Inks Lake

Inks Lake SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/inks-lake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inks_Lake_State_Park Inks Lake State Park is located in Burnet County, Texas, next to Inks Lake on the Colorado River. The landscape of the park is hilly, with many cedar, live oak, prickly pear cacti, and yuccas. The ground is rocky, mainly consisting of gneiss rock. Devil's Waterhole is a small extension of Inks Lake, which is almost completely surrounded by rock. A canoe tour is conducted at Devil's Waterhole, and although diving and swimming may be done at the waterhole, it is at one's own risk, without a lifeguard. There is abundant wildlife at the park, including deer, vultures, quail, and many other types of birds.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Inks Lake State Park TexasStateParks.org/App To B TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia Wildlife Viewing Station Friends of Inks Lake State Park Headquarters State Parks Store Please join us as a member of this support organization. e ak W 327 320 322 319 305 MPH 301 .1 i. m m 292 .2 m i. i. .2 PARK ROAD 4 i. .2 m .2 Detailed trail map available at park headquarters. PLEASE NOTE N m i. .4 mi. i. Pecan Flats Primitive Camping Area A .3 m B C D .3 mi. .4 .3 mi. mi. E .2 PARK ROAD i. m To L Kings onghorn C land & Ma averns, rble F alls 4 i. 1.2 m F .3 mi. .5 m G .5 m To Sponsored Youth Camp i. .6 m i. H i. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4507-015K (2/23) 26 0 259 258 22 2298 15 302 307 291 Ar ea 231 230 2 25 55 6 254 257A 240 238 237 239 234 8 This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ Texas State Parks Store Ice, firewood, T-shirts, caps, one-of-a-kind gift items and paddle boat, and canoe and kayak rentals are available at the Texas State Parks Store located adjacent to boat ramp. • CHECK OUT time is 12 p.m. for campsites and 11 a.m. for cabins. Renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). No need for campsite check out. • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. • A maximum of eight people (four in primitive and walk-in sites) is permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time is from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. • An excess parking fee is required at campsites with more than two vehicles (including trailers). • Campsite must be kept clean; all trash must be picked up before leaving. Dumpsters are conveniently located on all camping loops. • GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATIONS. • Only one unit per site is permitted to hook up to utilities. • Pets must be kept on a 6-foot leash. Please pick up after them. • No pets allowed in cabin area or primitive area. • All vehicles are to remain in center of parking pad, not side by side or on the grass. • Numbered sites are for overnight camping only. NO PICNICKING. • Please follow boat launch protocol. • Stop the spread of invasive species. CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat. PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org Showers 4 Primitive Campsites Water Only Sites 2 25 51 0 e 294 225 21 261 210 68 66 1 64 212 22 69 77 4 2 3 2 6 70 3 71 1 62 215 76 79 6 213 72 75 222 78 4 59 1 2 221 74 58 226 227 80 220 7 208 73 216 219 218 217 81 82 206 207 209 5 SPEED LIMIT 3 300 289 W ak 232 233 235 236 20 20 288 Devil’s Waterhole 273 70 2 68 2 67 2 64 2 2 63 7 2 2 26 26 9 6 26 26 5 2 19 2 321 325 324 323 312 313 308 304 303 16 17 18 48 67 65 276 275 4 27 Restrooms PARK ROAD 60 318 15 315 21 287 282 283 285 No 6 Firewood Vending Machine Composting Toilet ea 280 279 Watercraft Rental Ar 2 25 3 25 317 310 309 22 22 44 56 45 55 46 54 47 49 53 66 7 50 51 336 328 326 311 12 14 314 332 0 33 8 9 281 284 6 28 13 10 41 42 43 57 1 11 4 2 3 4 5 W ak e 293 1 No a re A 91 92 90 88 94 87 86 89 85 84 83 Visit the Park Headquarters to find out more. Wi-Fi Jumping off rocks at Devil’s Waterhole area is at your own risk. WARNING: underwater hazards exist in the lake. o N Your contribution of professional services, volunteer services or financial contributions can help protect and preserve these resources for future generations. 346 347 348 34 349 5 34 339 340 4 341 333 342334 3 35 338 343 337 331 #BetterOutside LEGEND Gated Entrance Obtain Code at HQ uch & B anan D urn et am #TexasStateParks (512) 389-8900 Water and Electric Sites 230 Sites with 50 amp service 220 Walk-in sites with 30 amp service Dump Station Sponsored Youth Camp Mini Cabins Amphitheater Hiking Trail Picnic Area Group Picnic Pavilion Parking Boat Ramp Fishing Pier Fish Cleaning Playground Scenic Overlook Wildlife Viewing Station Wheelchair Accessible Park Host Sites Residence Maintenance 3630 Park Road 4 West Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 793-2223 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

For assistance using this map, contact the park. For a web version of the map text, visit our Trails Information page. 

