This might have been our favorite state park in the Hill Country of Texas, offering the perfect combination of good campsites, great hiking and biking trails, and opportunities to enjoy wildlife. It did not have good Verizon phone service, which is not necessarily a bad thing. 

The campground uses its space very efficiently while still giving each campsite some modicum of privacy. In addition, there were walk-in sites for more primitive seekers and a few backpacking sites off the trail system. The shelter over each picnic table is a nice touch, unexpected for a campground only costing $20/ night. The bathrooms were clean, and both the water pressure and temperature were excellent. The camp hosts do an excellent job keeping a very nice campground. The water and dump station are easily accessed on the way into or out of the campground.

Hiking opportunities begin right from the campground, and offer a wide range of effort and ability levels. Most of the trails are two-tracks so the uphill portions can be short and steep. The wildlife in this park range from wild turkeys to a host of seasonal migrant bird species. The park maintains several of the most luxurious bird blinds with stocked feeders so that you can enjoy many different species all in one place. We added a few new birds to our list. During the winter months, a large section of the park is closed after 3pm to accommodate the turkey roosting habits. We also saw dozens of feral pigs wandering the backcountry along with both Axis and White-Tail deer, and plenty of Armadillos. Fishing along the banks of the Llano River is also a popular activity, as is tubing during the warmer months.

The nearby town of Junction has a medium sized grocery store, lots of gas stations and a few restaurants, most of which are bundled by the interstate 10 exit. It’s a pretty part of the Texas Hill Country with a very laid-back vibe.