiddos, this also might be your spot. Many of the trees are marked so it could be a good chance to identify trees with the little ones. Be careful though, as many of the neighboring folks use this as their personal dog walking / "airing" loop and not all of them may be on leashes.

I'm sure that during its peak season and at its full potential, the well will be much more…read morecaptivating and visually appealing than my experience of it. But despite that notion, Jacob's Well overall is very underwhelming. The hike is probably the shortest and least challenging I've ever experienced. There are several mini trails that are great for kids to explore, along with a large tire swing at the front entrance. Jacob's Well is definitely very kid- and senior-friendly as it's not very strenuous at all to hike or walk around. It's a nice that it's there for everyone to experience nature but again, very underwhelming. We spent about half an hour there which was enough time to experience the entire area. Definitely worth a visit if it's your first time in Wimberley.

We were told by an employee that the drought, as well as the blooming algae has had Jacob's well…read moreclosed to swimming for 4 years now...

Conway Park is a small park on the corner of Bliss and Sturgeon in the Blanco Gardens neighborhood…read more It's fenced in, so your kids or pets don't run off. It's a pretty good sized park at 3 acres and the amenities include a Playground, a half basketball Court, and plenty of Benches. It's a nice looking park, and you can tell it's been recently renovated. The paint is fresh, and the jungle gym looks safe. It's nicely landscaped, and there are sidewalks to ride your bike on, and shady areas to hang out under. Unfortunately, there's no restrooms here.