Best Tent Camping near Uvalde, TX

Lost Maples State Natural Area has some beautiful hiking trails and backpacking areas.

There are basically two loops - an East Trail and a West Trail and each covers about 4-5 miles. It is completely possible to hike all the trails (about 12 miles) in a single day, but I prefer to hike and appreciate the natural features that can be found throughout the park. 

This review is for the Primitive Area E on the West Trail. The campsite is a primitive or dispersed site so there are no amenities. There is no water, no electricity, no restrooms, just natural space. Leave No Trace and Pack In Pack Out principles should be practiced. The camping area is adjacent to the East Trail. There is a open field in one area and a tree covered space in another area. So there are options for both tent and hammock backpackers. 

I'd say that the hike to the campsite and away from the campsite is more scenic than the actual campsite. Perhaps the best time of the year to visit is in November when the weather is cool and the fall foliage take place. The park is very busy in November, so make a reservation very early or go when the weather is extremely cold and no one else wants to be outdoors.

If you need supplies you may find some basics at the general store in the small town nearby the park named Vanderpool.

Lost Maples State Natural Area has some beautiful hiking trails and backpacking areas. If you need basic supplies you may find some at the general store in the small town nearby the park named Vanderpool. 

Perhaps the best time of the year to visit is in November when the weather is cool and the fall foliage take place. However, the park is very busy in November, so make a reservation six months in advance. If no campsites are available you may visit for the day and find a private campground nearby to camp.

There are basically two loops- an East Trail and a West Trail and each covers about 4-5 miles. It is completely possible to hike all the trails(about 12 miles) in a single day, but I prefer to hike and appreciate the natural features that can be found throughout the park.

This review is for the Primitive Area H on the West Trail.  The campsite is a primitive or dispersed site so there are no amenities. There is no water, no electricity, no restrooms, just natural space. Leave No Trace and Pack In Pack Out principles should be practiced. The camping area is adjacent to the West Trail and close to the West Loop Trail. There is a open field in one area and a tree covered space in another area. So there are options for both tent and hammock backpackers. 

This park has a number of peaks, creeks and ponds to view. In Texas State Parks fishing is allowed and no fishing license is required. Whether you're visiting to relax, fish or hike this park is enjoyable for all ages.

Lost Maples State Natural Area has some beautiful hiking trails and backpacking areas. If you need supplies you may find some basics at the general store in the small town nearby the park named Vanderpool. 

There are basically two loops- an East Trail and a West Trail and each covers about 4-5 miles. It is completely possible to hike all the trails(about 12 miles) in a single day, but I prefer to hike and appreciate the natural features that can be found throughout the park. 

This review is for the Primitive Area A on the West Trail. I'd say that the hike to the campsite and away from the campsite is more scenic than the actual campsite. The campsite is a primitive or dispersed site so there are no amenities. There is no water, no electricity, no restrooms, just natural space. There is a latrine near the campsite. Leave No Trace and Pack In Pack Out principles should be practiced. There are openings amongst the brush for tents or a number of closely spaced trees for hammock backpackers. 

Perhaps the best time of the year to visit is in November when the weather is cool and the fall foliage take place. However, the park is very busy in November, so make a reservation at least six months in advance. It is possible to just visit the park to day hike the trails as well, but even then a reservation is advisable.

If no campsites are available you may camp at a nearby private campground and visit for the day.

Everyone loves Lost Maples State Natural Area, whether you are a RV camper, car camper, backcountry camper or just visiting for the day and day hiking. There's a little something for everyone. 

Perhaps the best time of the year to visit Lost Maples is in the Autumn when the fall foliage is occurring - it is often during the first three weeks of November. However, during fall foliage it can be very difficult to reserve a campsite, so I recommend booking a campsite 6 months in advance. Or do what I did and show up on a really cold weekday when no one else is interested in being outside in 25 degree weather and there will be plenty of space to car camp or backcountry camp.

If you camp at the established drive-up campground there are assigned campsites with space for cars, vans and RVs. At each campsite there is a sunshade shelter, picnic table, lantern pole, water, electricity and campfire pit with a grill. There is also a restroom nearby with sinks, toilets, showers and a water fountain. There is even a little free library where you can take a book to read or leave a book to share. 

If you camp in the backcountry there are designated and marked zones where you just set up your tent. There are no facilities in the backcountry campsites so leave no trace practices should be applied. Near some of the backcountry campsites there are latrines.

The park has well maintained hiking trails that will lead you by pastures, through forest, alongside creeks and up some hills. It is possible to hike the 8 to 10 miles of trails in one day, but it is more fun to go slow and enjoy the sights. There is an East Trail Loop and a West Trail Loop and some spur trails. Pick up a map at the Ranger Station and enjoy the trails. Some of the trails have steep rock ascents which are indicated on the park map.

If you need supplies there is a small store with basics in the nearby town of Vanderpool.

While you are in the area, you may as well stop by Bandera, Texas known as the cowboy capital of the world. It is a small Texas town and every weekend they celebrate cowboy culture with some performances and events.

