Boulderdash Cabin & RV Park, near Bandera, Texas, is a cozy spot that caters to those looking for a laid-back camping experience right by the Medina River. With just a handful of sites, it offers a more intimate atmosphere where you can kick back and enjoy nature without the crowds.

This campground is pet-friendly and features amenities like electric hookups and clean facilities, including a unique bathhouse made from a horse trailer. Campers have raved about the beautiful views and the chance to kayak or fish in the river, making it a great place for water activities when the conditions are right. One visitor noted, “The owners are a great family. They made sure we were all set up,” highlighting the welcoming vibe you can expect.

For those who enjoy hiking, the area around Boulderdash offers scenic trails and opportunities to spot local wildlife, including deer. While some campers mentioned the noise from nearby dogs, many appreciated the peacefulness of the surroundings and the chance to unwind by the fire. With its rustic charm and friendly hosts, Boulderdash is a solid choice for a weekend escape or a longer stay.

Boulderdash is a charming, hidden gem located off the beaten path deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Situated on 5 acres, the sites are spaciously nestled amongst the natural beauty of The Texas Hill Country. Our guests say they love being a part of the natural habitat, feeding the deer, birds, and watching wildlife. As well as, how peaceful, quiet, and relaxing their visit is. Although not a large park, there is plenty to do. Located on the crystal clear Medina River, (river levels vary so please check the home page for updated Lake/River levels), there is a natural spring just a 1/2 mile upriver offering our area, spring-fed water for guests and fur babies to splash and play in. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy hiking the river banks and exploring the large boulders. Boulderdash has a camping option for everyone, we host 3 FHU RV sites, 3 shaded tent sites, and 3 lodging options, each unique and as individual as our campers are. Jenga & Cornhole games are also on the property along with a community lookout deck offering spectacular Hill Country views and starry night skies, as well as a table top fire pit and a community BBQ. Bandera is only a 10-mile drive known as 'The Cowboy Capital Of The World'. Check the home page for Local Events and tons of things to do.

Located only a few hours from Most major Texas cities, be assured, this will become your go-to place for much-needed R&R!

We book up quickly so reserve your next camping trip today, come and make some Memories on the Medina at Boulderdash!

Boulderdash Cabin & RV Park

Bandera is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Texas camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Bandera, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.

Bandera

The Best Camping Near Bandera, Texas

We loved this campground, very remote without tons of people around you . The water was just a short walk from the RV. And kids loved fishing and just playing in water! Will def go back! 😀👍🏻

Awesome!!

I am a little biassed because this place is mine, but if you are looking for a non commercial natural environment.........boulderdash is great! It only has 3 RV sites 2 50 amp 1 30 amp and a rustic roughing it site for tents. There is also a cabin that sleeps 7 for those who don't have a camper.

Rustic,private, small, right on the river, beautiful views!

The owners are a great family. They made sure we were all set up. The property overlooks the Medina River. Even in low water, there is kayaking just up stream from the site. Dog friendly. Kinda noisy at night.

Beautiful views and Kayaking

this was a great location for spending some time on the medina river and close to medina lake. we camped in the tent camping area above the cabin. it's a bit of a steep walk from the campsite to the river, but not bad. we were able to carry our kayake with no problem. we were also able to use part of the grassy lawn next to the cabin which is closer to the river. only downside was a lot of dogs barking all night long. but if the time of year is right you will see fireflies and lots of deer. overall we enjoyed it a lot.

Boulderdash tent camping 

Texas is such a large state finding great campgrounds can quickly get a little overwhelming. There are so many amazing outdoor spaces and camping options that unless you really have something specific in mind you can get caught up comparing sites trying to determine which is the perfect fit for you.  

This has always been the case for me in my home state and I feel as though I have missed many great locations as a result. One hidden gem I hadn’t yet discovered was [Boulderdash Cabin And RV](http://boulderdash.net) on Lake Medina just outside of Bandera.

I was pleased to have this one brought to my attention and after booking through The Dyrt’s new online booking system I packed up my car in anticipation of a great trip down south. My original day to visit was met by some of the unpredictable Texas weathers, torrential downpour lasting 2 two days. I say that to say this, the campground owner and hosts were fully understanding of the predicament of me being a tent camper and unable to fully be able to enjoy the location in such conditions.  As a result they allowed me to push my reservation, something many campgrounds would not be so accommodating to do. 

This set the tone for my trip and was echoed throughout my stay, amazing and kind customer service!

