Hill Country State Natural Area
Websites-
For the park: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/hill_country/
For Reservations: https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com
Contact:
Direct number to the park: 830/796-4413
Number to make reservations: 512/389-8900
Always call before you haul, trails may be subject to closure during wet conditions or hunting.
Location: Approximately 50 miles northwest of San Antonio
10600 Bandera Creek Road
Bandera, TX 78003
Directions:
From Bandera, travel south on State Highway 173, go across the Medina River and continue for approximately 1/4 mile to Ranch Road 1077, turn right on Ranch Road 1077 and go about 10 miles to where the black top ends. Continue on the caliche road and follow the park signs to the park headquarters. This will take you down a hill and you will see an old wood barn on your right. Turn right at the cross roads and pass over a one lane low bridge. You will see the park ranger residence on the right. After that on your right is the park headquarters where you check in. Be sure to have your Coggins ready and ask for a map.
Hours:
The park is open 7 days a week and overnight camping is allowed. The park office normally closes around 5pm but there is an after hours self check in by the office to use when needed.
Hunting:
The park will be closed on the following dates in November, December, and January for wildlife management/hunting. Only drawn permitted hunters will be allowed in during these dates.
*From 10 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18 until noon on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015
Facilities / Fees: Fees are subject to change so call the park to be sure of current rates.
Daily park use fees – $6.oo per person ages 13 and over, twelve and under is free for the day. When camping overnight it is $3.00 per person ages 13 and over, twelve and under is free.
Bar-O Equestrian Area is $10 per combination of 6 (people & horses) per campsite and is also used as a day-use parking area (approximate capacity is 25 rigs). Bar-O is located across from the park headquarters in a 6-acre somewhat shaded area. One water trough, fire rings, a few hitching posts, a few picnic tables, and a chemical toilet near the office is provided at Bar-O. This area is non-reservable and is first-come, first-served. You must pack out your own manure here, so bring something to put it in.
Trailhead Equestrian Camp Area (Primitive) is $15.00 a night for a maximum of six people per site. This area has six designated and primitive reservable campsites #213 – #218 on a circular gravel driveway. Each site has a gravel parking pad, two side by side pipe pens which are about 10 by 10, a picnic table, and a fire ring. The center of this area has a round pen, one restroom (chemical toilet – no running water) and a black water tank to use for the horses. There is no electricity or running water. There is a designated area to dump your manure and a park wheel barrel you can use.
Chapa’s Group Camp Area is $150 per night – Chapa’s Camp is a group camp area which has a capacity for a large number of people. There is a 10 acre open field which can accommodate primitive campers. There are a few electrical hookups . The hook ups are on grass/dirt. There is non-potable water, a water trough, and a wash area which is sometimes closed when in drought. There are a few outside picnic tables and fire rings. There is an old stye 12 stall barn. The stalls are about 10 by 10. A second much larger barn with a concrete floor, several picnic tables, lights, and electric outlets is great for gatherings. On one side of this barn is another covered area with about 2-3 larger pens. Chapa has an old white house which also has a few picnic tables but is not meant to be slept in – it is basically gutted. There is one chemical toilet and a designated area to dump your horse manure. If this group area is not rented out, then individuals can camp overnight there using the stalls and electric outlets. However, you cannot make an individual reservation at Chapa’s unless you rent out the entire group camp area. So if you are lucky and can stay at Chapa’s because it has not been rented out by a group then be prepared to have to move if a someone comes along wanting to rent the entire camp area.
The Group Lodge is $300 per night – The Group Lodge is available for equestrian or non-equestrian use and can sleep up to 12 persons. It has 4 bedrooms, three with full size beds, and a dorm room with 4 twin beds, there is also a sleeper sofa in the lounge. The lodge has a bathroom, kitchen with a stove, refrigerator, and microwave, central heating and air-conditioning, porch, and a separate building with an additional refrigerator and a barbecue pit. Towels, bed linens and cooking utensils are not furnished. There is non potable water available for the horses. Be sure to pick up the key for the lodge and also notice there is a key for the outside water faucets as well. All water is non-potable so bring plenty of drinking water and water for cooking, tea, coffee, etc….There are 5 covered small stalls, 4 covered pens, and corrals/paddocks for your horses. Some of the corrals could be hazardous (especially the ones behind the barn) if your horse tends to get into things. You can also bring your own pen, tie to the trailer, or high tie with tree savers. Use of the equestrian arena is an extra $50.00 in addition to the lodge rental. The arena is located next to the lodge. They now also have 4 trailer hookups (Electric, no water) at the Group Lodge. The hook ups are on grass/dirt. There is also plenty of space for primitive camping. The more the merrier at no additional cost for these RV hookups and primitive campers, still $250 a night for the whole place!
Mileage: 40 miles of designated, multi-use trails open to backpacking, primitive camping, horseback riding, and mountain bicycling
Map: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4507_115.pdf
(click map to see larger version)
Terrain: mostly rocky, some flat trails with few rocks, some gentle grades, and some steep canyons up to 2000 feet in elevation. Shoes or boots are recommended.
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