Best Tent Camping near Willow City, TX

Park Review

I've visited Colorado Bend State Park a number times and it never disappoints. There are rivers, streams, water holes, trees, caves and plenty of hike and bike trails to explore. 

This park offers drive-up, walk-in, hike-in primitive and group campsites. This park is becoming more and more popular, so it is recommended to reserve a site at least 3-4 weeks in advance or 3 to 4 months in advance for the group sites.

The park is a short distance from the town of Lampasas in the Texas Hill Country. In fact, if you need any supplies you might want to pick them up at the HEB Grocery Store in Lampasas because there are not many easy options for purchasing supplies once you enter the park - it is a long drive out of the park to the nearest store.

The drive-up, walk-in and group sites have a picnic table, fire ring with grill, lantern post, water nearby and restrooms nearby. However, there are no RV hookups. 

The primitive hike-in sites offer a patch of cleared space - no water, no electricity and no restrooms. However, there is plenty of peace and quiet.

My group opted for a hike-in primitive site along the river. Previously, the park allowed campers in the primitive area to simply find a clear patch of space and camp. Recently they instituted a new reservation system which has 8 designated campsites that are reservable. We had campsite 6. I think campsite 7 or 8 would be the best. The hike to these primitive sites is a little under 1 mile, so be prepared to carry your gear. In this area of the park, the Colorado River is a short walk from each campsite; there were a variety of birds at play in the trees; and there were prints and other evidence of wildlife. 

Many people visit this park to boat or fish the Colorado River. A Texas fishing license is not required if you fish within the park boundaries. Check with the Park Ranger for which fish are biting.

Our group was visiting primarily to hike and explore some of the unique features of the park such as Gorman's Cave, Gorman's Falls and the Spicewood Springs trail and water holes.

Overall I believe that our group had a great time and I had the opportunity to explore and discover some new areas of the park.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I get products to test. For this trip I was testing the RovR RollR 60 cooler.

The RovR RollR 60 cooler is a rotomolded cooler with wheels, a pull handle and some cleaver attachments. The RollR 60 model holds 60 quarts of content. The company also sells 45 and 80 quart models. Like other rotomolded coolers the walls are thick, insulated and offer great cold storage capability. RovR says that their coolers can hold ice for up to 10 days. We were just camping for a couple of days and it certainly kept our items nice and cold. 

What really separates this cooler from other coolers are some of the unique features. First, the cooler has rugged wheels and a pull handle. For this trip I knew that we had to hike to our campsite for a little under a mile. Under no circumstances would I ever carry a cooler into a backcountry site. However, the RovR RollR worked out perfectly and we were able to haul the cooler with our food and drinks over some pretty rough terrain. The wheels were large enough to roll over rocks, roots and uneven surfaces. The pull handle extends to a convenient hight which allows a person to pull it comfortably without bending over. The pull handle also has grips on each side which allows one person to pull the cooler solo or two people to pull the cooler in tandem. This feature was key and we used two people to pull our cooler over some hills and through some muck. 

Inside the cooler there is a special bin that can hold items that may not need to be chilled like bread, towels or utensils. This feature is so important to keep items separate and dry when moisture develops or the ice starts to melt. The bin itself has an internal divider which further aids with organization. I put my spices and condiments on one side and cooking and cleaning utensils on the other side. I then place my bread on top. The bin is shaped perfectly to hold a full loaf of bread across the bin where it will not get squished. The floor of the cooler is gradually sloped so that when ice does start to melt the resulting water will easily run out of the drain hole. I was so impressed with the overall design of the cooler and the thought that must have gone into the design. I can tell that the designer was a user of coolers with all of the thoughtful touches.

On the outside of the cooler there are a few really unique design features. The cooler comes with a folding tote container which is attached to the top with velcro straps. When not in use the tote folds completely flat, lays on the top and can serve as a cushion for sitting. When needed, the tote can be unfolded and it becomes an additional container which can hold extra gear like a stove, pots and pans, camp chair or paper towels. Brilliant! In addition, the tote can be removed entirely from the top and placed to the side or moved to a picnic table. This is great feature - it is like having two carrying containers in one. There are additional fixtures on the cooler which are designed to attached auxiliary items like a cutting board or drink holders. There is even a fixture which allows one to attach an extension that can be attached to a bicycle. Thus, one can pull the cooler behind a bicycle like a trailer. Ingenious! 

