Michael M.

My wife and I love camping. We are always looking for new places to explore. We heard about Colorado Bend State Park and decided to check it out. And we were pleasantly surprised. The camp grounds are convenient. There was a bathroom within a 5 min walk of our camp site. There are tons of hiking options. More than we could explore within one weekend so we'll need to go back. They offer caving, fishing and paddle boarding as well. It is a clean place and pet friendly. Overall, a great experience.

Sandra H.

Texas standoff with a cow and her calf, an ostrich laying an egg, and scenery that throws you back to when Cowboys rode horseback across Texas, that's what you see when you make the trip to Colorado Bend Park. Back to nature you go...cell phones for photos only, service doesn't work or is sporadic. Lots of trails but the Gorman Falls trail is well worth the hike. Starts out easy and ends with a downward trek on the rocks to be at the bottom of the falls and by the Colorado River. Still not sure where the fall originates but it is one of the most unique and unexpected falls that I've seen. It's a total of 3 miles (1.5 in and 1.5 out). If you have dogs, know it's pretty rocky near the end. It was a perfect day for a hike...take the trip and throw back to a scene from authentic Texas...watch out for those cows, they free roam!

Erin M.

A very beautiful place to come visit if you're into hiking and camping. It's a pretty big park with various trails that you can go and explore. I've been here a few times in the past and always had quite the adventure. Before even entering the park, you get to see cows around the area (go through someones property), but thankfully, we are easy to get around them when on the road. You do have to book a reservation to get in as they have a capacity limit, so make sure you look up the park information before you go, especially if you want to camp there. We also took the liberty to bring food and get a full tank of gas. Thankfully, you can get a map usually at the beginning of the park and on most trails/camp areas. Spring and Fall are usually the times I like to go as the weather is not too hot and can still enjoy the scenery. The map shows many trails you can take and does say which ones can be difficult to do. Also, it mentions how far the trail goes. Overall, the trails are not too bad to follow as long as you pay attention. Most of them are tagged to show you the way, or they have arrows to go, but if you're not careful, some spots can be difficult to navigate. The last visit I did was the Gorman falls trails and tie slide trails. I would say it's not too difficult, but there are a lot of rocks and not exactly a smooth path, so watch your step. Especially if you decide to visit the waterfall as those rocks to get down can be slippery and difficult to get up and down. Just hang on to the ropes they have set up. But overall, a very well worth trip down as you can see the water and has a pitstop to sit down if you need rest. I plan to go back again in the future and enjoy more of the swimming areas. Definitely recommend anyone to explore.

Carrie M.

Colorado Bend is very much worth the two hour drive from Austin. I've done it twice, and we also do a one-night backpacking trip here with UT. We did the Tie Slide Trail to the river overlook then connected to the Gorman Falls Trail. The waterfall is very pretty there and definitely the highlight of the park. After a lunch break, we hiked back to the parking lot and drove down to the Spicewood Springs, which was a short hike in to the swimming hole. There's one big one and a couple of smaller ones. The Bend General Store is a nice place to stop for dinner afterwards. It has fun country vibes with chickens walking around. There are only pit toilets and no running water. The potable water they had tastes very bad. We went to the headquarters expecting a visitor center, but there was no visitor center. Every state park I've been to has a visitor center, and I'ce been to a lot. Instead, there was one incredibly awkward park ranger who informed us that all their payment systems had been down for a while, so they were cash only. He was extremely awkward with us.

Rain W.

This park is home to Gorman Falls, which has its own waterfall. The trail itself may only be 3 miles round trip, but what they don't tell you is that the "trail" is literally just piles of rocks. Even with markers, it's easy to get disoriented because there are piles of rocks everywhere. I ultimately had to send my friend to the even more treacherous trail, which has steep stairs and wires to hold onto as you descend to the waterfall. We also tried to see the river but you can't really get close to it from the campsite. It's not for inexperienced hikers. We drove around the rest of the park but it might be a while before we come back here.

Jenny M.

It was nice trekking but not really a hike - we only did the Gorman Trail so we didn't really see most of the trail. Wish had more time to do it. Love to see the cows and bulls. Follow me on instagram: @roadtwoadventure

Minly L.