[CLICK HERE](https://youtu.be/hGhZVvGoLFM) For Full Video Review

**Campground Review:**

Finally arriving at my site mid afternoon after a long drive, I was ready to get out and explore but also relax. I was greeted by the campground hosts upon my arrival with such a pleasant and welcoming reception. They showed me to my site, gave me a short tour of the small camp and told me a bit about the area so I could fully enjoy the amenities and know what to expect for a nights stay at the location.

Amongst the highlights were the lake where you can fish, kayak, take in the sun or have a great moment around the fire ring, the nightly deer feeding just alongside the entry road and an additional patio for sunning or enjoying a peaceful retreat.

The camp itself is very small, but with that comes a lot of charm. They did mention that there is currently underway an expansion possibly on the waterfront for additional tent camping options to expand the single tent site now available.  For those visiting in an RV there are several spaces available currently with substantial parking area for larger units in addition to the lake cabin featuring 3 bedrooms and an ample porch for outdoor entertaining. 

The charm of the campground is definitely in the details from painted rocks around the patio area, the campground mascots hanging out at key places for interaction, the unique bathhouse created from a small horse trailer and equipped with rustic finishings and the deer corn and bird seed left for each camper so they can interact more with their surroundings. This is a place which uniquely unveils itself the more you explore.

I had seen photos of the location but did not fully know what to expect, and boy was I surprised at how different my visit was than other reviewers from the site. When I arrived the lake was almost to the top of the camp border retainer wall, unlike other photos which I had seen when there was little to no water to explore.  Apparently the earlier in the season the more water usually you will find because later in the season the water is used for irrigation in surrounding areas and it becomes very low. Spring and early summer is the ideal time for lake related activities while late summer and fall are more about the discovery you can find along the banks and bed of the lake, which is more like hiking in my opinion.

**Tips:**

*   Book in advance, especially if tent camping due to limited space. The Dyrt booking system is a perfect way to do this because it is extremely user friendly and allows you to communicate with the owner directly after your booking is confirmed if you have questions or any changes which need to be made before your reservation. 
*   GPS can be a bit tricky on the lake roads. While getting to the general proximity works well, the division of roads can be hit or miss with some GPS systems.  I use an Iphone and it had me take an extra block just to get to ultimately the same location I could have been a couple of minutes earlier had it have told me just to go straight.
*   Take advantage of the patio down the hill by the water. There is a full picnic table, 4 loungers and a fire ring with benches in this area. You can drive down or walk down, set up and have a great meal right by the water. 
*   Don’t forget to ask about kayaks! There are 2 kayaks available for rent, you need only ask in advance to reserve them for your usage.

For More Information About Fishing At Lake Medina [CLICK HERE](https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/medina/)

For More Information About Bandera [CLICK HERE](http://banderacowboycapital.com)

**Product Review:**

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, in addition to having access to great campgrounds, I also am given the opportunity to try and review products and gear best suited for my active camping lifestyle. For my trip to Baulderdash I was able to prepare all my meals using the [Primus Power Trail Backpacking Stove With Piezo](http://www.primus.us).

I was a little worried I wouldn’t have the stove before my trip with only a couple of weeks between booking and estimated camping date, however from order to delivery there was less than a week’s time, arriving well before I departed for my trip. To be honest I didn’t want to try it out or anything until I arrived at my campsite so I could get a true feel for the size, the function and overall experience since this was my first Primus item.

**First Impression: **

The size seemed a good fit for what I was looking for.  I have used a camping stove previously and knew I wanted something similar in size but also something which would address all my previous concerns with the other brand. 

**What Were My Previous Brand Concerns?:**

*   Uneven Heating
*   Wind 
*   Heating Time
*   Starting
*   Balancing

With all these concerns, I decided to play it safe and make sure I had the instructions with me just in case. (Available in multiple languages) And while I did read them, I really didn’t have to because the stove was very user friendly when I actually started assembling it. (I would suggest a new user who has never used a backpacking stove to give it a quick once over)

I opted for this stove because of its 4 stove balancing points. My previous stove had only 3 and many times it made it difficult to balance when my surface was not entirely even or if my food was slightly shifted in my pan. The 4 points are pulled upward from their fold and locked into place tightly, giving another layer of security to me when using the stove and checking off one of my concerns.

The stove attaches to your propane bottle by screwing it onto the top.  With this you want to have a firm hold because if it is not screwed on tight enough it will not start. You will quickly know if it isn’t on tight enough when you twist the piezo because you will not hear the gas flowing. I learned this on the second use when I was making my breakfast and I thought I had broken it by not putting it in my bag the same way it had been previously. Gave me a little panic, only to discover it was operator error not stove damage.