I think that these are just some of the unique features and functions of the RovR RollR cooler. I’m sure that after additional use I will discover other cleaver features that the designers incorporated into this cooler.

I will say that I accidentally and unintentionally abused this cooler on this trip more than I anticipated. We pulled it over rough terrain, up a hill, through muddy water, and let it sit outside all day. After I got home I washed and cleaned it and to my amazement it did clean up easily. The only thing that I did notice was that the tote on top is a light colored silver. Since I dragged the cooler through the mud, some dirt stains showed up easily on the tote. I would probably recommend choosing one of the other tote designs with a darker color to avoid this issue. However, I use my coolers for their functionality and I’m not too concerned that it might look well used. I see myself getting many uses and many years out of this awesome little cooler. I'm thinking about buying the bicycle attachment arm to increase my options even more.

For more info you can visit the company website at: https://rovrproducts.com

Shaffer Bend Rec. Area has a beautiful setting in the Texas Hill Country right off of Lake Travis. At the gate entrance you have wonderful landscape views. All of the camp sites are situated next to or a short walk to the water.

The camps are clean. Most are equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. In the large camp area, some have BBQ pits with a couple big communal grill/smoker. The same area has a horse pen as well if you're an equestrian enthusiast on top of a camper. It is a primitive campground. The large camp area has a couple port-a-poties. At the gate entrance there are men's and women's rooms with running water. That's about 3 miles from the camp sites. So, be prepared to dig holes, bring your own portable toilets, or hold it.

Considering you're on the lake, the water access is surprisingly limited. There are a few areas along the water you can walk in, but there's not a dock or boat access. I recommend sandals or water shoes since there's a fair amount of plant life along the shore. The same areas you can walk in would be good for kayaks though. The camp sites are situated along a narrow section of the lake. So, there would be plenty to explore.

Pace Bend Park is conveniently located a short distance from the city of Austin and on the shores of Lake Travis. The park is managed by the Travis County Parks Department. The entrance fee is $10 per car and the campsites are all first come first served. There are almost always campsites available, but the best campsites do get taken early. On the east side of the park there is easy beach access to the lakeshore and water. On the west side of the park there are a number of coves. Access to the water is possible by scrambling over and down rocks to the waters edge. Many people cliff jump off the cove cliffs, but be sure to test the depth of the water before jumping. Many people get injured every year jumping off the cliffs. Some of the campsites have developed pads to set up your tent. Other campsites just have clearing to set up your tent. There are ample trees available for hammock hanging. Because the park is located so close to the city many people visit the park for day use. The day time crowd can be a bit overwhelming and loud at times. At night the atmosphere generally calms down a bit. Many of the campsites have picnic tables and some have grills. A few have fire rings for campfires, but the park is removing many of the rings. Depending on the time of the year and the dryness, there is often a county fire banned in the area and park. My favorite campsites are along the west side of the park and the coves (N. Gracey Cove).

We really enjoyed this park and lovely old Live Oaks. It was close to Anhalt Halle. 

Type of Park: Private-owned 

Check In: 11a Check Out: 11a 

Cost per night$44 

Discounts: Good Sam$4/night 

Site#10- Pull-Thru 

Water 20/30/50 amp Sewer Picnic Table Site Pad: Asphalt

👍🏻 Pros: Shade from Live Oaks Close to showers, restrooms, laundry There’s a little room in the same building with coffee, table, books(Botanical Room)

👎🏻 Cons: The front area is a little close to Hwy 281 so there’s a little road noise but not bad No fire ring No grill at the sites

📝 Park Notes: Lot of people live here full time Good Live Oak shade trees, but watch them above and on the side of your rig 

Wifi

Propane sold onsite

Laundry facilities

Club house for larger gatherings- built of native stone

Dog Park

Basketball court

Chapel, church services on Sunday

Nature Trail

Headquarters has limited supply of RV parts(or there's a Walmart and Tractor Supply nearby)\

Billiards, Ping Pong, Horseshoes, Shuffleboard

RV Storage area

Mini storage buildings

Rental Guest Suites available

Frog/Koi pond/fountain

Quiet hours 9pm to 7 am

🐦 Wildlife: Birds: Lots of happy singing ones, hummingbirds Squirrels

More info at https://www.denisevajdak.com/2021/04/anhalt-western-roundup.html

Note: This is NOT the Guadalupe STATE Park!

