Hill Country State Natural Area, near Bandera, Texas, is a fantastic spot for those who love the great outdoors. With a mix of tent, RV, and cabin accommodations, it’s designed for a variety of camping styles, making it easy to find your perfect setup.

This area is a hiker's dream, boasting a network of trails that cater to everyone from casual walkers to seasoned trail runners. Visitors rave about the breathtaking views and the diverse terrain, with some trails offering a good challenge. As one camper noted, “You will find all kinds of trailer with different levels. Enjoy.” Just remember to bring plenty of water, especially during the hotter months.

For horseback riding fans, the trails here are a highlight. The campground features well-maintained paths that vary in difficulty, ensuring a great ride for all skill levels. Campers have shared their love for the scenery, with one saying, “Absolutely love the trails here! The views are breathtaking.” 

While the campground is primitive, it offers essential amenities like picnic tables and fire rings for those cozy campfire evenings. Keep in mind that there are no showers or drinking water available, so plan accordingly. If you're looking for a peaceful escape with plenty of outdoor activities, Hill Country State Natural Area is definitely worth a visit.

Hill Country State Natural Area

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

Super camping &amp; hiking with our dog and friends. Set up two tents at one site, and had plenty of space for everyone. The hiking was great with some challenging trails and some moderate ones, which allowed us to explore quite a bit of the park. Seemed to boast lots of fossils according to some fellow hikers.

Spacious, quiet & diverse 

Love the trails and camping at the HCSNA. Camping is primitive unless you rent the Lodge or Chapas group camping, but the scenery and trails are varied and it’s not far to town. Some of the riding trails are quite challenging but there are plenty of moderate and easy trails to ride. Shoes or boots are recommended for horses due to the rocky terrain.

Wonderful natural area with various levels of horseback riding trails 

The campsites were spacious and there were quite a few options. There were quite a few trail systems closed that day due to the weather, but even with the limitations we were able to hike a good variety of trail. Be sure to get the info packet on the trails so that you don't find yourself hiking the equestrian trails as they can be a little rough for hikers. Be sure to hike to the top of the hill and enjoy a coffee on the bench - amazing view of the hill country!

True Hill Country Experience

Absolutely love the trails here! The views are breathtaking and the trails vary from easy to challenging. The only issue we’ve encountered is that the new maps don’t always give an accurate description of how challenging the trails are. The staff work really hard to keep the trails maintained, but heavy rains will cause the trails to erode, so they will close the trails depending on the weather. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are all allowed and hikers and bikers are required to yield the right of way to horseback riders. I’ve ridden horseback here for many years and have always found the hikers and bikers to be very considerate. Shoes or boots are recommended since most trails are rocky. The Trailhead Equestrian Camp has 6 sites with two pens at each site and water should be available in April 2019 at each site. There’s a vault toilet and water for horses centrally located in the camping area. There’s also a round pen for supervised use. Camping with electric hookups is available at Chapa campground on a first come basis unless reserving the entire campground. The Group Lodge is also available for groups. Check out the TPWD website for more information.

Awesome horseback riding trails!

Located in the hills about 10 miles from Bandera, TX, this campground is the perfect place to disconnect (you won’t get signal anyways) and hike, run or horseback ride through a plethora of trails.

  

Hookups are available for campers or a 2-3 mile hike can get you to a primitive site. Group sites are available to rent. This area of Texas gets hot so bring plenty of water. Watch for wildlife.

  

I would recommend checking their  Facebook page if it has recently rained to see the status of the park and trails. Occasionally the park or some trails will close if the risk of damage to the natural area is high.

A hiker/ trail runner paradise 

You will find all kinds of trailer with different levels. Enjoy

Great hiking trails

I was planning on staying there, but it is basically an equestrian state park. You can camp there, but there's not electrical and water hook ups. It's mostly tent camping. The staff was very friendly. I went to visit there just to see what it was about. If you're a hiker, there's hiking trails, so you'll enjoy that.

Photos of Hill Country State Natural Area

Real photos from real campers