I love this community and I love this park. The park is a great place to take a break under some…read morestately oak trees, go for a swim or wet a hook. I wish the bathrooms were maintained a little better, but that is more the fault of the patrons than the staff. The park recently significantly raised admission fees. I initially objected to this, but in hindsight I think it was a smart move. It seems to have displaced some of the sketchier clientele that would show up.

One of the highlights of my trip to the deep hill country. (Utopia is far better than Leakey!!!) No…read morecrowds, friendly people, deep water for swimming, even when other areas were practically dry! Don't miss the little town of Utopia too. Great food and shops.

Love this local park. Easy parking and trail maps available. The trail we enjoy is under 2 miles…read moreand there's sooo much to see. It starts with a decent steep hike up to Cross hill, here you can see views all of Castroville and beyond. Coming down, we hiked along native cacti and plants, walked along a dry river bed, and took pics along a pond containing birds and wildlife. End of the trail dropped us in the well maintained green park. Clean bathrooms and community center were nearby. Nice local peaceful hike and you can picnic along the way as benches are scattered throughout.

I really like this local park, several play areas for the kids, lots of trails, the pool and river…read moreright there. Unexpectedly tucked back behind a neighborhood.

I think I finally got my new hiking spot here in San Antonio/Boerne! Such a nice spot to get some…read morefresh air and exercise while being out in the outdoors! Everything is super maintained than most parks I've been before! I usually go with my MIL, my baby girl and our dogs to get them some exercise as well and try to do 1-2 miles each time we are here. Depending on what trails you walk/hike on, theres some with shade and some that you will hit up the blazing sun, but with fall upon it hasn't been horrible! Everyone who hikes here are really respectful with the trails/area which is such a pleasant thing as there's usually not a lot of people who do that now a days. Will of course be returning weekly to get our steps in and vitamin D!

This was actually a great place to come visit with the family on spring break! The weather was…read moreperfect, wasn't overcrowded, plenty of places to sit and enjoy fresh air. Loved they had a dog park and a playground you can take your kids to. There are places you can even go fishing if you want or just sit by the water to relax. Loved how there were plenty of signs around too talking about the animals and plants common there. Good information about the park too and didn't feel I would get lost either (good flat paths you can take). I barely saw any trash flying around either and could tell they keep this park well kept. I absolutely plan to come back here in the future when I have time. Definitely worth the visit!

It's a beautiful park that occasionally hosts bands to play in the evening. I've been joyed picking…read moreup food at different locations and sitting there. There's a piece of tranquility when you go to this park is one of my favorite parks in Hondo. It's not big at all but definitely very well maintained.

The perfect place for a relaxing day with the family!…read more I've been coming to Paradise Canyon since I was 5 years old, and although I hadn't visited since 2019, I was able to bring my family today. It was just as beautiful as I remembered. This place truly lives up to its name. Paradise Canyon is privately owned, family-oriented, and offers something for everyone. There are shallow areas where kids can safely swim and play, as well as deeper sections for adults who want to swim or practice their strokes. The grounds are well maintained, the restrooms are clean, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. It's the kind of place where you can spend the entire day relaxing and making memories with your family. I would recommend Paradise Canyon again and again. It's a true Texas gem.

Excellent customer service! Facility is over the top genuine, amazing experience and lovely stay…read moreaccommodations. Paul and Laura are both successful at knowing what is beautiful and wonderful because their heart is in the entire place. Every piece that you will see of the venue is hand picked, placed and from the heart. Everyone who visits this enchanted place will fall in love. We will be back! Thank you for an unforgettable experience!

The Hill Country SNA provides for a scenic and tranquil experience of the area; it is often viewed…read moreas the boundary between the American South and Southwest regions. The Brazos River is the unofficial divider of East and West Texas, but the Hill Country serves as the physical boundary of two regions and not simply the state. Its defining characteristic is the karst topography that permeates the landscape. I recommend purchasing the Texas State Parks annual pass which allows for access to all Texas SNA for one year and supports the natural areas in the State of Texas. I really appreciated the staff at Hill Country SNA; I found numerous examples of the trail being maintained to prevent erosion and overuse using natural barriers like tree limbs. On Saturday, February 28th, 2026, I encountered a bobcat on Cougar Canyon Overlook Trail. Cats are very infrequently encountered in the wild by humans; I have seen many black bears in the Appalachian Mountains, but never a cat. If you desire to see a cat, I would recommend hiking in the morning or evening as they are crepuscular.