Check In: 1p Check Out: 12p

⛺ Site#34- Back-In| Pull-Thru

💲45 per night (Pull-thru sites not along the river are $5 cheaper)

• Water
• 20/30/50 amp- 2 poles, one on each side of site
• Sewer
• Fire Ring
• Picnic Table
• Site Pad: Asphalt/gravel

👍🏻 Pros:

• Next to the restrooms/showers
• Discount for going to Anhalt Hall events

👎🏻 Cons:

• NOT very level. Slopes a lot front to back. Could be a pull-thru
• Lots of carpet burrs. Don't go barefoot and watch fur babies

📝 Park Notes: 

• Dump Station
• Select items for sale in the office
• Restrooms/ Bath House (looks better from the inside)
• Tent sites are available along the river
• Good place for tubing, Rvers have a parking lot down by the river
• Laundry
• Cabins
• Propane
• Winery across the street
• Bring tubes or kayaks
• There are some RVs and equipment parked near the office so it's not the best looking campground
• Some long-time residents. RVs need to be cleaned.
• There is a cave on site, but it was closed for some construction at the time we were there

❗ Lots of deer on the roads and in the park this time of year- drive with caution after dark

🐦 Wildlife:

• Birds: ducks, hawks
• Deer

More info on my website at https://denisevajdak.com

Spent 3 nights at Inks Lake from 8/3-8/6. Got there right before dark on the first night and found the late check in process a bit confusing. Right now, Texas state parks don't assign or let you choose spots when you reserve so it's first come....When I got to Inks at about 730 pm, there was a sign in the lobby of the park headquarters that listed all the sites and said to pick any site that wasn't crossed off. Problem was, the sign was on the other side of the glass so folks couldn't cross off the site they chose. Wild goose chase led me to two sites that were already chosen. I finally picked an open site that I came upon and settled in. All the lake view spots were, of course, taken, so this shady spot was just fine. Site 72. Nice and level. Water and 20/30/50 amp power. The water didn't work. The faucet was broken and spewed everywhere. I turned it way down, filled my fresh water tank, and turned it off.

Each site has an asphalt pad, water, electric. A picnic table, a lantern/garbage hook, and a grill/fire pit combo. The park has a general store where you can rent kayaks and paddle boats as well as borrow (for free) fishing gear. There is a very nice fishing pier and a cleaning house for those that wish to clean their catch. There is a boat launch by the store also. There's plenty of room for everyone in the lake to do whatever you like. There's even a swimming area called "Devils Watering Hole" where you can jump from the cliff into the lake. The park also has tent sites, adorable cabins and lots of day use space. Playgrounds keep the kids from causing misery back at the camp sites.

The patrons of the park were pleasant and well behaved. No rowdies after quiet hour. Friendly and helpful folks. The park staff was also peasNt and helpful. When I went up in the morning to do my check in (you go before 9am id[f you did a late check in), I told them about the faucet. By the time I got back to my site, the maintenance guys were there to fix it.

There is plenty of wild life to enjoy. Several trails to keep you occupied when you are tired of the water. Right down the road is Longhorn Caverns state park. Their general tour is 90 minutes of blissfully cool and very interesting cave tour. They also have an extreme tour that requires helmets and knee pads (they provide).

There are two wineries nearby for liesurely wine tastings. I enjoyed an excursion from Inks Lake to Longhorn Caverns and then stopped at one of the wineries on the way back.

The park, in general, was very clean and well maintained. Plenty of dumpsters and recycling bins for cans. My reason for subtracting a star is the state of the restroom/shower facilities. Ewwwwww! Now I know this park has heavy use. But with heavy use comes more money to spend on help. Clean those bathrooms, Texas! And while you are at it, toilet paper would be a nice touch. The showers were all out NASTY! Do not forget your shower flip flops, people. And do not drop anything on the floor while you are showering....gonna need a flame thrower to sterilize that nastiness!

in general, a fabulous long weekend and I will definitely go again. Can't wait for Texas to allow site specific booking starting in October of this year. Hint: #48.

oh. Wait. I forgot to mention....ants. Be prepared. They have the nasty varieties that show up suddenly, out of nowhere, and devour your dogs dinner before Fido can even whiff it with that finely tuned nose. And the fire ants at Inks are stealth. That's right. Stealth fire ants. No tell-tale mounds for these little bastards. No. You can't even find one if you looked all day. But suddenly, you are standing there and, POOF!, you are the next victim. I always say..."Texas will kill you" (but it's worth it). Btw, no snakes appeared during my stay.