Having the piezo and igniter fully eliminated my frustrations which came from starting and lighting the previous stove, which I always felt was a bit dangerous because you would have to ignite it right at the source of the gas and many times it would intensely flair up. The Primus keeps you at a safe distance from the actual starting of the flame so check off another concern!

To cook on the stove I opted to really test its heating ability. I did so using chilled water, wanting to see just how long it actually would take to bring it to a rolling boil for use on a variety of common camping needs.  Less than 10 minutes and my water was rolling and steaming maxing out temps high enough for pretty much anything I could ever need from creating an egg omelet in a sandwich bag, hydrating a meal, boiling water safe consumption or making piping hot water thermos for keeping warm in my tent on a cold night. 

In my opinion, the timing was very good. In addition, though there was a bit of wind it seemed to continue burning consistently instead of all of the flames shifting to a single side.  While I didn’t test the overall even cooking because I had only boiled water I can only assume from the other results that this also would be addressed and answered by the balancing and also even flame.

I hydrated a dehydrated meal for dinner, anyone who has done this before knows if the water isn’t warm enough it will not cook through and you will be eating pure crunchy starch. That meal turned out great! In the morning, I made my protein packed oatmeal with dehydrated fruits and a coffee.  Layering the fruits on the bottom to allow them the most access to hydrating following with oats and protein powder I was able to with the Primus create a breakfast quality mirroring that of what I could have made with a full kitchen at home requiring a stove, chopping block and coffee maker, all with a single burner.

**Tips:**

*   Try the Primus pots to cook with on the stove. Designed by Primus the materials are durable and have a non-stick element to them that is unmatched in my opinion. Not to mention by using these you are guaranteed an even cook because they are designed with the perfect dimensions for the cook surface and when using you will not have to worry about your pot or pan being sized to large on your surface and becoming tipsy.
*   Store items together. If you do choose to use the Primus pots and pans, you can easily store your Power Trail Backpacking Stove within its pouch and inside the pots and pans to reduce your footprint in you bag or when storing your items when not traveling. Think of those nesting dolls and how they stow one inside another, this is basically the same thing.

For Full Product Review Video [CLICK HERE](https://youtu.be/54Vh-FUtLsg)

Ranger Review:  Primus Trail Backpacking Stove At Boulderdash Cabin & RV

Had a great stay at Boulderdash this past weekend.  We had site #3 the smaller pull through.  Space was great and clean, hookups were easy to access.  We had a problem when we arrived getting electric but Paul came over and solved our problem (it was our converter which we did not need).  Paul was very helpfulness and offered to be available if we needed anything.   We enjoyed the grill in the common area down by the river which was a short steep walk from our site.  
Lots of nice touches around the grounds and very clean.  We did not use the shower but it was so nice to have the bathroom option.  
Lots of activity on the river because it was a long weekend but really a great view from the property.
We enjoyed the Bandara area, floated the river and horseback riding.  Some nice shops in town but they could use a few nicer restaurants.  The 11th street bar had great live music. We drove to Mac &amp;. Earnie’s one day to find out they were closed for the holiday BBQ.  
Don’t be bummed out by the other local residents, the area doesn’t look the best when driving in (lots of garbage) the campgrounds were very clean with nice touches (flower pots and painted rocks).  We will be back!


Wonderful small campground!

This place was interesting. It was very pretty. I think We were in site 3 - we had a great view overlooking the river.  Spots are squeezed in a small place but at varying angles so you aren’t lined up.  The water was very low when we went. We hiked quite a bit up and down the river but it all looks fairly the same. 
The single bathroom and shower is in a horse trailer. It’s very clean and cute and unique. I think they have plans to add another bathroom - that would be very helpful. 
If the river was high enough to kayak or paddle board, I’m sure I would love this place. With the river as low as it was, there wasn’t a whole lot to do for our family. 
The hosts were wonderful and I love the idea of Boulderdash.....with more water in the river and another bathroom, this place would be amazing. 


Unique hipcamp spot. 

Stayed in my RV over Memorial weekend. Small rv campground, so book early.  Overlooks and has access to Medina river.
The owners are extremely kind and helpful,  even providing corn to feed the deer.   
But don't tell anyone,  let's leave this our little secret. 


Photos of Boulderdash Cabin & RV Park

Real photos from real campers