Top 16 Texas State Parks for Stunning Desert, Mountain, Waterfall & River Scenery

With its diverse terrain, ranging from dense forests and vast deserts to dramatic canyons, Texas is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. The Lone Star State has more than 80 state parks—many offering opportunities to hike, camp, fish, kayak, mountain bike, or spot wildlife.

These protected lands are also steeped in history. Humans have inhabited Texas for about 13,000 years, and earlier prehistoric animals have left their marks on the state. Today, visitors to Texas parks can see traces of the past in various forms, including pictographs, petroglyphs, ancient dwellings, and even dinosaur tracks. Here are some of the best state parks in Texas, whether you’re looking for adventure, history, or stunning landscapes.

Big Bend Ranch State Park

As Texas’ largest state park, Big Bend Ranch State Park offers all of the flora and fauna of its neighbor, Big Bend National Park, but is even more remote. Located in far West Texas on the U.S.-Mexico border, this state park offers rugged adventures like hiking, horseback riding, river floating, biking, and more. Don’t miss the stargazing here at night, as it’s a designated International Dark Sky Park.

Garner State Park

With nearly three miles of Frio River access, plus 1,774 acres of adventure, it’s no wonder that Garner State Park is Texas’ most-visited state park. Float the Frio on an inner tube in true Texas style, or hike along 16 miles of scenic trails. Camping, canoeing, fishing, mini golf, and geocaching are also available. In the summertime, gather at the park’s concession building for an evening of dancing around the jukebox—a park tradition since the 1940s.

Inks Lake State Park

On the eastern edge of the Llano Uplift, known as the geological heart of Texas, Inks Lake State Park offers some of the best views of Precambrian geology in the state. Cool water meets rock outcrops here, making for great swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking. Nine miles of trails are available, too. Check out the bird blind to see what species are visiting the park.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Texas is home to the second-largest canyon in the country, and it’s found in Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the Panhandle. More than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails are available, along with birding, geocaching, and glamping. Be sure to look for hoodoos as you hike, and in the summer, catch a show at Texas Outdoor Musical, which tells the stories of early Texas settlers.

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

Home to the Texas State Bison Herd, Caprock Canyons State Park is the perfect place to get back to nature. The bison roam the plains, so take caution when driving, and do not approach them. Ninety miles of trails are open for easy to strenuous hiking and biking, and Lake Theo offers no-wake boating, fishing, and swimming.

Caddo Lake State Park

Covered in bald cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss, as well as a labyrinth of bayous, ponds, and swamps, Caddo Lake is quintessential East Texas. The park covers more than 26,000 acres and contains more than 70 species of fish, drawing in anglers from all over the world. A fishing pier and boat ramp are both accessible, too. Rent or bring your own canoe or kayak and explore the 50-plus miles of paddling trails in the area. Wildlife, including alligators, are abundant here.

Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site

While people have been visiting this area for 12,000 years, it was a group that arrived about 7,000 years ago that left the most important mark at Seminole Canyon. These hunter-gatherers painted pictographs in the rock shelters of the Lower Pecos River Country, and today, more than 200 sites still have these paintings. Aside from looking for pictographs, visitors here can geocache, mountain bike, hike, and more.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

In Glen Rose, Texas, take a walk back in time at Dinosaur Valley State Park. Around 113 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed this area at the edge of an advancing and retreating sea. Today, fossilized footprints and claw marks, most likely from sauropods and theropods, are preserved in the riverbed. While the tracks are hidden under mud and water most of the year, they are visible during periods of drought or during late summer when water levels are low. Twenty miles of trails are also available for hiking and mountain biking, and the Paluxy River is a paddler’s paradise.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

A special treat less than 90 minutes from Austin, Longhorn Cavern State Park is known for its namesake underground cave, which was partly carved out by an ancient river. Anglo settlers mined bat guano from the cave to make gunpowder during the Civil War, and legend says that outlaw Sam Bass hid $2 million inside the cave. Cave tours are available.

Balmorhea State Park

No, that’s not a mirage you see. It’s actually the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool, located in the West Texas desert. Balmorhea State Park’s pool, up to 25 feet deep, is filled from San Solomon Springs. The water temperature stays between 72 and 76 degrees year-round, creating a warm oasis.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

You can surf on the Gulf Coast in Texas, but you can also surf at Monahans Sandhills State Park in West Texas. Essentially a giant, hilly sandbox, the park is a small part of a dune field that extends further into Texas and New Mexico. Bring your horse and check out the 800-acre equestrian area, or rent sand disks and cross off “surfed in a desert” from your travel wish list.

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site

People have visited these rocky hills in West Texas for thousands of years, looking for rainwater in the huecos, or natural rock basins. This area also provided food and shelter to those meandering through the Chihuahuan Desert, and these people left pictographs and petroglyphs that can still be seen today. The rock art depicts animals, deity-like figures, and face masks with intricate designs. More than 200 masks have been identified, making it the largest collection of these in North America.

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Texas may not come to mind when you picture fall foliage, but think again. Lost Maples protects a special stand of Uvalde bigtooth maples, and these trees, along with others in the park, come alive each autumn with warm, golden colors. The park even puts out an annual fall foliage report to help you plan the best time to visit. Birding is also popular here, as the endangered golden-cheeked warbler is known to make appearances.

Pedernales Falls State Park

Approximately 30 miles west of Austin in Johnson City, Pedernales Falls State Park attracts visitors to its massive slabs of limestone in the Pedernales River, where people love to swim and sprawl out for a day of lounging. Tubing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, birding, and horseback riding are also available. And the butterfly garden and bird blind allow you to look for wildlife.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

A billion years ago, the large pink granite dome known as Enchanted Rock was part of a big pool of magma miles under the earth’s surface. It pushed into the rock above in spots, then cooled and hardened, turning into the granite dome it is today. The dome has drawn people here for thousands of years, and today, visitors can hike, backpack, rock climb, bird, and even stargaze, as the park is designated an International Dark Sky Park.

Colorado Bend State Park

West of Lampasas, explore more than 5,000 acres above Lake Buchanan at Colorado Bend State Park. The park is known for Gorman Falls, a 70-foot, spring-fed waterfall you can reach on a three-mile round-trip hike. You can also mountain bike, fish, or paddle along the Colorado River. Check to see if the park offers guided cave tours during your visit, as it’s home to more than 400 underground caves.