We decided to hike here on a gorgeous Sunday before the cold front hit, and so glad we did! Located…read morenear Bandera, the drive was nice through winding hills and views of exotic animals along the way. Upon entrance to the park, you'll notice a change in the road, not paved whatsoever. A bit of a rugged drive, but not outrageous. Parking was plentiful and we walked toward the visitor building. Inside that building was the most helpful and friendly park ranger, Ms. Juarez, happy to help and spend time to answer any questions. She gave us a nice big legible map and gave us suggestions on trails. Being our first time here, we opted for the "challenging " peak trail. It was a beautiful hike- plenty of signage, plants were labeled, and many variations of yuccas landscaped the area. The hike up to the peak was not that bad actually, not sure I'd call it challenging, but more moderate. It was very doable and there were quite a few benches along the way for beautiful views and/or to take a break. Coming down was easy and we took a few other trails back to the parking lot for alternate scenery. Horses and bikes are allowed. Bathrooms are located at the visitor center and at a few of the other parking lots. We had a pass- free entrance for military and for me as a family member $6 Wonderful place to hike! Approx an 1 1/2 drive from SA

I loved lost maples, it is a beautiful state park/natural area. I went for the first time in…read moreNovember with my mom hoping to catch some foliage and we definitely did see plenty both on the way and at the park! The trail isn't too hard; I did the east loop going clockwise since the volunteers told me there was probably a little better foliage along this loop than the west loop. I was able to do the whole thing and return to where I started in a little under 2 hours. It was a relatively warm day; I was grateful i bought my personal fan when going up the steep part because I was definitely starting to sweat! After that though it was mostly flat and then back downhill so no issues with getting hot. I got several lovely photos along the way and was certainly reminded how gorgeous and colorful Texas can be! Only note: be sure to make a timed entry reservation if you go during the peak season (fall) because it absolutely sells out! I tried going with a friend last year and we didn't have a res and we were turned away - we ended up going to Garner state park which is also gorgeous and fun, about 30 mins drive away from lost maples. This year we got entry for the 11a-1p entry time, and by the week or so prior to going, everything was sold out for that Saturday we were going. So bear that in mind!

Lost Maples State Park will truly hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life…read more My now fiancé proposed to me on Saturday February 1st, 2025, here at Lost Maples State Park. Going through the East to West trail was the best way to finish the hike and get in the full view. From moderate to easy, all the way to the car. It's no wonder people come here. It's so beautiful and truly underrated. Through the streams of water, to the rock formations, and the beautiful views, you'll wish you went sooner. Put away your phones, other than using it to take photos, because there's no signal. Enjoy nature.

Now this rivals Fridriech Wilderness as the premier park/hike in the San Antonio area!…read more There are plenty of hills and climbs here with beautiful background scenery that accompanies the trails here. Whether walking/hiking/biking, be prepared to be captivated by your surroundings and also out of breath from all the movement. I can only imagine what this park is like in the summers with the hot sun scorching on you. According to some reviews, there is a tower that gives panoramic views of SA. Unfortunately I could not reach this tower as I was pressed for time. But i did get quite the workout as I trekked along the unpaved trails and soaked in the views of plants, trees, and the wildlife. Additionally, there's a covered pavilion and rest rooms at the parking area of the park. And plenty of parking. This is worth visiting when you're in the SA area; just make sure you've got proper footing and bugspray!

Fabulous park with loads of parking. There are various trails to choose from, whether you're hiking…read moreor biking. My friends and I were here this particular am for the Hillview trail. Locating where to find the start was a little tricky, but with the help of other locals, we spotted our way. The trial was approximately 1.9 miles one way and a mixture of paved, but more so natural, which we loved. A few areas of some steep step climbs, but nothing crazy. Lots of places for photo opps, and at this time of year, it was so pretty to see all the wildflowers blooming. At one point, we reached a high point in the trail, and it then dipped down, making us question....are we on the correct trail?! Our goal was to reach the tower with panoramic views of SA. But...just continue and follow the signage. We reached the tower and were elated. Took tons of pics and busted out some yoga moves : D Well worth the drive, and there are many other trails to explore , that I'll have to come back and check out. Came during the week- it was nice, the weekends might be very busy.

I can't believe I've lived in San Antonio for almost 10 years and I had never visited Bandera…read moreCounty Park at Medina Lake. A few friends and I were looking for a nearby lake where we could fish, take our pets and do a cookout. After some research and reading a lot of reviews on Yelp and other websites, we decided to visit Medina Lake. I noticed a few people mentioned it was "closed", but I believe that is why because they were trying to enter the lake through the south entrance of the lake which is managed by homeowners. Here are my recommendations for everyone visiting the lake: - This lake is first come first serve. I highly recommend getting early so you can grab a nice spot near the water. - There is NO shade whatsoever, so I highly recommend everyone to bring a tent (or two) so you can comfortably enjoying your time there. - The water was super clear and shallow, so it's perfect for children and pets. Make sure to bring your swimsuit and cool off at the lake. - There are a few grills near the bathroom area, but if you have a portable grill just bring it. - Fishing was not the best at this lake. I think Lake Medina is more of a chill and enjoy the water kinda lake. One of my friends was really looking forward doing some fishing, but he was kinda disappointed. Overall I think this lake is a nice (and affordable) option to do something out of the city.

The Lake is DRY as a bone from every angle I could see! And the park is only open on Saturdays and…read moreSunday. What a waste of a drive.

Wonderful shade for parents and lots of room to spread out under the shade. Splash pad is a bit…read moresmall but all kiddos had a great time to run through the water and jungle gym. Bad part is that the park is closed when there are services at CBC.

Fun, clean park. Awesome tower to climb, nice splash pad to cool down, walking track and sports…read more areas with a bathroom. Fence makes kid control easy and turf keeps everyone clean despite the water. Security guards from CBC were friendly and courteous about closing time as well.