CREATING PARKS With the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s, the nation suffered from debilitating unemployment levels. With more than half the young men under 25 years of age out of work, President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to provide employment. The program put young men to work developing state and national parks, as well as rehabilitating forests and controlling soil erosion. INTERPRETIVE GUIDE INKS LAKE STATE PARK AND ENJOY BOTH PARKS Inks Lake, a small pass-through lake, is considered the jewel of the Highland Lakes Chain. Typically, Inks Lake fluctuates minimally because of the small volume of water it holds in comparison to other Highland Lakes. This usually allows recreation activities in the park, such as swimming, boating and fishing, to continue unaffected by drought conditions. LONGHORN CAVERN STATE PARK CONNECTED BY A SHARED HISTORY, Beat the heat with a visit to Longhorn Cavern State Park— the cave is as cool as 68 degrees year-round! The park offers guided tours lasting about 11/2 hours for the 1.1-mile round trip. Low-heeled shoes with rubber soles are recommended. INKS LAKE AND LONGHORN CAVERN Inks Lake State Park 3630 Park Road 4 West, Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 793-2223 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/inks/ PREHISTORIC OCCUPATION DATING Longhorn Cavern State Park 6211 Park Road 4 South, Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 715-9000 • www.visitlonghorncavern.com WATER RESOURCES. HOWEVER, THEIR STATE PARKS BOAST SPECTACULAR GEOLOGICAL FEATURES, EVIDENCE OF TO MORE THAN 8,000 YEARS AGO, AND STRONG CONNECTIONS TO STORIES DON’T REALLY WEAVE TOGETHER UNTIL THE 1930s AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION. BOTH PARKS OWE THEIR EXISTENCE TO THE NEW DEAL WORK PROGRAMS OF THAT TRYING TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY. © 2021 TPWD. PWD BR P4507-015U (7/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Between 1934 and 1942, the young men of CCC Company 854 labored to create two new state parks here. At Longhorn Cavern, they removed debris from the cavern, and built trails, an administration building, an observation tower and a lighting system. The beginning of World War II cut short plans for Inks Lake State Park. Despite this, the CCC constructed a boat house and road system with dozens of stone culverts. The men of CCC Company 854 cleared 30,000 cubic yards of mud and debris from Longhorn Cavern by hand. That’s equal to about 3,000 dump truck loads! I N K S L A K E S T A T E P A R K A N D L O N G H O R N C A V E R N S T A T E P A R K L ONG H OR N C A VER N GNEISS ISLANDS AND VERNAL POOLS T At Inks Lake, the pink rock outcrops jutting up through the surrounding limestone are Valley Spring Gneiss (pronounced “nice”), a pinkish granite-like metamorphic rock formed from recrystallized sedimentary rocks. he geologic history of Longhorn Cavern is complex, and the theories don’t all agree. Around 500 million years ago, a shallow tropical sea covered this area. The sea floor, covered with sediments and the remains of sea creatures, eventually turned into the limestone beneath your feet. Between 280 and 300 million years ago, mountain-building forces shifted under Central Texas in an event called the “Llano Uplift.” During this upheaval, faults and fractures formed in the flat-lying limestone. Later, an underground river system—dissolving and flowing through the limestone—formed Longhorn Cavern. Few caverns in the United States were formed in this way, making Longhorn Cavern unique. During the last million years, the water deposited a thick layer of mud and debris in the cave. Early visitors were restricted to a small area due to this debris. Some of the earliest visitors were the area’s prehistoric peoples, who used parts of the cave for shelter. Anglo settlers found the cavern in the mid-1800s and began mining bat guano that was used in manufacturing gun powder during the Civil War. Tourists began visiting the cave in the 1870s, attracted by the desire to learn and by the novelty of the cavern. For a short time in the 1930s, the cavern included a dance hall. This underground nightclub featured bands and live radio broadcasts. Now, visitors can discover the stories the cavern has to tell on several guided tours. Completed in the 1937 by the LCRA after the original builder went bankrupt, Buchanan Dam is the longest multiple-arch dam in the nation. This technique is no lo

