Tejas Park

My 5 year old wanted to go camping for the first time. This location is close enough to be near civilization, but feels remote to get the primitive camping experience. The sites have a pad to set up your tent, along with fire rings and plenty of shade. There is plenty of trail to hike as it's connected with the good water loop it's also close enough to the water that you can take a dip should the water levels be high enough. Great family spot. There is personnel on site in an RV but they do not come out to greet you nor check you in. You kind of just show up and go to your assigned spot and set up, I give it five stars and sodas, my son, a new lover of camping.

My 5 year old wanted to go camping for the first time. This location is close enough to be near civilization, but feels remote to get the primitive camping experience. The sites have a pad to set up your tent, along with fire rings and plenty of shade. There is plenty of trail to hike as it’s connected with the good water loop it’s also close enough to the water that you can take a dip should the water levels be high enough. Great family spot. There is personnel on site in an RV but they do not come out to greet you nor check you in. You kind of just show up and go to your assigned spot and set up, I give it five stars and sodas, my son, a new lover of camping. 

Arrived a little late but got set up in time to mingle with one of the homeless gentlemen who’s a frequent camper there. We drove up, parked, and got set up. No one ever greeted us nor checked us in. Also there’s no posted or briefed quiet hours so people were up and loud all night and we’ll into the morning.

well enough to kayak. The views were awesome and the trail was nice enough for bikes. The only downfall was the campsites were a little too close together. But they had a lot of shade and a fire ring. And a nice pad to set everything up. Good beginner campsite.

It was my first time camping in maybe 15 years. I wanted to pick a campsite that was affordable, not too far of a drive, and seemed primitive enough to feel like camping, while still having amenities like a bathroom and water, if need be.

This had it all. It’s at the head of a trail, just near the river. If you want, you can easily walk down to the river and hike along it. The campsites are spacious, easily allowing our 2 tent set up, but if set up well, they could potentially house 3-4 2-person tents.

The scenery was beautiful. It was Texas, in December, so things were dry and brown and yellow. But there was a serenity to it. At night, the stars were out. The light from nearby Georgetown and Austin didn’t allow for us to see them all, but they were there. The coyotes come out at night, but never got close to camp.

A camp guide caught up to us at about 5pm, and warned us of the coyotes and told us about the water spigot at the front. The walk to our campsite wasn’t far from parking, maybe about 150 feet, maybe a bit more.

There were fire rings at each campsite, and a post that had the number and a hanger for a lantern.

All in all, we had a great time. It made me love camping again. I will certainly be back soon.

Tejas Park is perfect for those in the area looking for tent camping without wanting to be surrounded by RV’s.

Tejas is right on the river, ample opportunities to wet a line if you like. The Goodwater Loop runs right by the campground. The Goodwater Loop is a 26 mile trail that will take you completely around the lake.

The spots are spaced out and each has a large tent pad capable of firing multiple tents. Each spot has a table and fire pit. There is a Vault toilet as well as a water spigot.

The campground is sparsely populated during the week and cans be found completely empty regularly. Expect the campground to be filled up during the weekends though.

We use this spot to start our runs on the good water loop (traverses Lake Georgetown). From Tejas Park, this is the best section of trail on the loop.

During periods of high water, water crossing may be flooded.

Great place to set up a tent, hammock or have a picnic! Easy to get to during the week and escape the noise.

Park Review

Tejas Park sits on the south side of Georgetown Lake in the Hill Country of Texas. The park offers good opportunities for hiking, camping and backpacking, fishing, wading or floating and features plenty of large, grassy open areas for enjoying the scenic countryside. 

There is a basic restroom with toilets. There is a water faucet near the Park Host's trailer. There are fire rings at the campsites and it is possible to collect fallen wood for a fire if there is not a fire ban in effect. There is a large parking lot, a large open field with campsites and my favorite is the group campsite at the end of the large open field. These sites can be reserved on recreation.gov

The Goodwater Trail is a trail that circles Lake Georgetown and runs about 28 miles. When backpacking the Goodwater Loop people typically start/park at either Tejas Park Trailhead, Jim Hogg Trailhead or Cedar Breaks Trailhead. If you are backpacking the loop parking and hiking are free. If you are using the park facilities just for the day, there is a day use fee.

The Hosts at this campground are typically very friendly. If you camp during the winter look up in the trees and you might just see some mistletoe.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I get products to test. For this trip I was provided one package of Mountain House Beef Stew. The challenge was to create a dish using the beef stew as an ingredient. I decided to use Bread, Idahoan Mashed Potatoes and Mountain House Beef Stew to create a dish I called Brotato Stew. Unfortunately I was only provide one package of beef stew so we divided up the meal amongst six people and ate the meal as an appetizer.

Here are the instructions:

Boil 4 cups of water in a pot.

Pour 2 cups of boiled water into the Mountain House Beef Stew package and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Mix 2 cups of boiled water with the Idahoan Mashed Potatoes in a bowl or cup and mix thoroughly.

Using Onion rolls or Ciabata bread, cut the top of the bread and form a little bowl.

Spread the prepared Idahoan Mashed Potato into the bread bowl.

Spread the prepared Mountain House Beef Stew on top of the Mashed Potatoes.

Enjoy!

For more info about Mountain House visit their website at https://www.mountainhouse.com

I've camped at this campground a number of times while hiking around The Goodwater Trail.

There is a basic restroom with toilets. There is a water faucet near the Park Host's trailer. There is plenty of parking, a field with pad sites, a large open field and my favorite is the group campsite at the end of the large open field. The group campsite has a pad, but it also has plenty of trees and space to hang hammocks. It is also the more secluded of the campsites. There are fire rings at the campsites and it is possible to collect fallen wood for a fire if there is not a fire ban in effect.

Near the group campsite and through the tree line there is a small creek. Depending on the amount of recent rain or degree of draught the creek is deep enough to go for a wade or a swim. It is also fun to just explore the area around the creek.

The Goodwater trail is a loop trail that circles Lake Georgetown and runs about 28 miles. When backpacking the Goodwater Loop people typically start/park at either Tejas Park Trailhead, Jim Hogg Trailhead or Cedar Breaks Trailhead. If you are backpacking the loop parking and hiking are free. If you are using the park facilities just for the day, there is a day use fee.

Spent the weekend with my three pups in our pop-up tent. Around a dozen tent pads with fire rings. Depending on the rain will determine if there will be any water in that part of the creek. Plenty of trails both improved and not. Overall a great weekend!