This was one of the other parks we decided to explore. I really liked the waterfall feature and the…read morelarge pond filled with ducks. They had the park decorated for Christmas and I'm sure looked really pretty at night. It's not a large park so there's not much to look at but it's still a nice little walk. You can swim here and there is also a small museum. Parking was easy.

Such a beautiful park! Great spot to swim, hike, ride your bike, or just sit & enjoy the waterfall…read more They have really gone out of their way to keep up such a gem like this. Go San Saba!

Used to be awesome, but now isn't worth time or your money to go too the new GM is horrible. Does…read morenot know what he's doing and has ruined. The place had a whole crew quit that's been there for years. And actually knew what they were doing all within a month because of him. the trails unrideable. and the lift is shut down a lot because nobody knows how to run it.

This was my first time downhill mountain biking so I opted for Intro to Spider Mountain (beginners…read morelessons). Absolutely loved it! Chris was super busy because of the storms that pushed through the day before, but took his time and showed me the ropes. He related the lesson to things I was familiar with and made me comfortable with my body mechanics on the bike. He brought me to the skills park for a ride to get me in the groove and then we hit the trails. It was like having a buddy teaching me new skills. I can't say enough about my experience here, started on the greens and ended up finishing on mid-level blues. All the staff were amazing and helpful. I'll definitely be back, and will be bringing my wife and kid!

LOVE Barefoot Campground! I have stayed several times with some friends that have been going for…read moredecades. LOTS of primitive campsites (tent camping, which is what we do). River views, secluded shady spots, shelter spots, and RV hookup spots. At $10 per person per night, you can't beat it. The owners were so kind and accommodating to us. This time we had to make a last minute change to the spot we chose and they were super understanding and gave us the best spot they have! (No, I'm not telling you which one! ) You can book online on their website, but if you haven't been before you should give them a call and have them help you pick out a site depending on the size of your party. (Some spots are on the smaller side.) Never had a bad time at Barefoot, and I don't think I ever will!

This is a update to my first post for Bare Foot Fishing camp and RV Park…read more Two friends and I just spent three days there. We was Upgraded to a very good site by Frank and it was much better then the original one we were going to get. ' We did not ask for a up grade but was offered it. It was really nice. We were PRIMITIVE camping so did not use a shelter or RV part of the camp. ' We had plenty of room to each set up our tents which were all 6 to 8 person each as well as a separate shelter to use as a Cooking/ Storage tent for our food etc. ' Fishing was not very good as we did catch a few keepers but most were in the 6 to 8 inch range. That I think is because the water level in the river i a little low and I think we missed the White Runs up or down the river. There were a Lot of BIG Carp in the area but neither of us care for carp. ' We do plan on going back again. We met some very nice first time campers there. ' The restrooms/showers are very well kept up. They are old but well maintained and MORE then enough VERY HOT water. ' I am including some pictures. I do not know ho many Yelp will let me post but I will post what I think my be appreciated. ' This is a upgrade from my original post as when I did it we had only done a quick drive through to check it out. ' Also we went during the week to avoid the Crowds and weekend party bunch. It was Nice, Peaceful and Quiet. ' If you are to picky and looking for a 5 star resort this is not it. It Is A Fishing Camp and Kayak Camp. Not a resort to go to if you expect all the comforts of home UNLESS you bring your RV. ' It Is Rustic and a great get away. There is NO PHONE or Next to NO CELL or Internet service but they will notify you very fast if they get a Emergency phone call for you and they do have a Emergency Courtesy Phone there. ' I am including pictures of the Ladies rest room / showers as I know that something the ladies all want to know about. Other pictures will be of our cam set up and some I took of the area and the Main Kayak Launch site. ' I recommend IF you are going on a weekend to be sure and make reservations in advance. Holiday Weekends get full really fast and you may end up way out in a primitive camp site if you don't. ' There are 50 Tent sites and some have a metal shelter just in case you need it or want it and others are just like it says,, Primitive, with just a Table and Fire pit. ' You will need to bring your own fire wood if you want a fire as there is NO STORE on the site. The closest is outside at the turn for Barefoot/ State park and San Saba cut off. If you are Military they do offer a Military discount for active, retired etc. Be sure and ask about it. All three of us are retired mil and from Killeen, Temple, and Copperas Cove who went Kayaking there for 3 days and had a great time even though fishing was not so good at the time.

This was the final park we went to explore but compared to the other two parks this one was a bit…read moreunderwhelming. There was a play area, picnic tables, and a shaded area. There wasn't much reason to get out and explore anymore. It's great for kids and picnics but not enough for us to stay longer.