INKS LAKE SP & LONGHORN CAVERN SP BIRD CHECKLIST This checklist is a list of common and specialty birds seen in the park. Staf and volunteers have used previous checklists as well as eBird data to compile these lists. This list should not be used as a comprehensive list of birds seen in this park. Please help us protect the natural avian communities by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Thank you for your cooperation. Waterfowl ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck ___ Snow Goose ___ Canada Goose ___ Egyptian Goose ___ Wood Duck ___ Blue-winged Teal ___ Northern Shoveler ___ Gadwall ___ American Wigeon ___ Mallard ___ Green-winged Teal ___ Redhead ___ Ring-necked Duck ___ Greater Scaup ___ Lesser Scaup ___ Bufehead ___ Hooded Merganser ___ Red-breasted Merganser ___ Ruddy Duck Grouse, Quail, and Allies ___ Northern Bobwhite ___ Wild Turkey Grebes ___ Pied-billed Grebe ___ Horned Grebe ___ Eared Grebe Pigeons and Doves ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove ___ Inca Dove ___ Common Ground Dove ___ White-winged Dove ___ Mourning Dove Cuckoos ___ Greater Roadrunner ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo Swifs ___ Chimney Swif Hummingbirds ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird Rails, Gallinules, and Allies ___ Sora ___ American Coot Cranes ___ Sandhill Crane Shorebirds ___ Killdeer ___ Wilson’s Snipe ___ Spotted Sandpiper ___ Greater Yellowlegs Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers ___ Bonaparte’s Gull ___ Franklin’s Gull ___ Ring-billed Gull ___ Herring Gull ___ Forster’s Tern Loons ___ Common Loon Cormorants and Anhingas ___ Double-crested Cormorant ___ Neotropic Cormorant Pelicans ___ American White Pelican Herons, Ibis, and Allies ___ Great Blue Heron ___ Great Egret ___ Snowy Egret ___ Little Blue Heron ___ Cattle Egret ___ Green Heron ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Vultures, Hawks, and Allies ___ Black Vulture ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Osprey ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Cooper’s Hawk ___ Bald Eagle ___ Red-shouldered Hawk ___ Swainson’s Hawk ___ Red-tailed Hawk Owls ___ Eastern Screech-Owl ___ Great Horned Owl Kingfshers ___ Ringed Kingfsher ___ Belted Kingfsher Woodpeckers ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker ___ Red-bellied Woodpecker ___ Downy Woodpecker ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker ___ Northern Flicker Falcons and Caracaras ___ Crested Caracara ___ American Kestrel ___ Merlin Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee ___ Least Flycatcher ___ Eastern Phoebe ___ Vermilion Flycatcher ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher ___ Great Crested Flycatcher ___ Western Kingbird ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Vireos ___ Black-capped Vireo ___ White-eyed Vireo ___ Bell’s Vireo ___ Yellow-throated Vireo ___ Blue-headed Vireo ___ Warbling Vireo ___ Red-eyed Vireo Shrikes ___ Loggerhead Shrike Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ___ Blue Jay ___ Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay ___ American Crow ___ Common Raven Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice ___ Carolina Chickadee ___ Black-crested Titmouse Penduline-Tits and Verdin ___ Verdin Martins and Swallows ___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow ___ Purple Martin ___ Barn Swallow ___ Clif Swallow ___ Cave Swallow Kinglets ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet Gnatcatchers ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wrens ___ Rock Wren ___ Canyon Wren ___ House Wren ___ Marsh Wren ___ Carolina Wren ___ Bewick’s Wren ___ Cactus Wren Starlings and Mynas ___ European Starling Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ___ Brown Thrasher ___ Northern Mockingbird Thrushes ___ Eastern Bluebird ___ Hermit Thrush ___ American Robin Waxwings ___ Cedar Waxwing Old World Sparrows ___ House Sparrow Wagtails and Pipits ___ American Pipit Finches, Euphonias, and Allies ___ House Finch ___ Pine Siskin ___ Lesser Goldfnch ___ American Goldfnch New World Sparrows ___ Grasshopper Sparrow ___ Chipping Sparrow ___ Clay-colored Sparrow ___ Field Sparrow ___ Black-throated Sparrow ___ Lark Sparrow ___ Fox Sparrow ___ Dark-eyed Junco ___ White-crowned Sparrow ___ Harris’s Sparrow ___ White-throated Sparrow ___ Vesper Sparrow ___ Savannah Sparrow ___ Song Sparrow ___ Lincoln’s Sparrow ___ Swamp Sparrow ___ Canyon Towhee ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow ___ Spotted Towhee Blackbirds ___ Western Meadowlark ___ Eastern Meadowlark ___ Orchard Oriole ___ Bullock’s Oriole ___ Baltimore Oriole ___ Red-winged Blackbird ___ Bronzed Cowbird ___ Brown-headed Cowbird ___ Common Grackle ___ Great-tailed Grackle Wood-Warblers ___ Orange-crowned Warbler ___ Nashville Warbler ___ Common Yellowthroat ___ Yellow Warbler ___ Pine Warbler ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler ___ Golden-cheeked Warbler ___ Wilson’s Warbler Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ___ Summer Tanager ___ Northern Cardinal ___ Pyrrhuloxia ___ Indigo Bunting ___ Painted Bunting © 2022 TPWD PWD CD P4507-0015W (3/22) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain info