Don't take for "granite" Colorado Bend State Park. My pals and I came out for a great hike and that is just what us city students got. We opted for one of the more difficult trails that included waterfalls and a canyon. The water is super clear and the canyons were breathtaking. Along the trip we saw 3 armadillos, super cool! Hands down one of the best places to hike in Texas. It definitely created some amazing memories for us.

Brent L.

Located not too far from Ft. Hood. The trails: I recommend the Tie Slide Trail. It's right at 2.2 miles - not a lot of elevation changes, but very rocky and jagged for novice hikers - it's rated at "moderate. You'll get spectacular views of the Colorado River at one point. This trail is about 70% shaded. Gorman Falls Trail - 70% of it in the sun. This trail is 1.5 miles in and 1.5 miles out. It's rated as challenging as it has a very steep descent when you get closer to the falls, but it's well worth it. The rocks are very slippery, even when conditions are dry. But there are guide cables to help you on your way. This is THE best trail out here. Gorman Springs trail - very lush, green, and pretty, but overgrown if you are wearing shorts. Can get itchy for a bit, so wear long pants. It's very shaded, but not very exciting. I'd skip this one and choose another trail. It's about .5 miles in and .5 miles out. Tubing - cool off after your hike with some tubing. The best place to put in is near the boat ramp area. Very little current in the portion of the Colorado river, so you will drift slowly along side the Spicewood Canyon trail for a little more than half a mile and then have to hike back from where you started. The current in this part of the river is very slow, so you can probably just paddle to keep yourself in place, or tie off to a tree along the banks. Or you can even just keep paddling to keep yourself near where you parked. Not a lot of shade on this stretch of the river though. Porta Potties near the boat ramp. Real bathrooms are about 100 yards away from the visitor center. Very low key park and not overwhelmed by people. A+

Krystal C.

Beautiful, breathtaking park. My friend and I traveled here to do some hiking. Upon arrival the toll both was closed so I called and was told to continue on the road and I would eventually come across the main office. The main office seems far from the entrance but it's because of the speed limit that respects the wildlife that lives there. (Please don't speed.) The office is located by the camping sites and has a breathtaking view of the river. Definitely a beautiful scenic walk. My cell signal was a hit and miss kind of deal. I was okay with disconnecting from the modern world and enjoying my escape in the natural setting around me. We did the Gorman Falls trail that was about two miles from where we parked. The trail itself is a bit challenging with the rocky terrain. The end of the trail had a river side view and waterfall. I would caution those hiking this trail to wear some good shoes. The trail has a steep slope that has some super slippery rocks. There is a wired handrail and I took full advantage of this feature. If not, I would fear I would have landed ugly at the bottom. They do have a lot of wildlife roaming around so just be cautious of your surroundings. The park also posts weather advisory notices, and guidelines for hikers. I definitely want to come back and do some more of their trails and do their primitive campsites. Waking up to that beautiful view must be a wonderful feeling. If you like being out in nature and unwinding from a stressful week this place is for you. I felt recharged at the end of my hike. I'll say this again: absolutely breathtaking!!

Aurora B.

This review is for the Spicewood Spring trail. 7/2020 Wow! What an amazing place. We are traveling here from WA we're blown away. First, you MUST reserve a pass to enter the park. Whether it's a day pass or camping, you have to have a pass. 90% of the time it is reserved in advance and you won't be able to buy one at the rangers station. I'm not sure if it's a post covid thing or how it's always done. The staff was amazing! We went straight to Spicewood trail which is at the opposite of the entrance. We stopped by headquarters where they had a bathroom and a place to get water. I've heard that there isn't any other place to get water. The hike from the parking lot to the spring is about ... a mile? Ish? It's flat and my family of 11 (5 adults & 5 children & 1 infant) had no issues with it. There are 5 springs total but the first one is the biggest and best! We spent 4 hours there. Today was perfect day too, overcast with sun breaks. I can imagine that it gets HOT because there isn't a lot of tree coverage. There is a spot that is perfect for sitting with an infant. And lots of area for people to swim in! We has a blast there. BEAWARE that they rocks are sooooo slippery ! So wear nice traction shoes or be cautious... we just had bare feet. The water was the perfect temp, so clear. We didn't venture off to the other springs since you had to kinda climb the slippery rocks and we didn't want to take the baby (but we did see kids as young as 5 years old cross it just fine) Next time we're back in Texas, we will be back and check out the other trails. ** they are not doing any kayak or boat rentals due to covid

Jake H.

