From moss-covered tree canopies to desert tumbleweeds, Texas has diversity.
Released April 15, 2024 at 2:46 pm
Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas. Photo: Robert Waltman/Getty Images
Not to brag, but Texas is so beautiful. And it’s so big that it’s nearly impossible to fully explore unless your day job allows you to work remotely from vanlife. Don’t worry, we’ve handpicked the most awe-inspiring places in the Lone Star State. Make an epic bucket list and check them off, one by one: swamps dripping with Spanish moss, fern-covered caverns, Cretaceous caverns, and giant granite domes with the best views of the stars.
Salt Flats
Located between Carlsbad and El Paso, this 135-square-mile park is a beloved treasure for hikers and is often touted as the “Top of Texas.” Visitors can venture into the cavernous paradise and explore the numerous trails scattered throughout, marveling at the mountain’s impressive formations that tell the tale of an underwater world that existed there 260 million years ago. The park sees seasonal surges in visitors in the spring and fall (when the fiery yellow and amber leaves appear), so be prepared for parking to fill up and make the necessary advance reservations for maintained campsites.
Sonora
Just west of the little town of Sonora (about halfway between San Antonio and Big Bend), this massive cavern formed in Cretaceous limestone 1.5 to 5 million years ago. This super cool cave is home to one of the world’s best collections of calcite crystal structures, specifically spiral helictites. Check out the “Butterfly,” where two fish-tail-like helictites share the same attachment point, and the “Snake Pit,” where the structures are so tightly packed together you’ll have trouble escaping, like Indiana Jones. Tickets and tours are available 364 days a year (though unfortunately there’s no caving on Christmas Day) starting at $24. If you want to continue your Texas caving adventure, check out other equally impressive sites like Natural Bridge Caverns in New Braunfels and the “Cave with No Name” in Borne.
Palo Duro Canyon | Robert W. Hensley/Getty
Canyon
Worrifully underrated, this canyon is the second largest in the US, but only sees around 400,000 visitors annually (by comparison, the Grand Canyon gets nearly 5 million visitors, making this massive canyon the bigger natural wonder). Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” this incredible destination’s sunken valley is a sight to behold, with endless stretches of green and sunset-hued terracotta. Day passes and camping access can be reserved in advance online.
Terlingua
Big Bend National Park, covering 800,000 acres, is one of the largest national parks in the United States, but also one of the most desolate, with fewer than 600,000 visitors per year. While you might be tempted to start off with the Chimneys and Marfo Vega trails, we recommend heading up the Santa Elena Canyon Trail, a winding canyon that separates the US from Mexico. Fed by the Rio Grande River and with 1,000-foot cliffs, the water in this canyon is as shallow as two feet in places, so you can walk or paddle, whichever you prefer. Before you visit, check the park’s website for the latest conditions and safety information.
Fort Worth
The Botanical Gardens are a local reminder that you don’t have to stray far from the urban landscape to enjoy the beauty of nature. This 120-acre landscape was recently named one of America’s most beautiful botanical gardens, along with the Dallas Botanical Garden. It boasts 22 diverse exhibits and a variety of stunning displays, from a Zen Japanese Garden and a romantic Rose Garden to the Texas Native Forest Boardwalk. Visitors can purchase a regular admission ticket or skip the line by purchasing tickets online. Prices range from $6 for children to $12 for adults. If you’d like to learn more about the science behind the grounds’ 2,500 plant species, you can also book a tour at the BRIT Campus, a learning center located near the gardens.
Enchanted Rocks | Arnab Guha Photography/Getty
Texas Hill Country
The second largest granite dome in the country, the giant pink batholith known as Enchanted Rock is one of the best places to see the super sexy big bright Texas stars. The site is located in the state’s only IDA-certified Dark Sky Park, meaning there’s less light pollution, giving you amazing views of the night sky. What’s even more amazing is that local Native Americans believe the rock is haunted and has magical powers, and legend has it that anyone who stays here overnight will become invisible. To see it for yourself, you’ll have to actually camp there – book your day pass or campsite online in advance.
Vanderpool
Do you have a coworker who’s always complaining that the leaves never change color in Texas? Go ahead and tell them they’re wrong. Standing tall as the only maple forest in Texas, Lost Maple is more than 2,000 acres of russet, gold and green maple forests that straddle Bandera and Real counties. Untouched hiking trails await among rugged limestone rocks, sparkling streams and lush grasslands. After an afternoon of sightseeing, trekkers can unwind with a hearty meal around a bonfire at the park’s campground near the Sabinal River, complete with 30 spacious sites. Take a tranquil spring/summer trip or wait for the peak foliage from mid-October to mid-November.
Bandera County
Everyone’s been down the Guadalupe River, but this uncrowded 116-mile stretch that starts in northwest Bandera County and ends southeast of San Antonio is just as much fun, if not more. Cedars, live oaks and limestone cliffs frame the spring-fed rapids, making it a popular hangout spot for kayakers and rafters. Don’t miss Chamblee Falls on the North Prong, where a 10-foot waterfall and a smaller 4-foot drop make for some seriously scenic views. If it’s paddling or tubing season, try renting tubes and kayaks with Medina River Company and checking the river’s flow before you head out.
