A four day weekend over New Year’s was a great time to visit the Texas Hill Country. We chose to camp at Inks Lake State Park due to it’s close proximity to Longhorn Cavern’s State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, two places we wanted to visit.
Inks Lake State Park was amazing! We were surprised to see the park was full on New Year’s Eve but soon figured out why. It’s beautiful! The first evening we hiked the trail to Devil’s Watering Hole. The entire trail looked as though it was professionally landscaped with every rock and plant placed precisely. I didn’t have my good camera on this hike but took a few photos with the phone. We intended to go back and hike this trail again, but it seems there’s never enough time. If you’re ever near Inks Lake, stop and hike this short trail. It’s amazing!
The next morning (New Year’s Day!) we drove the short distance to Longhorn Cavern State Park and took the 1.25 mile long tour through the cavern that took about an hour and a half to complete. It was well worth the $13.00/person price of admission. The tour guide was very informative and the cavern was BEAUTIFUL! It was a great start to the New Year!
From Wikepedia…
“The park is named for Longhorn Cavern, a limestone cave formed by the cutting action of an underground river that receded thousands of years ago. Before the cave became a tourist attraction, it was used over the years by Indians, Confederate soldiers and outlaws, including outlaw Sam Bass. In the 1920s, during the prohibition period, the cavern was used by Burnet County residents as a speakeasy. Performing musicians would entertain through the night. The popular spot was known as Sherrard’s Cave before it was dedicated as Longhorn Cavern State Park in November 1933. From 1934 to 1942, Company 854 of the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed Texas Park Road 4, residences, pavilions and an observation tower in the National Park Service Rustic architectural style. They also explored the cavern and made it accessible by removing some 2.5 tons of silt, debris, and guano and building stairs and walkways both into and inside the cavern.”
No tripod so photos aren’t that great. It really was beautiful!
Hope everyone had a very Happy New Year.
Remember…….”See more, Do more, Live More”!
Hi Stephanie! I loved hearing about these places and your pictures, as always, are great! We look forward to going to Inks Lake and doing some of these same things. We have been to Pedernalles Falls and LBJ ranch and agree that these are very interesting! I think we will be going to Ft. Richardson with HOTC coming up, so maybe see you then?
Debi & Jim
Hi Debi! Bummer…we won’t be able to make the Ft. Richardson campout. 😦 We are planning on going to the Caddo Lake and Beaver’s Bend campouts though so maybe we will see you there! Happy New Year!
Beautiful pictures and a beautiful story! Glad you guys got to get away! Love the Airstream and dinosaur pic! 😍 A & P
Thanks Ann!
Hey Steph – those pics look great to me! Love the story too!
Thank you Paul!
What a great place to welcome in the new year! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the Texas Hill Country last spring and visited all the places you mentioned except Pedernales Falls. We camped in several places and Inks Lake was one of our favorites. Safe travels!
Hi Wandering Dawgs! I see from your blog you visited Palo Duro last Spring and loved it. We were there just before Christmas and fell in love too! What a fantastic place. We must go back! Happy New Year!