Pedernales Falls State Park

You Will Fall in Love With the Pedernales
By Don Miller

February 2005

In June 1974, our family was frantically searching for a state park not overflowing with campers. After being turned away from at least two parks, one ranger mentioned a new park in the Texas Hill Country was opening soon. Maybe they would let us camp. Heading east of Johnson City (which is west of Austin), we found ourselves bouncing down a pot hole filled gravel road to the soon to be Pedernales Falls State Park. Although we never received confirmation from the State of Texas, we were probably the first "official" campers in the park.

Pedernales Falls is a 5,211 acre park. The Pedernales River has a nine mile boundary with the park. The first three miles (where the falls are), the park borders the south side of the river. The next six miles the park occupies both sides of the river. As the name suggests, the falls are the primary attraction. They can be accessed by following the main road to the north end of the park. A well tended path approximately 1/2 mile long leads to an overlook of the falls. Those unable or unwilling to venture farther will find a couple of benches to rest their weary legs while more enthusiastic souls can take a very short path down to the falls.

The "falls" area consists of large tilted limestone slabs in stair step fashion. Hundreds of giant boulders are strewn around the river. When the river is low and running slowly, which is frequent, you can run, climb, jump and explore all over the place. It is a fantastic area for "kids of all ages" to blow off energy. Due to currents and dangerous water conditions (liability for the state), swimming is NOT allowed one mile above the falls and for two miles below the falls. When there is even moderate rainfall upstream, the park is equipped with sirens to warn visitors to vacate the area and seek higher ground immediately. Water can easily rise twenty feet or more in a matter of minutes. It is mandatory to heed these warning. Swimming is allowed, however, about two miles downstream. This is a true swimming hole. After exploring the park on a hot Texas summer afternoon, this oasis of water will soothe your soul.

The park offers two excellent hiking/biking areas. The first is Wolf Mountain Trail, an eight mile loop, that is popular with serious hikers, mountain bikers and backpackers due to the primitive camping area. The trail provides a good variety of uphill and downhill terrain, scenic vistas and even an old dilapidated pioneer farmhouse. Another alternative is across the river. Most people ford the river at Trammel Crossing. On dry, hot summer days, you can walk across and probably not even get your shoes wet. When the water is high, however, do not even consider crossing because it is dangerous. Once on the other side, there are miles of trails. Most are dirt roads or barely marked trails. In contrast to Wolf Mountain which is a loop, these run in a haphazard fashion and we repeatedly got lost (but had a great time doing so).

The park has a moderate number of campsites with water and electricity. There are also bathrooms with hot showers (usually). Day visitors can enjoy the picnic grounds as well as all the activities mentioned above.

If you enjoy hiking, biking, camping, waterfalls, beautiful scenery and relative quiet (especially at night), Pedernales Falls State Park is a great place to visit.

If You Go

Pedernales Falls State Park

Route 1, Box 450

Johnson City, Texas 78636

210.868.7304

From Austin: Go west on US 290, then turn north and follow FM 3232 for 6 miles

From Johnson City: Travel nine miles east on FM 2766

STATE PARKS OF TEXAS