Risien is pronounced like "reason". So, let's 'Risien' together. Should you go out of your way to…read morevisit this park? Don't quote me on this, but the following famous people quotes seem reasonable when my review points follow them: "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." - Albert Einstein --- There's not much to do here. So, you get that done pretty fast. Unless you truly BBQ, then that takes time. It's a small park for camping. There is a small concrete for dancing or games (like trying to break pecan shells with your bare feet).--- "A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason." - J. P. Morgan --- The good reason for coming to this park: BBQ with the family. The real reason: Save money to drink more beer without many critics around.--- "Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die." - Alfred Lord Tennyson --- Actually, the mosquitos here have that motto, too. In June, they were a nuisance, even with Deet spray repellent on me.--- "There is nothing higher than reason." - Immanuel Kant --- There are no hills or climbing in the park, other than the banks of the river. A walkway connects this park to a nature trail next door. Walkway is a concrete sidewalk about 5' wide, so that lawnmowers and golf carts can use it for maintaining the park.--- "Things happen for a Risien" - (don't know why author is unknown) --- An English cabinet carpenter and amateur horticulturist, named Edmond Risien, came to San Saba in the early 1870's from the Northeast. He found a large old pecan tree, liked the pecans, and thereafter, obsessed over pecans and how to grow good ones consistently. His experimentation led to a successful business and fame.--- The Rest of his Story, which I will call "An Englishman went up a pecan tree but planted an orchard", and why there is a park in his name follows some relevant movie quotes from "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain". Morgan the Goat: (to recognize the hill as a mountain) "If Ffynnon Garw has to be a thousand feet, then I say let it be a thousand feet! Add 20 feet, that's all we need, a 20-foot tump and we have our mountain!" Jones the JP: "I'm not sure how legal that is..." Rev. Robert Jones: "Yes, or ethical..." Morgan the Goat: "Legal? Ethical? Wh-- how legal was it to say that a thousand feet is a mountain and 984 isn't, uh? Uh? Do we call a short man a boy, or a small dog a cat? No! This is a mountain, our mountain, and if it needs to be a thousand feet, then by God let's make it a thousand feet!" ---- Through trial and error over many years he developed many varieties, including Onliwon, San Saba Improved and Western Schley. Mr. Risien was such an important influence in building the community and giving San Saba some sort of identity and to be on the map. They had to have a park in his name. The preferred area, Mill Pond Park, was already created. The oak he made famous is still alive (but no good pecans anymore) on private property.--- Grandfather: "All this fuss over what? Is it a hill, is it a mountain? Perhaps it wouldn't matter anywhere else, but this is Wales! The Egyptians built pyramids, the Greeks built temples, but we did none of that, because we had mountains. Yes, the Welsh were created by mountains: where the mountain starts, there starts Wales. If this isn't a mountain - well, if this isn't a mountain, then Anson might just as well redraw the border and put us all in England, God forbid." ---From http://www.pecanjam.com/about/san-saba-pecan-industry/ : Risien presented his improved pecans to Queen Victoria; and Alfred, Lord Tennyson in England; and took some of his most amazing pecan clusters to the Chicago World's Fair and impressed the crowd - among whom was C W Post, the cereal magnate who reportedly named his Grape Nuts cereal after those amazing grape-like pecans clusters. By his 87th birthday, Mr. Risien had thousands of his improved pecan trees growing worldwide. Thus San Saba came to be known as the "Pecan Capital of the World."--- Betty: "You won't be back. This isn't a place that people like you come back to." Anson: "Well, I'll try, I'll, I'll really try..." Betty: "I'll try! Is that the best you can do?" ----If you go to San Saba, there is a tendency to say "Been there. Done that", and not return. The peaceful Risien Park is small and has a slow-moving creek/river, and lots of shade trees. There is not much else. But if you REALLY like special pecans, you might return.---

I was here for the famed (infamous?) Texas Eclipse Festival with 30,000-40,000 others. While the…read morefestival itself had some problems with organization that were completely unrelated to the ranch itself, I enjoyed my experience here quite a lot. There are some beautiful overlooks, a nice quarry lake for cooling off (although who knows how clean the water is, if livestock use it), and an overall great away-from-it-all vibe. I read that they use this ranch for mountain biking and I believe it. The hills are nothing to mess around with. Hiking will require quite a bit of up and down. Also, the dust was baaaaaaad. Come prepared with a mask or bandana if you are at all sensitive to dust. Other than that, it seems like a beautiful spot for recreating in the TX Hill Country.