INKS LAKE STATE PARK HIKING TRAIL GUIDE FOR Pecan Flats ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This trail guide was developed as a class project by the 2013 class of the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program. We want to express our appreciation to the many individuals and organizations that made this project possible. First, we thank the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for creating the Texas Master Naturalist program. This project would not have been possible without the support of the staff of Inks Lake State Park including Terry Rodgers, Sean Jones, Terry Young, and many other staff members who contributed their help and expertise throughout the project. We appreciate the financial support provided by the Highland Lakes Master Naturalist Chapter, Linda O’Nan, President, and the Friends of Inks Lake State Park, Craig Davidson, President. This project builds on a previous interpretive guide titled Inks Lake State Park Hiking Trail Guide for Pecan Flats developed by Sarah Fryar in 2005. We offer a special note of appreciation to Betty Cruikshank, the coordinator extraordinaire of the 2013 Highland Lakes Master Naturalist class; Jerry Stacy, who personifies the ideal of the Texas Master Naturalist; and the many other Master Naturalists who contributed to the Highland Lakes Master Naturalist class of 2013. Thank you. Photographs by Susan Downey INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Inks Lake State Park Pecan Flats Trail! This guide is coordinated with numbered sign posts along the trail through the Pecan Flats primitive camping area. From the trailhead near the Park Headquarters (located at the entrance station), the trail winds for three miles through cedar, pecan and hardwood forests, along riparian and upland natural areas and up to scenic viewpoints over Inks Lake and adjoining landmarks. The entire trail is 3.3 miles long and can be completed at a moderate pace in under three hours. The first sections of the trail are easy to follow and well maintained. The best views are on the final portion of the trail. This part of the trail has some narrow stretches and a modest amount of elevation gain. There are no sources of water on the trail, so please take water with you. Composting toilets can be found in the Pecan Flats Campground area about halfway along the trail. Inks Lake State Park Inks Lake State Park comprises 1,200 acres (almost two square miles) of rolling hills of granite and gneiss rock. It has abundant populations of white-tailed deer and borders the pristine Inks Lake. Land for the park was officially set aside in 1939, but was not open to the public until 1950. It is among the most popular state parks in Texas. Pecan Flats Trail Guide This trail guide was created to share many interesting aspects of the park and to help you become more familiar with the Hill Country, some of its native trees and shrubs, and other natural phenomena. We hope you enjoy your stay and come back soon. This guide is organized around 28 numbered trail markers. From the trailhead adjacent to the Park Headquarters (located at the entrance station), follow the green trail about a quarter of a mile to the “Interpretive Trail” sign marking the beginning of the yellow trail to the left. Continue on the yellow trail another quarter of a mile until you cross Park Road 4 at the gate to the Pecan Flats Primitive Camping Area. The trail markers begin on the left side of the path just past the gate. Park Entrance Trailhead Gate and Start of Interpretive Trail Toilets Scenic Views SAFETY AND TRAIL ETIQUETTE Thanks for following these best practices to ensure your safety and responsible care of the park. • • • • • • • Know your limits. Prepare for sun and heat. Wear sunscreen and appropriate clothing/hiking shoes. Take plenty of water. Bring a quart of water per hour of activity. Stay on the trail for your protection as well as the