The 15 Most Attractive Places In Texas Hill Country, According To A Local

From lively cities to miniature towns, wide open fields to lovely rolling hills, Texas Hill Country is full of scenic delights just waiting to be discovered, and I’ve explored almost every inch. It’s home to some of the best state parks, whether you prefer tubing down the Guadalupe River or finding epic views at Enchanted Rock. You can sip wine in a dynamic Texas vineyard, take a road trip through fields of blooming bluebonnets, or camp underneath the stars in an International Dark Sky Place. Really, there’s something—many things—for everyone to find strikingly unique in Texas Hill Country.

Here are the 15 most lovely places in Texas Hill Country to visit, according to a local.

Willow City Loop

Wynn Meyers

Just outside Fredericksburg, you’ll find this 13-mile scenic loop that is perhaps the best way to catch the famed Texas wildflowers when they’re blooming each spring. Along your drive, expect each side to be bursting with glowing fields of bluebonnets, fiery red Indian paintbrushes, and cheery yellow coreopsis. From March through May, it is more than worth the drive, which can be a fun day-long adventure in Hill Country. Start at the town of Willow City, and follow the loop.

Guadalupe River

Robbie Caponetto

This beloved Texas river is known far and wide for its beauty and winding curves that are popular for tubing in the spring and summer. You can embark on your water-filled adventure at Guadalupe River State Park. Feel free to bring your own tube and access the rivers via river parks, or apply an outfitter like Rockin’ R River Rides. When you’re not tubing, consider paddling or taking a dip in the nippy waters.

tpwd.texas.gov/guadalupe-river, 3350 Park Rd 31, Spring Branch, TX 78070

Garner State Park

BROWN W. CANNON III

Located in a tranquil pocket of Hill Country where cell service is spotty at best, Garner State Park sees many visitors year-round. During spring and summer, it serves as tubing and swimming destination on the lovely Frio River. During fall, temperatures are often still high enough for enjoying the water of the Frio River, but you can also hike, view the changing leaves, and take advantage of the park’s more developed campsites all in one trip. Weekends might be busy, but weekdays are more relaxed. Hike up to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park’s most notable hill).

tpwd.texas.gov/garner, 234 RR 1050, Concan, TX 78838

Wine Road 290

Gabriela Herman

Some might be surprised to find out that more than 100 vineyards and tasting rooms are located in and around Fredericksburg, Texas, along Wine Road 290. Therefore, you can kick off a weekend of scenic vineyard sitting and learning about Texas grapes by stopping at wineries at your own leisure—or by booking the 290 Wine Shuttle for sheltered all-day transportation between the wineries. Some of our favorite recommendations include Grape Creek Vineyards, Messina Hof Hill Country Winery, Signor Vineyards, and Barons Creek Vineyards.

290wineshuttle.com, 308 S Washington St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Blue Hole Regional Park

Michael Hanson

Grab the rope swing, and fling yourself into the pretty sapphire-colored waters at Blue Hole Regional Park in Wimberley, Texas. The surrounding scenery doesn’t disappoint, with towering cypress trees that flank the edges of this beloved natural pool waters, where the water is clear and brilliantly blue-green.

wimberleyparksandrec.com/blue-hole-regional-park, 333 Blue Hole Ln, Wimberley, TX 78676

Lost Maples State Natural Area

BROWN W. CANNON III

Located in a very secluded, tranquil corner of Texas Hill Country, Lost Maples State Natural Area, spanning nearly 3,000 acres, contains the headwaters of the Sabinal River and trails that lead up to views of undisturbed rolling hills. Each year, the park is famed for its bigtooth maples that burst into brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow during overdue October and November.

tpwd.texas.gov/lost-maples, 37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area

Catch an unforgettable view of the Hill Country blossoming into color at public parks like Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area.

