Best Dispersed Camping near Spicewood, TX
Dispersed camping near Spicewood, Texas centers primarily around Lake Georgetown, where several primitive camping areas exist along the San Gabriel River Trail. This 26.2-mile trail circles the lake and provides access to free camping zones including Sawyer Park Primitive Campsites, Walnut Springs Primitive Campground, and sites along the San Gabriel River Trail itself. These areas require no reservations and follow true dispersed camping principles with minimal to no facilities. Camping is permitted in designated areas with tent pads or in zones where backpackers can set up wherever suitable space allows.
Access to these primitive sites requires either hiking or boating in, as no direct vehicle access exists at the campsites themselves. Sawyer Park is approximately 5 miles from both Tejas Campground and Cedar Breaks Campground access points, while Walnut Springs can be reached by hiking 2 miles from Russell Park or biking 4 miles from Camp Tejas. Campers must park at trailheads and pack all supplies in. These are truly primitive sites with no drinking water, no toilets (except for an old unused latrine at Sawyer Park), and no facilities of any kind. Visitors should be prepared to dig cat holes for waste and carry sufficient water or filter from the lake.
The dispersed camping experience around Lake Georgetown combines forest and grassland environments with varying levels of tree cover. Approximately 40% of the trail offers shade while 60% remains exposed, creating challenging conditions during summer months when temperatures can be extreme. Campers should prepare for potentially hot conditions with minimal shade at certain sites. The trail's popularity varies seasonally and by day of week. "The trail is getting more and more popular with backpackers, so it is likely that you may see others on the trail. On weekends you may encounter scout troops practicing backpacking. During the weekdays you may not see a single person," notes one regular visitor. Another camper observes that Walnut Springs "may result in there being more people at this site than others" as it's one of the most accessible primitive sites on the trail.