park’s resources. Take only memories and pictures. Please don’t disturb or remove any of the park’s plants, animals or artifacts. Keep pets on leashes to keep them safe while protecting wildlife. Trash your trash. Pack out all of your trash and Leave No Trace. Please note that while plants’ edible uses are mentioned, you are not allowed to collect plants. Note: During some times of the year, especially in November and December, the Pecan Flats area is closed due to public hunting. Confirm with park headquarters staff that the trail is open. PECAN FLATS INTERPRETIVE TRAIL GUIDE CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. Mesquite Mistletoe Bee Bush and Hackberry Cedar Elm Black Willow Wafer Ash Tasajillo (Pencil Cactus) Agarita Natural Cycles and Texas Persimmon Moss and Lichen Ashe Juniper Bottomland Decomposition Pecan Live Oak and Post Oak Chinaberry Tree Natural Processes Vein of Quartz Mustang Grape Valley Spring Gneiss Vernal Pools Claret Cup Cactus, Lace Cactus, Yucca and Pric

INKS LAKE STATE PARK Visit www.tpwd.texas.gov/outdoor-annual for the most current regulations. 3630 Park Road 4 West • Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 793-2223 Other info: www.texasstateparks.org Local Emergency: Call 911 Where to Fish: The park features two fishing piers (see park map) and allows shoreline fishing. Licenses and Restrictions: A fishing license is not required of anyone who fishes from the pier or shoreline inside a state park. When fishing from a pier or other man-made structure within a state park, there is a limit of two fishing poles per person. License requirements must be observed if you fish from a boat. HARVEST REGULATIONS SPECIES DAILY BAG LIMIT Bass: largemouth LENGTH: MIN-MAX Min: 14” – Max: No Limit 5 (in any combination) Bass: Guadalupe Bass: white Bass: striped and hybrids Carp Catfish: channel, blue and hybrids Catfish: flathead Crappie: black, white and hybrids Sunfish No Limit 25 Min: 10” – Max: No Limit 5 (in any combination) Min: 18” – Max: No Limit No Limit No Limit 25 (in any combination) of which no more than 10 may be 20 inches or greater in length No Limit 5 Min: 18” – Max: No Limit 25 (in any combination) Min: 10” – Max: No Limit No Limit No Limit All other fish: statewide bag and length limits apply. SPECIES FISHING OPPORTUNITIES © 2022 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Largemouth Bass Catfish Crappie White Bass Sunfish TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. PWD LF P4507-015S (12/22) HA N DY FISH ING BASICS HOW TO TIE A FISHING KNOT NATURAL BAIT HOOK PLACEMENT The palomar knot is very strong and easy to tie. HOW TO MEASURE FISH Pinch the tail together and take the longest measurement from nose to tail. Freshwater fish TIPS FOR RELEASING FISH SAFELY 1. For safety for you and a quick release of fish, mash down the barb of the hook with pliers. 2. Quickly play and release fish as soon as possible (take photos quickly). 3. Remove hook with pliers or cut line if the hook has been swallowed. 4. Gently place fish back into water. 5. Revive fish by holding upright in water and facing it into the current, gently forcing water through gills. Saltwater fish 6. If you don’t intend to eat the fish, NEVER place it on a stringer. FISHING ETHICS SAFETY • Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect your head, eyes and skin. • Use insect repellent – but keep off hands, as you will be handling bait and live fish. • Look behind you before each cast to avoid hooking someone or getting caught in a tree (practice casting before you go fishing). • Bring plenty of drinking water to prevent dehydration; soft drinks encourage dehydration. • Wear a life jacket if you cannot swim or you are uncom- fortable around the water. Supervise young children: it only takes a second for them to slip under the surface. Kids under 13 must wear life jackets if fishing from a boat. Before doing anything, ask yourself the following questions: • • • Is it legal? Would it be good if everyone did it? Would it make you proud? Ethical behavior is more than just following the fishing regulations. Ethical people go beyond what laws require and demonstrate good judgment and behavior for everyone – even if no one sees you do something ethical. Ethical behavior includes picking up trash around the area you have been fishing, calmly and politely explaining to others if they are breaking fishing regulations, and respecting the rights of other anglers and those that use the water in other ways. 

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pre