Favorite State Parks

[Lincoln Hawk]

Enchanted Rock is dope as heck. As mentioned previously, book early for a spring outing.

[BrandonH]

For close proximity to Houston we've always enjoyed both Stephen F Austin & Palmetto.

[bobc]

Mother Neff is nice for hiking.

[TXcazador91]

Lost Maples

[quackerback]

Inks is great. A little farther but we like Tyler State park

[sierracharlie338]

Well that last sentence rules both these out, but Davis Mountains and Caprock Canyons.

ETA: Goose Island is also a good one. Not sure how far that would be from you.

When you have some time to make these, I highly suggest it. We hit Caprock and Palo Duro in 21 and it was an awesome trip.

Davis mountains and big bend are both great trips.

As far as stuff close to home we hit Stephen F Austin every year with our scout pack. Brazos bend is good for a weekend trip, lots of gators to look at usually. Lost maples is another one worth driving. We did that one in a weekend and live around Houston also. Enchanted rock has pretty good hiking rom what I remember as well.

Good luck on the up coming trips and heed what others have said. Book early.

[hopedale]

Inks lake

x2

[tpack]

Tyler State Park for the win.

[Canoe1]

Don't overlook Huntsville SP. It's be a few years since I last went. Fishing used to be good (can rent canoe/john boat), hiking trails were always fun for my siblings and I.

[Scott224]

Ray Roberts isle du bois

[Yak blue]

I’m about half way through the TPWD state park completion bucket list. Or at least 40% done.

Hill country is within your parameters for the most part so I’ll stick there.

inks lake has spectacular hiking, swimming, paddling, and Rock jumping into the water. So many camping loops there and a majority are right on the water. They have cabins too. while you are at inks, reserve a tour at longhorn caverns state park. Worth the money.
enchanted rock is a great hike but every Tom d*ck and harry in Austin goes there so I recommend booking the day pass ahead of time.
Guadalupe state park is a must for decent hiking along the river and floating and swimming. Helped much with decent rains though.
palmetto state park by Gonzales has super neat environment with the palmetto trees on the trails. We went in the summer but it reallly felt I was in the tropics. Walked up on quite a few deer there too.
lost maples is also great hiking but can get hot during the summer and they have no electric sites and cell service was not existent when I was there.