I have been coming here for a few years for a camping and mountain bike getaway. The landscape is…read morerugged and beautiful and typical of ranches in this area. The staff are nice when you can find them and their facilities are decent considering the rustic, primitive facade it's boasting. A five star rating would require that the 10pm quiet hours were upheld by staff and patrons were held accountable for things such as trash and site cleanup. Both nights spent so was up late listening to awful awful language from campers across the lake till 3am. Loud obnoxious music from all angles and to top it off -- generators. 3am is not a dramatization either. There was a one-wheel festival taking place and it brought along some unsavory and rude mannered patrons. The site I chose was across the lake near the tower in order to avoid the crowds and not hit any "floaters" while biking. My site was littered with garbage and food scraps from whoever was there before I arrived. Otherwise. I had a great time.

This is a nice park on a river that's near the natural spring. We came to walk and the park was set…read moreup for Christmas lights and a little cut out village for the kids. They went all out on it. It looks like it would be very pretty all lit up at night. If younwalk up the path it takes you to the pool and the old bathhouse. There is a golf course across the river. The bathroom was clean, parking was ok but construction made it a bit hard to get to.

We stopped at the park to have a picnic while driving through town on a road trip. Parking lot was…read moreok to maneuver with a trailer. The park was clean and insect free at our table under the tree. It has a restroom. Our spot was not noisy, although it was not far from the road. A couple of other groups stopped while we were there. We saw a small child having fun with the play equipment.

I have never stayed in the park before but over the years I have known several friends that have…read morelived in the park . So I have gone into that park a few times over the years. And I know the speed limit is 5 miles an hour well part of the park is 5 1/2 and I have never gotten on to for speeding thru that place until a few weeks ago and instead of coming and saying please abide by the speed (which i don't think I was ) but the Manager : DALE came to my vehicle and was very rude and I just apologized actually I finally said you know you don't half to be so rude and then today June 4 2026 I coming in to the rv park to take some one home and the truck I was in the clutch is going out I mean barely working so when I came in my motor reved up because of clutch going out won't go over 5 miles per hour but the manager came up to my truck yelling I mean yelling at me and I tried to explain and he said I heard you raving your engine told him about my clutch then started yelling at the resident I was bringing home .this manager is so Un professional and so rude and should not be in a rv park especially running one . I have never encountered anybody so rude and mean before in my life .I know he got to be hurting owners business

I have been a resident for many years at this park and the majority of us have been here for years…read moretoo. I find it offensive that Mike F, who appears to be a pompous camper relates price to the residents in a very arrogant fashion. Most of the people at this park are elderly and live on a fixed income and are appreciative that the pricing has not shot through the roof like many other rentals out there right now. Mike F clearly is a cheapskate individual as he must have searched for the least expensive place around and then wanted a refund and was refused. I am okay with the last sentence as we like to keep this place a secret. Not sure how he even found out about it.

Beautiful Relaxing n A Very Near Place!!! Was born in this area 60 years ago and I return as much…read moreas possible

This review is for the park. Unfortunately couldn't check in directly in park due to experiencing…read moreno cell phone coverage. Came to park specifically to experience Gorman Falls. Rather than take an unguided 1.5 mike hike to the falls we waited for the park ranger guide at 2pm. The hike was probably only about 25-30 minutes. If you are older ,or in anyway disabled this is probably not for you. The end of the hike is steep and slippery even with a guide rail. Small children will need help navigating down the worn rocks. Upon arrival at the falls expect to be amazed. The waterfalls are 60ft tall and go into the Colorado river. The area takes you back in time and allows you to be one with nature. One of the best kept secrets in Texas. The park is located on over 5000 acres and was privately owned until the late 1980's. I can't believe someone was lucky enough to have this all to themselves for so long. The park just started offering tours of the falls I believe in 2000. The park not being state owned for very long and being out in the middle of nowhere is very primitive. Their are several biking and hiking trails at different levels of difficulty and length. Some have water sources that must be traveled to continue. Other activities include kayaking, camping and fishing. The website for the park is very thorough in listing activities and costs of entrance and camping. The ranger station has ice available which is great being that you are about 30 minutes away from anything. All the Rangers were friendly and really seemed to enjoy their job. The only downside is the toilets weren't great and the distance from San Antonio but I would love to come again in the summer or spring to see how the waterfall changes with the flora and fauna being dense and in bloom.