Colorado Bend State Park is in the Hill Country outside of Lampasas, TX. There are many trails throughout the park, but this trip I only took 3 trails (and still did about 10 miles of hiking!). Today's hike was: The Gorman Falls Trail (1.5 miles one way) with a pretty steep hike down on slick rocks as approaching the falls; Spicewood Springs Trail (1.3 miles) which follows the river with a number of spots crisscrossing over the creeks and water holes to swim in; and finally Spicewood Canyon Trail (3 miles) we took it back toward the river and it wasn't too challenging. Bring water! I can't stress this enough and the park too urges people to bring 1 Liter (Nalgene size) of water for every hour, and it was needed as it was a hot one today! There is a place to fill up water bottles right by headquarters. The hike to Gorman Falls has almost no shade until you get to the falls. Sadly, you can't hike underneath Gorman Falls as it is a protected environment but still beautiful to look at! Go outside and visit Colorado Bend State Park!

Danielle J.

Didn't know they had some ific time limits to get in the park. They have 9a.m. to 2p.m. Then 2p.m. to 10p.m. Must buy there pass online at texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com Then drive all the way to the back of the park and check in at the headquarters and get your parking pass. Once you get your parking pass, you can go do what you wanted to. We, my mom and I were there to go see Gorman Falls. The paper says its 1.5 miles to the falls. Its actually almost 2 if not more. The trail is very rocky with shaded areas but nowhere to sit and rest on your journey. Except for 2 benches in the sun. I didn't get that. Then the last part you g through to get down to the falls is extremely step. They have put ropes in to hold onto to help. I dont get why they just haven't notched out some steps into the rock. Then once your at the falls, it is very pretty and peaceful. Cant get into the falls though. They do that keep it's natural purity. The walk back seemed longer than walking back. Make sure to take 2 liters of water per person, especially during the summer. Lots of sunscreen, and I recommend a portable fan. It helped move the air around when there was no wind. If your a big adventurous person, its worth the adventure down to it.

Leila R.

I had camped here a few years back and had a wonderful time under the clear night skies (except for getting walking pneumonia from the 40 degree temp dip into the upper 30s that night and being molested by an armadillo), but because I fell ill, I was unable to enjoy the springs and hike to Gorman Falls. I came back specifically for the Falls hike as with all the rain we'd been having the Falls were supposed to be spectacular! They did not disappoint! Though a bit off the beaten path (you will wonder just exactly where you are at a few points to drive there), it is worth the 90mins-2hr drive out. When we arrived the park seemed almost abandoned as there was not a fee station as with other parks and the Gorman Falls trail head is about a half mile drive in past the park entrance. The trailhead parking is well marked and has a pretty decent bathroom facility as far as compost standards go. The trail itself is rated as "challenging", but honestly, if you are in relative decent physical shape, can do a 5k at a moderate pace, and do not have knee problems, you should be fine. The only thing to keep in mind is that hiking under the pounding glare of the mid-day sun was not the best laid plans. When we started our hike around 11am, it was actually not that terribly hot and we had a nice breeze. However, due to lack of shade along the trail and literally being out in the middle of nowhere, the hike back was draining and I am glad I decided to bring extra water as I sweated about half my body weight and the temperature seemed to have increased to 1000 degrees within the 2hrs between. The trail itself is pretty simple and unextraordinary except for some random vistas here and there. When you approach the Falls and can hear the running water, that's when the trail gets exciting! Warning though, use the ropes along the very steep part of the last 100yrds or so to the Falls. The grade is no joke and the rocks are surprisingly slippery! I am honestly not sure how people made it down other than on their butts before the leads were put in! Once down in the Falls area it is like being transported to some Fern Gully-esque place you might find in the middle of the Amazon instead of the Texas hill country! The Falls were spectacular and running fairly well! Adding to the mystical charm we were greeted by a couple of butterflies as they fluttered in and out of the mist and one landed on a leaf right off the side of one of the falls. Between the different hues of green, the various falls and their orchestrated symphony of flowing waters, it is an incredible peace of personal heaven, especially as we had it all to ourselves. I could not see this place being enjoyable on a weekend or during the peak season when it is teeming w/other people. All in all a fantastic adventure and discovery that was well worth the mileage, both by car and foot! I will definitely be back to try some other trails leading to the various Springs.