Ten Great Parks to Visit in the Austin Area
Do you love spending time in the great outdoors? If you live in the Austin area or if you plan to visit the capital city, you will be glad to know that there are plenty of great places to go camping and to get reacquainted with nature. Here is a look at the top camping spots in the Austin area.
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
The Emma Long Metropolitan Park, which is located along Lake Austin, is one of the largest parks in the area. Some of the amenities found in the park include swimming areas, boat ramps, camping facilities and the Turkey Creek Trail.
Garner State Park
Located in north Uvalde County and along the Frio River, Garner State Park offers dancing, miniature golf, camping and even places to eat. There is always plenty to do for those who visit and stay at Garner.
Pace Bend Park
Located along Lake Travis, Pace Bend Park offers its visitors a variety of activities to select from, including horseback riding and boating. Visitors to the park can camp among the trees, along the beach or even on a cliff. In other words, you select the natural setting you want to enjoy when you stay at Pace Bend Park.
Inks Lake State Park
Inks Lake State Park offers plenty of recreational opportunities, including opportunities for backpacking, camping, golfing, hiking, boating, swimming, fishing and water skiing. Whether you want to be active on the lake or outside of the lake, you will never be bored when staying at Ink Lake.
McKinney Falls State Park
Located in South Austin, McKinney Falls State Park offers screened shelters with electricity, bunk beds and running water.
Guadalupe River State Park
Offering four miles of river frontage and nine-miles of river to park visitors, Guadalupe River offers opportunities for swimming, tubing, boating, horseback riding, hiking and bird watching.
Bastrop State Park
Located just 30 miles southeast of the capital city, the Bastrop Park offers camping opportunities in tents as well as in cabins. Park amenities include a golf course, a swimming pool and hiking trails. Fishing and biking opportunities are also available.
Buescher State Park
Located to the north of Smithville, the Buescher Park offers more than seven miles of trails and plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching.
Windy Point Park
Located just thirty minutes from downtown Austin, Windy Point Park offers primitive, yet clean, camping opportunities. Picnicking and scuba diving are both available in and around the beautiful Lake Travis.
Colorado Bend State Park
Just two hours northwest of the capital, Colorado Bend features amazing cave tours and waterfalls.
This is only a small sampling of the many parks that are located in and around Austin. Simply put, whether you are living in Austin or visiting Austin, you will find plenty of great recreational opportunities to choose from. For those who enjoy an active lifestyle and who like to get closer to nature, visiting any of these ten parks will help you make it happen.
