Does anybody have any good recommendations for any state or national parks or other areas for camping for a weekend? We'll have a big group and prolly end up car camping, but I still would like to be able to go on good hikes and other outdoor activities. Hopefully not too far from Houston, about 3-4 hours by car would be the farthest we would be able to go. Thanks!
There are a bunch of places. I haven't camped in Texas much but have done the research as I've been meaning to. Check out this site. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/findapark.htm There are a lot of cool seeming ones near Austin. I've been wanting to do a trip to Ink's Lake State Park, spending a couple of hours exploring Longhorn Cavern and spending a night or two at Pedernales Falls.
Colorado Bend State Park. it's probably about 4 hours from Houston. it's one of the best kept "secrets" in the state. you will not be disappointed. the hiking is incredible.
Lost Maples is good - I stayed there for 4 or 5 days and got a lot of good hiking in. McKinney falls is good too, if the waterfalls are flowing.
i think the best place for yall would be lost maples. lost maples has decent "car-camping" areas that would accodate a big group. its also easy to park and walk a half mile or so and find some really nice primitive camping. its probably about 5 hours from houston. outside of big bend or guadalupe mountains, my favorite hiking in texas. very large hills (small mountains?) out there make for some nice hikes and views. long trail that winds all away around the park and plenty of side trails to explore. couple creeks and small lakes. very beautiful in the autumn when the maple leaves have fallen and kind of spooky at night w/ the bare trees blowing in the cold, moonlit wind. its especially spooky if you have eaten 5 grams of mushrooms and are wandering around alone at 3 in the morning, but thats a different story...
You don't go by type, size, and color?? You do know where The Color Purple got it's name, don't you? Oprah knows all!
Thanks for the suggestions all. I got a lot of good info to start researching more. It's always hard with a big groups, some of us want to go exploring and be outdoors, while others just want to sit at camp and drink beer.
