After spending most of the spring hunkered down to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, summertime has been creeping upon us. Recent rains have brought new life to trees and plants, and the landscape throughout the Texas Hill Country is benefiting.
Llano County, which boasts a gorgeous river and beautiful lakes, is one of the best places to get away – whether it's just for a day trip or a relaxing week or two.
Being mindful of social distancing, yet ready for some outside time, getting away to one of the many local state and private camping grounds and parks is one way to enjoy the start of summer, celebrate the end of school, and acclimate to our world again.
There are several in the area: Inks Lake State Park, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Longhorn Cavern State Park, Black Rock Park, Cedar Point Recreation Area and more.
With nine miles of hiking trails, a constant-level lake, 200 campsites and 22 cabins, Inks Lake State Park is one of the best getaways in our area. You can fish, camp, hike, boat, kayak, and more at the large park.
Inside of Inks Lake State Park is one of Texas’ most sought swimming holes – Devil’s Waterhole. You can only access it by hiking in through the park or paddling up Inks Lake. It features two cliffs for jumping – one that sits 40-feet above the water and another, lower cliff for those who aren’t into great heights.
Another part of the Highland Lakes, Lake Buchanan offers two great camping areas, both run by the LCRA – Cedar Point Recreation Area and Black Rock Park.
Cedar Point Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking and access to Lake Buchanan for fishing, kayaking and canoeing, swimming and boating. The park has 310 acres to explore, giving everyone plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors and still practice social distancing.
Black Rock park, located near Buchanan Dam, offers a 25-acre lakeside park that has around 50 various spots for camping – cabins, RV, and tent camping are all available at the site. Camping, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, and more are available for your family to enjoy.
If you are looking for just a day trip and a chance to be in nature but out of the sun, check out Longhorn Cavern State Park. Descend 130 feet underground for a walking tour of one of the most popular caverns in central Texas. The walking tour is approximately 1.1 miles. Currently, groups of 20 or fewer are being taken through. Masks are encouraged. It is recommended that you book your tour beforehand.
Venturing on the other side of Llano County, between Llano and Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers primitive camping, hiking and bird watching. Making it to the top of the rock is an achievement; the view of the Hill Country is the prize. Sunset is a wonderful time to be at the top!
With so much nature to see, there’s no reason not to escape the four walls at home and enjoy the outdoors. You can still maintain social distancing while getting much needed sunshine and fresh air!
For more information, visit these sites: https://visitlonghorncavern.com/, https://www.lcra.org/parks/Pages/black-rock-park.aspx, https://www.lcra.org/parks/Pages/cedar-point.aspx, https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lake, and https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock.
