Best Glamping near Bend, TX

Ashley here from The Dyrt! It was great to add this glamping retreat that advocates for ecological protection. Each site provides comfortable amenities. Check them out and leave them some love!

Colorado Bend is beautiful and secluded. It is home to Gorman Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Texas, but even besides that the park is gorgeous with awesome bluffs, river, trails, swimming hole, kayaking, and views. Definitely recommend visiting Colorado Bend for a day trip or camping.

Colorado Bend has something for everyone: comfortable camping for tents, campers, and large groups; fishing, swimming, and kayaking on the river; views that are second to none; a variety of hiking trails; and both a spring and a waterfall. This is one of my favorite state parks in Texas for camping in. The hike down to the falls does have a couple steep portions, but I have seen older people and small children make the trek without trouble. Wear pants, bring bug spray, and keep an eye out for scorpions (we caught two in one night, after one stung my wife - they’re not deadly, but definitely not pleasant). I recommend making sure the tent isn’t left open, and you’ll be fine.

Before I forget to mention it, there is also an excellent swimming hole fed by one of the creeks. Be sure to ask the rangers about it!

Colorado Bend State Park is a wonderful place to explore, relax, and be amazed! We picked a spot to camp that was just far enough from the road that we felt like we had the whole park to ourselves. We hiked during the day along the many trails, theres a beautiful waterfall in one part of the park that you have to see. Would definitely stay again!

Sulphur Springs camp is a great get away place if you want to put all electronics away but don't have the willpower. There is no cell service or Internet/wifi! All cabins have your basics - beds/ stove/fridge/bathroom/kitchen. All linens and dishes/cookware/linens and bath towels are provided . You are near Barefoot Camp and Colorado Bend State Park so you have plenty of things to keep you busy if you are adventurous. The camp gets its name from the natural sulphur springs at one end of the camp.

I love getting out of Austin and coming to Colorado Bend. There are so many great hiking trails, caves to explore, rocks to skip and stars at which to gaze!

Highly recommend getting advance campsite reservations. The first time we drove out we assumed we could walk-up but they have a lot of Boy Scout groups throughout the fall and spring. So we had to go to a nearby private camp on the river. Second time we knew better.

I highly recommend hiking Gorman Falls and swimming in Spicewood Springs!

A very nice State Park to go to. Most of the drive-in sites have a shelter. The walk-in sites are a pretty short distance from the parking lot.

Water for the walk-in sites are on the top of the stairs, so be sure to have something to lug water down to your campsite. On the drive-in side, water is in a central location.

Gorman Falls are beautiful and worth the hike. There is also a car that is half burried on the bank of the river you can check out.

The Spicewood Springs trail is full of little waterfalls and clear water. Very lovely. Swimming in the spring is also great after a hike.

Ice and firewood are cash or cheque made out to the Friends of Colorado Bend and can only be bought when the camp office is open.

The best thing about this place is the swimming,. It's a great place to cool off during a hot Texas day, with some cool waterfalls to check out as well. I haven't explored them, but I have heard that the caves that are there are supposed to be a pretty sweet too.

This park is definitely a great primitive Park to go to. The only bathrooms here are out houses. be prepared because there's no service or Internet no water no hookups. Totally primitive. Lots of Wildlife and a great view of the sky. You are camping on top of a giant Mountain / Hill above the river Colorado River. Lots of challenging hiking here and there is also a hiking trail that goes to the Springs. Which is absolutely beautiful to watch the spring water falls over the hills and mountains. This is not a river you can swim in. But you can fish hear.

The area is pretty quiet and has a river to fish and kayak. Hiking trails lead to some really pretty water falls that not many people know exist. You will need to bring most supplies with you as options are limited at the park.

Between the swimming hole and Gorman Falls you have some great views and amazing hiking! Saw some deer and hogs while out hiking on this property. Armadillo are all over the place as well.. Do be aware the cell service is pretty much nonexistent down at the campsites. There was a general store that did canoe/kayak trips a while back but not 100% sure after the pandemic.

I came here on a recommendation based in two fellow campers I met from the Austin area while camping near Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Unfortunately, the day I arrived for my one night reservation it had rained all day and I arrived a little bit late. But I got my tent set up just in time and was hoping for the next day to be relatively rain free. Unfortunately, when I woke up the next morning I noted it was to rain in a few hours so I broke camp and unfortunately did not hike to the waterfall.

Now, for the review of the actual campsite...

I arrived after hours and was able to just drive in and go straight to my reserved site, #46. Somehow, I had managed to get the only site without a pavilion over the picnic table in the row of campsites, but that wasn't the end of the world. The sites are large enough and I was able to get set up and cooking shortly after arrival. The trash dumpster was right across from my site but far enough away that it didn't present any smell issues. The restrooms however were less than desirable; the men's was always locked which meant everyone was using the women's side and it looked like it was in sore need of being emptied out.

Cell service was non-existent for Verizon at the site, however the free state park wifi worked in my campsite likely from the nearby park headquarters. Wish I had more time to explore the park and the campsite, as I feel.my time was cut super short. Sometimes that's just how it goes though!

I came here for a day trip to hike to the Gorman Falls. What a site! The Colorado River was really full so no kayaking happened, but the river is great for kayaking and fishing. They also have cave tours. The park is an underdeveloped park so the camping is a little primitive. I definitely will be back to camp, explore, and kayak.

To be honest, I prefer to stay at Sulphur Springs camp down the road unless I'm staying at the group campsite here. The RV sites are a bit primitive. The hiking is extensive here. Definitely go down to Gorman Falls. Downriver from the falls is Gorman cave. You can do a guided tour or explore on your own with a flashlight. Do not disturb any bats. You can kayak up and down river if the water levels are right.