Jacob’s Well Natural Area | Courtesy of Hays County Parks
Wimberley
The thrill of diving into this irresistible artesian spring and its accompanying 140-foot-deep limestone cave is on hold until the cave opens (usually in late spring), but the surrounding park is open year-round for hiking and touring. At nearly a mile long and 140 feet deep, Private Cave is believed to be the longest underwater cave in Texas and can only be accessed by experienced cave divers. Everyone else can explore the preserve, take a guided tour, or book a swim once the well’s annual restoration is complete. Check for the latest information on access and safe water levels.
Austin
While the name Mount Bonnell might lead you to imagine this destination as a high plain covered with rocky slopes and towering trees, rest assured that the term “mount” in this case is a bit misleading (after all, it is in the “Hill Country”). Located in Covert Park and about 775 feet above sea level, this unintimidating hike has been attracting Austinites since the 1850s with its stunning views of Austin’s ever-changing city skyline. Visitors can hike the trail to the top, watch a dazzling sunset, or enjoy a hearty picnic with friends. Even better, the summit is located east of lush Lake Austin, a great opportunity for leaf-peeping. Parking and admission are both free, but check the Austin Parks website for more information before you go. Don’t forget your sunscreen.
Texas Hill Country
We don’t see any reason why you’d visit Colorado Bend Park and not take in the three-mile round-trip hike to this hidden treasure. Completing the first half of the trek will reward you with the cool mist, a breathtaking 60-foot waterfall cascading into a fern-covered cave, and an epic video of it all that will likely earn you a few new Instagram followers. Day passes and camping can be reserved in advance online or by calling 512-389-8900.
A great egret hunts in the marshland, perched on a branch and looking down at the water in the cypress swamp of Caddo Lake on the Louisiana-Texas border. Photo by wanderluster/Getty
Karnak
One of the most overlooked gems in Texas, Caddo Lake sits atop a vast maze of bays and marshes, with dense cypress groves draped with Spanish moss. It is one of the few naturally formed lakes in Texas, formed by a huge log jam known as the “Great Raft,” which began flowing into the Red and Atchafalaya Rivers around 1100-1200. Beautiful scenery year-round, with oak, maple, and Japanese maple trees, which take on their autumn look in mid-November. The lake is worth booking for outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking, but reservations are highly recommended for both camping and day use, as the lake often fills up. Reserve your passes online or by calling the customer service center before visiting, and check the park’s website for information on upcoming closures.
Rio Grande
Big Bend National Park in West Texas lives up to its name, covering 1,252 square miles (larger than the state of Rhode Island, incidentally). It’s a huge area, so exploring this desert oasis is bound to require splitting up. Put this Instagrammable waterfall on your bucket list. Reaching 80 feet in height, it’s tucked away at the foot of the Chisos Mountains, off Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Consider visiting in the spring and fall, when it’s rumored to be at its highest, and check the park’s website for the latest updates on conditions and safety.
Fredericksburg
Early April means bluebonnet season in Texas. To get up close and personal with stunning beds of vibrant purple and blue wildflowers, head to this hidden 13-mile scenic drive outside of Fredericksburg. For extra points, pack some Hill Country wine and cheese for your road trip with your sweetheart.
South Padre Island | Olga Melhiser Photography/Getty
Cameron County
Yes, Texas has pure white sand and crystal clear emerald green waters. All it takes is a road trip to Padre Island. The Lone Star’s finest stretch of coastline (and the longest barrier island in the world) stretches 113 miles along the Laguna Madre and Gulf of Mexico. Visit the beaches (and bars) of South Padre Island, including tranquil Isla Blanca Park at its southern end, go birdwatching, visit during sea turtle hatching season from mid-June to August, or book a campsite for a night under the sand and stars.
Spicewood
You could pass by the crowded jungle of Barton Springs. This Hill Country watering hole in nearby Spicewood is where you can serenely jump off cliffs, become Tarzan on a rope swing or lie on the rocks like a salamander. The 115-acre family-run property is home to 32 springs, plus waterfalls, caves, man-made spring-fed pools and a pristine pool that flows into Lake Travis. It gets busy in peak season, but the beer helps. Day passes cost $6-10, and overnight camping is $10-15.
Mohanans
The Lone Star’s version of the famous White Sands, Monahans Sandhills stretches 70 miles long and 20 miles wide with massive sand dunes reaching up to 70 feet in height. Although the wind reshapes the sand throughout the year, the dunes don’t move and stay in pretty much the same position. The result is a rare and striking desert oasis (though not technically a desert) that can be explored year-round. Rent a sand disc and surf the dunes, ride horseback through the mountains and valleys, or set up camp and watch spectacular sunsets.
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Brooke Vigiano is a Houston-based writer whose work has appeared online and in publications including Thrillist, Chron, Houstonia, Houston Press, and 365 Houston. When she’s not scouring the nooks and crannies of Houston for cool-but-not-too-cool patio bars, she’s sharing her breakfast adventures on Instagram @brookiefafa or Twitter @brookeviggiano.
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