Wynn Meyers

While you’ll find plenty of blossoming wildflowers to behold on country roads and miniature parks throughout Texas Hill Country, none is more scenic and copious in color as Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area in Spicewood, Texas. During early spring, you’ll find bluebonnets—Texas’ beloved state flower—covering the grassy fields.

lcra.org/muleshoe-bend, 2820 Co Rd 414, Spicewood, TX 78669

Hamilton Pool Preserve

WIN-Initiative/Getty Images

A massive crater created when the dome over an underground river caved in, Hamilton Pool is one of the most iconic natural landmarks in Texas. The grotto features a cascading 50-foot waterfall, and it only takes a low hike from the entrance of the 230-acre preserve to see the pool and find the perfect spot for a picnic or picture.

parks.traviscountytx.gov; 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake views.

Getty Images/RoschetzkyIstockPhoto

Perhaps no Texas region boasts more lovely lakes than the Hill Country. Canyon Lake is privy to waters so glowing and blue that it’s not only remained popular amongst Texans, but also gone viral on social media for its unbelievably clear, dynamic waters. Canyon Lake spans across 8,200 acres with 80 miles of shoreline, located between Austin and San Antonio. The man-made lake is ideal for swimming, diving, fishing, hiking, boating, camping, and other outdoor activities. 

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Stroll through over 2 miles of trails to see the center’s naturally landscaped areas.

Wynn Myers

Native wildflowers put on an absolutely gorgeous display at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, southwest of downtown Austin, each spring. The 284-acre state botanic garden and arboretum was founded by Lady Bird Johnson and actor Helen Hayes in 1982 and is home to over 10,000 species from all across Texas—the most diverse collection of such in North America. Throughout the year, the not-for-profit puts on events like movie nights in the gardens, sunset cheerful hours with live music, and workshops on how to grow your own native varieties.

wildflower.org, 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739

San Marcos River

Getty Images/Creative Credit

This Hill Country river is another extremely popular place to float, particularly for the college kids at Texas State University in San Marcos and families who flock here during the summer. For those wishing for a quick adventure, there’s an hour-long float that runs from the town’s City Park to Rio Vista Park. This spring-fed river is a tributary of the Guadalupe, which means it boasts nippy temperatures year-round. It can get quite crowded during warmer months, so heed the crowds. 

San Antonio River Walk

Wynn Meyers

Blessed with a prime spot in the Texas Hill Country, San Antonio has more adjacent natural beauty and cultural vibrance than most urban landscapes. The great San Antonio River winds its way through the center of the city with a pedestrian-friendly River Walk that follows right alongside it, offering a serene respite that’s lined on each side with countless activities to discover, from art museums to public parks to historic landmarks that have become bustling districts. 

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Photo: Van Chaplin

The top of Enchanted Rock offers panoramic views of Texas Hill Country, making it an ideal spot for seeing the scenery in all its glory. Located north of Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers 11 miles of trails on your way to the top of the pink granite dome. This park is also designated as an International Dark Sky Park, making it a great place to watch the stars.

tpwd.texas.gov/enchanted-rock, 16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

The Oasis at Lake Travis

TerenceLeezy/Getty

More specifically, the sunset views at The Oasis at Lake Travis. Canyon Lake’s neighbor on the Austin side, Lake Travis is where folks from the city and those from surrounding Central Texas towns converge on boats and at the iconic Oasis, which towers over Lake Travis with epic views and multiple dining concepts perfect for enjoying sunset. 

oasis-austin.com, 6550 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732

Gorman Falls

Photo: Van Chaplin

One of Texas’s most scenic wildflower drives takes you to Colorado Bend State Park. Gorman Falls, the park’s main attraction, can be reached via a one-and-a-half-mile hike where you’ll find watery cascades that spill from a 60-foot-high limestone cliff into a moss- and fern-draped grotto. The breathtaking view of the waterfall and the peaceful sound of the rushing waters make the trek well worth every step.

tpwd.texas.gov/colorado-bend, 2236 Park Hill Dr, Bend, TX 76824