Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Vanderpool, TX

The RV sites are spacious, and the grounds are spaced out nicely. The river access is nice. There are a few drawbacks. There's isn't a dog park for pets to safely let out energy without tons of wildlife poo (it was EVERYWHERE). Disposing of dog waste was a challenge. There are only two bins on the opposite side of the grounds from the RV sites. One by the playground and the other by the river, additionally were no guest accessible dumpsters, and they don't tell you to put your trash by the curb. To have pets, it is $2.50 for each pet per night. Also, a second vehicle parked at a lot is an additional $10 per night, and the credit card fee is ~$10. They will also charge $50 for violating the pet policy. The site price range has gone up from $45-$75 to $55-$91(and that's still off-season pricing). This place is very nice, but they aren't pet friendly, and the hidden fees are ridiculous.

We stayed one night, but we plan to come back and stay a week later this year.

Pros:

• Long pull through sites.
• They have several types of sites: back-in, pull through, head in.
• Two pools, one is adults only.
• Super large dog park, if you have dogs (we have a cat).

Cons:

• A little on the spendy side, but proximity to San Antonio and Fredericksburg, as well as amenities, are likely reasons.

• Wifi was spotty, but it is also not guaranteed. If Internet is important, bring a hotspot or use cel phone.

Not my first trip here. This park is handy if you want to walk to events, restaurants, bars, shopping on Main Street or to City Park. Friendly staff (and they're dog friendly too).

Type of Park: Private 

Check In: 1p Check Out: 12p 

Length of Stay: 3 Nights 

Regular cost per night $38, Discounts: Good Sam $11.40

My Total Cost 💲102.60

📋 Site#133 Notes:

Back In, lower level, site was very level side-to-side 

Site Pad: gravel

💧 Water- knee height, wrapped with insulation due to cold weather

⚡ Max amp: 30- all green lights

💩 Sewer- threads a little stripped out

📶 Wifi available, but I didn't use it 

Picnic Table: wooden 

Was a little farther from the highway than my last stay. A little quieter on this end.

👎🏻 Not available: 

Grill Fire 

Ring w/Grate

📺 Cable available on upper pull-thru spots only

📝 Park Notes:

🚻 Clean Restrooms

🚿 Showers

🧺 Laundry facility

🐕 Off-leash dog park

🛒 Store

🚶🏻‍♀️ Trails- walking trail along the river, wide enough for golf carts

🌊 The Medina River runs along the edge of the park, Walk under Hwy173 to access City Park. 

🤿 Pool

.🏚 Cabins

Boondocking area available

🥞 Good breakfast in the Recreation Center for just$6.50 on Saturdays when snowbirds are there. Pancakes, eggs, toast or roll, sausage patties, coffee, orange juice and all the condiments.(Should have done this on my last trip) 

Many of the snowbirds have flown out, but the park was still pretty full 

👍🏻 Walking distance to Main Street- bars, shops, food, entertainment, Visitor's center (Gunfights on Saturdays)

🦌 Wildlife: Several ducks, squirrels, signs of deer

We took our kids for a fun NYE trip in the camper and loved this campground. Staff super friendly and really spacious. If you have pets getting a back-in site may give you more room to let them move around if tethered to your camper during some outside time. There are goats and mini horses you can feed so our kids loved that. Fun playground for kids, too! We’ll definitely be going back.

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.

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 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.

It was a little confusing for me trying to figure out where the trails started since it was my first time there. I had gone to it yesterday with my two dogs and fiancé. We got to the visitor center to see the map of the trails offered (about 5-6 different ones) and we found that there were only 2 trails that were dog friendly. We didn’t realize there were two separate areas for the trails allowing and not allowing dogs. The signs they put out as you drive in tells you what area is what, but they don’t have signs showing which area to take your dogs to. We had managed to speak with someone who worked there and she was very helpful, but we were burning up trying to find where the trails initially started upon arriving. Lytle’s Loop and Savannah are the only two trails for dogs and they need to be on leash at all times. Overall, it was pleasant, not that busy for a Saturday and the trees help shade most of Lytle’s Loop. I would definitely go back now that I know where to go.

Super camping & 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.

My wife and I had never been camping together. Why not roll the dice and go on an adventure for our 5 year anniversary? We really wanted to be far from everything we knew, we wanted it to be beautiful, we wanted to get away from the city and close to the stars, we found “the camping spot”.

Ms. Donna is as honest and good hearted as they make here in Texas, she was super helpful from the start! We never had a problem! She has a truly unique piece of property for primitive camping chocked so full of wildlife we could hear the deer breathing next to our tent as the sun was coming up!

There are a couple short nature walks through her acreage that let you cut through the thicket. There is ample shade underneath some of the biggest oak trees in the area!

It’s a short distance to the Nueces River which will completely blow you away. I thought the Frio River had the bluest water and whitest limestone until Donna showed us the small private river access point where it’s deep enough to swim. Spring can’t get here fast enough.

I wouldn’t recommend driving a car out there, you’re going to need some clearance getting through rugged dirt roads, for the most part it’s very groomed.

We spent 4 days/4 nights there, if you can get there during the week, it’s as quiet and tranquil as you can dream up. Weekends naturally have a bit more “traffic” as it’s a semi popular area for the weekend warrior getting away with the family. Met the neighbors as our dogs roamed freely and stumbled upon their dogs, all were very friendly.

Not for the unprepared, town is not close!

I can’t recommend this place enough if you’re looking for that real private camping experience where it feels like you can see the far side of the moon at night. (Was awesome listening to the mountain lions screech and the coyotes howl)

This place has gone unnoticed for too long. It’s one of those places you’d like to be selfish with and keep quiet but more need to experience ALL this place has to offer!