Pedernales Falls State Park: 7 Beautiful Things Not To Miss
In November 2023, Brandon and I rode the Twisted Sisters for our twentieth anniversary. One of our last stops on the way home was Pedernales Falls State Park. We had quite the adventure- splashing in the water and hiking to find a waterfall he had seen before. We ended up being there so long that we had to ride home in the dark- when it was 32* outside. That is quite the story!
Things to Know Before You Go
What Makes This Park So Special: The area has a larger body of water but is known for its pockets of water and small waterfalls.
Directions: Pedernales Falls is located in the Texas Hill Country, about an hour west of Austin and an hour and a half north of San Antonio.
What to Wear: Wear comfortable clothes, especially if you plan to get wet. I also recommend wearing waterproof hiking shoes if you plan to walk the area. These are my favorite. To make sure you have the best clothes planned for the trip, here’s the upcoming weather forecast:
49°F
Cost: $6 per person daily fee or get a state parks pass for $70. The state parks pass covers your entire family for a year and you can visit any of the parks.
Camping in Pederales State Park
The park has sixty-nine sites with electricity and multiple primitive, hike-in campsites. At the time of this writing, the electrical sites cost $20, and the hike-in sites cost $10.
For the primitive sites, you will need to pack everything in; there is no water, and no fires are allowed either. You can bring your own containerized fuel stoves for cooking, though. Getting to the campsite from the Wolf Mountain trailhead is a four or five-mile hike, depending on your site. You can download the park trail map to hike from a different area if you want to.
Book your site ahead of time, as this park can get busy. You can do so at Reserve America.
Other Sleeping Options
If camping isn’t what you want to do on this trip, here are some other great options:
- Holiday Inn Express, Fredricksburg: If you’ve been here a bit, you know I love Hilton brand hotels. They don’t have a hotel nearby, so the Holiday Inn is. This makes me smile because their outdoor, seasonal pool is kicked up a notch (as it should be in Fredricksburg). The pool has an addition of a lazy river, and the colors at night are phenomenal, with blue in the pool and the lazy river and purple in the hot tub. The price is decent and only a block from the hub of Fredricksburg, which you don’t want to miss any time of year!
- Nature Cabin w/ Hot Tub: Maybe you’re looking to get out and see nature but want more creature comforts than camping offers—look no further than the nature cabins. This location has four cabins, each with a wood-fired hot tub. Are you planning a summer trip? Add ice to turn the hot tub into a plunge pool!
Hiking
There are plenty of options for hiking around Pedernales Falls State Park, from short hikes to longer ones. Here are our recommendations:
Pedernales Falls Trail
Length: 0.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 104 ft.
This is a relatively easy hike with beautiful views of the Pedernales Falls while weaving in and out of some wooded areas. We walked the falls area and ended up on this trail, stopping for epic views before returning to the parking area.
We were there during a cold snap, so we didn’t see many people on the trails; however, with it being shorter and having such good views, you wouldn’t be surprised if you saw more people on the route.
Twin Falls Nature Trail
Length: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 95 ft.
I think this is where Brandon wanted to take me. The waterfall is small, but the water—crystal clear with a blueish-green tint—is stunning, precisely what he was describing. The best time to visit is April because the water flows well and the greenery is lush. Plus, the weather is perfect for hiking and camping.
Wolf Mountain Trail
Length: 5.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 357 ft.
This is the trail you will take if you plan to use the primitive sites. It is a loop hike with a waterfall in one section. In addition, there is some beautiful green water that you can take pictures of from up above or right next to while hiking. An update on this section is coming soon. I think I will make my first backpacking trip here (I’m debating between here or Colorado Bend State Park—stay tuned!).
More Great Things To Do
- Walk the falls: Brandon and I spent most of our time doing this while there. This area is expansive, and it’s easy to get lost in its vastness. If you decide you want to take pictures of the water, be sure to hold your camera tight. We may or may not have chased one down a mini-waterfall to catch it.
Walking here is fine, but swimming is prohibited. So… - It’s better to find a different spot to swim. Anywhere downstream of the first swimming area is good. Just be careful to watch for signs because it’s a natural river, and things happen—better to be safe than sorry.
- If you are an experienced horseback rider, they have trails for you- complete with water stops along the route.
- Kayak or Stand-Up Paddleboard. Bring your own and set up at any swimming area or Trammel’s Crossing.
- Stargaze. Being close to San Antonio and Austin, it’s not a dark sky area, but the pollution isn’t so bad that you can’t see the milkway on a moonless night.
Wrapping It Up
Pedernales Falls is a great place to visit and enjoy the weather one day. I was kind of hesitant in the beginning—ready to get home and away from the cold weather—but now I am so glad we went and can’t wait to go back!
If you have extra time, visit Luckenbach or grab a delicious pizza and learn about the benefits of goats at Jester King Brewery.
