Quick Trip - Near San Antonio

[SA Bill]

 

My mostly annual spring trip to BB is not going to happen this year due to circumstances beyond my control. Still shooting for the mostly annual fall trip in October or November of this year.

In the mean time, I want to take a quick 2-3 day trip to someplace within 3 (maybe 4) hours drive of San Antonio. It's getting close to new moon so I want to get some observing time in if possible.

Sooooo, I ask you, the august members of this board, where would you suggest I go? While I'm hoping to spend my nights collecting ancient photons with Mark II eyeballs, I'd like to go someplace worth going for a little hiking and picture taking too.

Any suggestions?
  Thanks!
    Bill

[SHANEA]

Six hours is probably too far and it's probably too hot and too many flying insects for East Texas.  But, there is the observatory near here.  There is also the beach tooo.

[SA Bill]

Hi Shane!
Yeah, if I was going to drive 6 hours, I'd probably go to Davis Mountains. Good observing up on Skyline Drive.

I've hardly ever been to east TX. Need to make it a point to get out there some time.

The Austin astronomy group has an observatory up off of Lake Burnett in Canyon of Eagles park. I've only been there once to take the eagle boat tour. Maybe I'll head up there and try camping.

Anyone been there for camping?
  Bill

[oldfatman]

Bill,
I am sitting here in Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredericksburg until mid march.  I am planning to hit Enchanted Rock a couple of times.  That place will keep your hiking legs in shape.  The other spot on the near horizon is the Hill Country State Park outside of Tarply.  It has been over 6 years since I have been to either of them.  Of course we must not forget Lost Maples and the beautiful trails there.  And if you wear them out head to Junction for the Walter Buck Management area.  All thes should be easy distances from SA.

[BigBendHiker]

Government Canyon SNA or Hill Country SNA might be good alternatives...

BBH

[TheWildWestGuy]

Walter Buck is also known as South Llano River State Park (next to each other).  I think SLRSP would be good as long as it's not Spring Break but still better there than anyplace in the Hill Country/Austin area.
Lots of wildlife, good campsites, hot showers, a good tubing river with cold clear water, and less popular than a lot of other places.  They have a couple of wildlife/bird viewing blinds and a network of hiking trails along dirt-roads closed off to vehicles.  You could bring bikes, tubes, rafts, canoe, etc..   Might want to call them ahead of time or make a reservation - it could be busy?  They also close off part of the Park along the river during Turkey Roosting Season because there are hundreds of turkeys in this park.   Better call first and check on conditions.  I have stayed there a couple times on my way home from BBNP without prior reservations - it's a good stop-over park and those hot showers and picnic tables are luxuries after spending the week backpacking and sleeping on rocky soils.. TWWG

[SA Bill]

Hi ofm!
I considered ER...been there lots of times. Same with LM. I go to observe at HCSNA every couple of months but ususally don't camp...just sleep on a tarp until sunrise and drive home. All good suggestions! Still thinking it through.

Hi BBH!
Can't camp in GCSNA...also too close to SA...I drive by it to get to my "close in" observing area.

Hi WWG!
I've been to SLRSP a few times. Lots of wild turkeys around sometimes! I was there once when a Cushman scooter club was having a camp out. It was cool to see these classic scooters tooling around out there. My "further out" observing place is a little farther out than SLRSP up at Ft. McKavett. Good for observing not set up for camping, although they let us camp there if we're observing for a couple of days in a row.

All:
I'm leaning toward Canyon of Eagles Nature Park just because I've never camped there and there is an observatory in the park. Would be nice to be right on the lake too! The really bad thing is most of the better trails will be closed starting 3/1 to protect the viero habit. I'll be arriving on 3/3 so the hiking may be kinda limited....but that's okay, I guess.

Thanks for the feedback! Anyone else have any input?
   Bill

[SHANEA]

Heck, I thought you were talking about August...

august members of this board,

How about Colorado Bend State Park?  or get a taste of West Texas over @ Devils River...  I bet the stars are great @ Devils River...

Find a Destination...

[SA Bill]

Good suggestions Shane!

And no, I wasn't thinking of August for a trip! 

I've never been to either of those places. Devil's River is pretty rustic...no potable water...you have to bring your own!

I'll have to try Colorado Bend...it sounds pretty good.

I heard from someone else about the sand burs at Canyon of the Eagles. Bad! Lots of light pollution too.

Soooo...I took the easy way out and made reservations for Lost Maples SP. I haven't been there in about 5 years now so it's a good place to go and get caught up...decent hikes too.
  Bill

[oldfatman]

Referencing Devils River.  The last time I was there, about 7 years ago, there was one faucet at the group facility for water.  Once you head out to the camping areas it made the facilities for desert car camping in Bibe look plush.  Other than that, it was something like 70 miles to the nearest store of any kind. It is on my return to list for this year.

[Timbo]

I've camped at Colorado Bend SP about dozen times in all seasons. Very dark skies, few visitors (except in hunting season) and comfortable camping. The best hike: head west from the camping area along the Colorado, then head up Spicewood Creek: waterfalls, swimming holes, cliffs and wildlife aplenty. About 2 miles up the creek, turn right, follow a fence line up to the entrance road, cross the road, down the hill and into a meadow along the Colorado. Then right again, back to the camping area. It's about a 5 mile loop.

Also: Wifey and I hiked the East trail at Lost Maples weekend before last. Certainly not as colorful as Oct/Nov, but much less crowded. Up on the ridges the views are great. The primitive camping areas are excellent. We also hiked about 7 miles at HCSNA: big place, few folks. When in Bandera: eat at OST.

We, too, couldn't swing our annual BB Spring adventure, so had to improvise...

Ah...Spring!

[SHANEA]

When in Bandera: eat at OST.

Has the OST reopened yet?  OST FIRE

[cookch1]

I too recommend Colorado Bend. Not many visitors, very dark skies, lots of wildlife. Last time I was there we had a great spot under a giant pecan tree. Gorman Falls is really nice too...

Camping...


Gorman Falls...

[Vince T]

Walter Buck is also known as South Llano River State Park (next to each other).  I think SLRSP would be good as long as it's not Spring Break but still better there than anyplace in the Hill Country/Austin area.
Lots of wildlife, good campsites, hot showers, a good tubing river with cold clear water, and less popular than a lot of other places.  They have a couple of wildlife/bird viewing blinds and a network of hiking trails along dirt-roads closed off to vehicles.  You could bring bikes, tubes, rafts, canoe, etc..   Might want to call them ahead of time or make a reservation - it could be busy?  They also close off part of the Park along the river during Turkey Roosting Season because there are hundreds of turkeys in this park.   Better call first and check on conditions.  I have stayed there a couple times on my way home from BBNP without prior reservations - it's a good stop-over park and those hot showers and picnic tables are luxuries after spending the week backpacking and sleeping on rocky soils.. TWWG

I agree...this and Hill Country SP were the two that first popped to mind.
If you like to fish, S. Llano is great too.

I would not rule out Garner either...or Seminole Canyon is about 3.5 hours from SA too...and at Seminole you are just on the fringe of the desert, so you have some interesting flora/fauna/geology.

Vince

[Ay Chihuahua!]

Colorado Bend SP will probably be crowded.  The white bass are making their annual run.  It is nice and dark, though.

What about driving about 50 miles down the Padre Island National Seashore for a little darkness?  I guess coastal cloudiness could be an issue.