This site was 2 sites away from a wide road to the river. We took our kayak down this path on wheels (would’ve been a hassle without the kayak carrier). The site also has a narrow game trail to the water. The bathroom is a short hike away through the shortcut up the nearby hill. Slept with our rain fly off and saw beautiful stars. Truly wonderful. Would come back here if it wasn’t for the river being too low to really kayak in (at least for our 2-person kayak). Campsite has a picnic table, lantern pole, one tree that provided a bit of shade, and water on the other side of the driveway. Would highly recommend hiking crystal cave at the park!

This site was located 2 sites away from a wide road to the river. We took our kayak down this path on wheels (would’ve been a hassle without the kayak carrier). The site also has a narrow game trail to the water. The bathroom is a short hike away through the shortcut up the nearby hill. Slept with our rain fly off and saw beautiful stars. Truly wonderful. Would come back here if it wasn’t for the river being too low to really kayak in (at least for our 2-person kayak). Campsite has a picnic table, lantern pile, one tree that provided a bit of shade, and water on the other side of the driveway.

This park is a great escape to disconnect, view the DARK SKY and witness Mexican free-tailed bat emergence! Park campground is 25 miles after the turn off of US90. We stayed Friday and Saturday nights in mid-March. Few bats emerged during our stay; much better emergence in April as experienced in previous visits to Stuart Cave. 

Pros:

• Excellent DARK SKY campground

• Stuart Cave bat emergence nightly from a very nice viewing deck

• Small park

• Extremely quiet park during March Spring Break

• Good campsite privacy due to good brush coverage

• Most sites had a nice distance from neighbor sites

• Clean campsite

• Picnic table in good condition, especially eating surface

• Our site had aluminum picnic table on a concrete slab under a metal shelter; not all sites had metal shelter

• Clean restroom/shower facility

•  Campsite hook-ups in good condition.

• Level gravel campsite.  

• Pedestal BBQ grill, fire pit with grilling grate, double hook lantern pole and aluminum picnic table at each site.   

• Park roadways in good condition. 

• Park Ranger patrolled campground numerous times throughout day/evening 

Cons:

• No AT&T signal; no park WIFI, so completely without phone service and no public phone available for emergerncies. Had to drive outside of Park about 3 miles for AT&T signal.

• County burn ban prohibited wood campfires and ban posted on Park’s website. Park Ranger stopped by our campsite to tell us to put out our campfire, but we showed him it was a propane firebowl.

• Limited shade in campsites

• Must pack out all personally generated trash. Absolutely NO dumpsters; no garbage cans in park

• No campground host

•.  No entrance gate locked at night

• One and only restroom used by entire Park, so campers and day users. Women’s restroom had 2 toilets, 2 sinks and one shower stall

• Women’s restroom lacked consistent supply of TP and wall dispenser soap• Wildlife sightings limited to squirrels and armadillos

• No park store, so come prepared with all necessary supplies as Brackettville is closest small town which is 25 miles away with only a grocery store and couple fuel stations. Ulvade and Del Rio have the typical box stores.

Type of Park: Private- book with them through Campspot. 

Check In: 2 pm for RV sites, 4 pm for cabins Check Out: 12 pm

• 🚻 Restrooms
• 🚿 Showers
• 📶 Wifi(did not use)
• 🧺 Laundry facility
• 🐕 Off-leash dog park
• 🛒 Store has RV supplies, necessities, few groceries, souvenirs, ice
• 🚶🏻‍♀️ Trails
• 🌊 Water access- Frio was very low but still had some water from the springs
• 🏚 Cabins
• 🦌 Wildlife: Scarlet Tanager, bats, woodpeckers
• 📆 Nightly activities- mostly geared towards kids Volleyball, tetherball, gaga ball, horseshoes, playground
• 📡 AT&T had good signal. Verizon was non-existent
• 👩🏻‍💼 Staff was friendly and helpful 
• Can bring golf carts or rent them here 
• Recycling bins for cans
• ❗ Note: CP 3 is directly across from the dumpsters, but has a good shade tree

📋 Site#CP 06, Central Park 

Premium site, Central Park sites have a patio area looking toward the river with pergola top

• 🔙 Back In
• 🅿 Site Pad: Raised in the back to be level(watch small children), river rock base, level, long enough for camper and truck when unhitched, wide enough for another vehicle
• 💧 Water- low to the ground so hose and filter come off to the side along the ground
• ⚡ Electric max 50 amp
• 💩 Sewer connection in good condition
• 🔥 Fire Ring- but in a burn ban 
• Picnic Table: wooden with metal legs 
• Close to restrooms/showers 
• Shade in the afternoon 
• Full sun in the mornings 
• A little green space between the next campsite and lower campsites 
• Next to a road that leads to lower level and river- so a little extra traffic(but no campers on the front side of camper)

In the Area:

🛒 Several small stores, tube/kayak rentals

🍽🍺 Bar& grills on the way to and in Leakey(15 minutes) 

Garner State Park is very close- a Texas Parks Pass is very handy