Hill Country Edge
Guadalupe River State Park
HikingKayakingCampingSwimmingFishing
Hill Country Edge
Guadalupe River State Park offers 13 miles of trails ranging from the 0.3-mile River Overlook Trail to the 2.86-mile Painted Bunting Trail, plus a 5-mile paddling trail along the Guadalupe River. Swimmers, tubers, kayakers, and canoeists all share the river frontage, and 85 water-electric campsites make it a popular overnight destination from spring through fall. Horseback riding is permitted, and fishing equipment can be borrowed at no charge. The adjacent Honey Creek State Natural Area hosts guided tours every Saturday morning — a 2.5-hour walk through one of the best-preserved Hill Country stream ecosystems in the region, requiring separate registration. A Discovery Center with hands-on natural history exhibits is open Thursday through Sunday. The park is about 30 miles north of San Antonio; reservations are strongly recommended from March through November, as it frequently fills on weekends.
Shade Details
Dense bald cypress canopy along the river corridor; upland trails more exposed.
Conditions & Tips
Day-use capacity fills fast on summer weekends — arrive before 9am or book in advance. Tubes available for rent nearby. Flash flooding possible after heavy rain upstream.
River levels drop in drought; swimming is less appealing below certain flows.
Painted Bunting Trail
Bamberger Trail
Hofheinz Trail
Curry Creek Overlook Trail
Golden-cheeked Warbler Trail
Barred Owl Trail
Live Oak Trail
Little Bluestem Loop
Bald Cypress Trail
Cedar Sag River Trail
Turkey Sink Trail
River Overlook Trail
River Access Trail
Hofheinz Connector
Discovery Center Loop