There is no better late spring to early summer activity than getting good float down one of the rivers of Texas.  While there are plenty of put in spots, many do not have access to a campground which offers as many options as the Guadalupe River State Park.  

Under the supervision of the Texas State Park system the facilities for both day use and overnight stay are well maintained. Currently undergoing an overhaul which will offer new restrooms in one of the camping loops, they are constantly striving to better accommodate guests and provide a fun and relaxed get away for a day, week or weekend.  

Taking a trip through the camping loops I noticed each were well shaded and positioned in a way that the sun could trickle through the leaves to provide warmth on a cool morning but not so much that it would make the sweltering summer days more intense.  Large parking spaces could easily accommodate two vehicles at each camp and amenities ranged depending on the location of the site you choose.  

In the improved camping loops, sites came standard with electricity and water connections, with posts being positioned at the front of the site.  You would need to provide your own hose or cord to source this toward the rear of the site if desired. Camping sites each provide a large picnic table and lantern hook in addition to a tent pad which is constructed and elevated slighting from the ground around.

In addition, to the loop camp sites, there is another section designed for tent campers wanting to walk in.  While this area is well maintained, it is subject to closures with rains unlike the other areas.  When I visited, the recent downpour had forced closure of all trails and also this campsite as a part of the conservation effort for keeping the natural lands.  While I do appreciate this as a person who wants to protect our spaces so we can continue to enjoy them for years to come, I could easily see how it could also disappoint a camper who is having change their location to an improved site.

Throughout the park there are a series of trails for hiking, biking and even horseback riding.  A full map is provided at the front gate and can come in handy if you are wanting to find more than just the river trail while at camp.  But something also to consider when looking at this map is the trail system located across the road from what most consider to be the park.  This section is less populated with hikers and provides some of the most interesting hiking you will find at Guadalupe River State Park.

But let’s get down to what everyone really wants to hear about … THE RIVER!  

The river can be a source of a lot of fun and also traffic.  Being open for day use as well as for those staying at the park, the area provides a cool retreat to dive into the cool waters of the Guadalupe River. There are picnic tables lining the shoreline, some off the river and in shaded areas while others are in full sun.  There is a no alcohol policy which is enforced on busy days, so warning if you are a person looking to float and drink, this might not be the right place to put in.

A trail runs alongside the riverfront providing great views of the river’s path.  A nature center and amphitheater are located across the parking lot from the river highlighting educational materials for the entire family but with exhibits geared toward the kiddos. In this area currently there are only port a potty restrooms.

Tips:

• If you are planning on floating, make sure to read the guidelines by the parking lot.  Remember the river is not a loop so where you put in is not where you will end up.
• Book In Advance!  This park is very popular and quickly fills up on weekend, if you are planning a trip make sure you book well in advance to ensure you will have a site.
• Check the Weather!  The river’s flow is directly effected by the amount of rainfall. If you are planning a trip pull up the weather to make sure it will not make for unsafe conditions.

Natural springs w/tent & RV camping (NO PETS), fishing, kayaking, lake access, hammock areas and day use picnic w/grills. CASH ONLY FACILITIES!! Family owned. Beautiful Butterfly garden great for yoga, reading or enjoying the mind of a gardener. Several RV w/H20 & electric hookups (reservations required). Tent sites are not #, random locations (30 acres), plentiful and 1st come 1st serve. Toilets/showers near RV sites, portable toilets farther out. Pack it in/out, dumpster at office area. Love this place and grateful the owners share their haven with the public!

Catching up on my reviews…Inks Lake SP is a superb park about 40 minutes from Austin in the Texas Hill Country.  Great lake with a large no wake zone in one area that makes it very family friendly and paddler friendly.  There are sites away from the NWZ that allow you to ski/tube right from your campsite.  Great choice of flat, easy access spots.  Tent-only spots with only water are available as-well.   Decent hiking and easy biking around the park is available.  The area around Devil's Hole is great for floating about and jumping from the rocks.  Just wish that folks would clean up after themselves better.  Great camp store with lots of products.  Lake was lowered in 2019 to update the docks and boat ramps (very nice now), lake is back to normal seasonal levels.  ILSP is close to Austin, so it stays busy during the season, so reserve well ahead of time.  No Wifi at the campsites, but decent mobile reception (ATT).  30/50 amp and water at most sites.  Fire ring and table on concrete pads at all sites.  Tables are not covered, however.  I've been told that there is Wifi available at the camp store, but I cannot personally verify that.