State Parks After Dark

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When the blazing heat of the summer drags you down, explore the cooler side of Texas State Parks – at night! Texas State Parks offers great stargazing opportunities far from the bright city lights. You can even take hikes and nature walks in the parks at night.

Austin Area

Pedernales Falls

Full Moon Hike at Enchanted Rock (Aug. 15) - Join us for a hike under the light of the full moon!

Night Hike at Lockhart (Aug. 17) - Explore the park after dark!

Stargazing 101 at Enchanted Rock (Aug. 30) - Join a park ranger as we learn to navigate our dark skies.

More Austin Area Events

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Fort Parker State Park Owl

Meteor Shower at Cooper Lake State Park (Aug. 13) - A shooting star? A soaring comet? Observe this beautiful display and learn why space rocks!

Snakes: Friend or Foe? at Lake Mineral Wells  (Aug. 24) - Snakes! Love them? Hate them? Come find out more about some of the snakes that call Texas home.

Night Hike with a Ranger at Ray Roberts Lake (Aug. 30) - Discover the dark side of Johnson Branch State Park!

More Dallas/ Fort Worth Area Events

East Texas

Tyler State Park critter

Stories in the Stars at Atlanta (Aug. 23) - Join us to listen to constellation stories and look through a telescope!

The Big Clock: Planets and Constellations at Tyler (Sept. 21) - Discover the Big Clock in the sky!

Nighttime Scavenger Hunt at Atlanta (Sept. 27) - An added twist to your average scavenger hunt! Join us in the dark while using your senses to find the items on our list.

More East Texas Area Events

Houston Area

Full Moon to Moon Snails at Sea Rim (Aug. 15) - Discover the mysteries of the full moon while exploring the nocturnal wildlife where the land meets the sea! 

New Moon Stargazing at Huntsville (Aug. 31) - Join us for a night of star talks!

More Houston Area Events

Panhandle

Copper Breaks

Creatures of the Night at Copper Breaks (Aug. 17) - Come out and join one of our park rangers for a night hike, to discover the nocturnal life.

Starwalk at Copper Breaks (Aug. 31) - Join us on a night of deep sky exploration of our solar system where we can see planets, constellations, nebulas and distant galaxies!

The Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyon (Aug. 31) - Join the Texas State Bison Herd, to discover the unique history and beginnings. Please bring flashlights as it will be dark after the program.

More Panhandle Area Events

San Antonio Area

Palmetto Stae Park

Full Moon Hike at Palmetto (Aug. 15) - Explore the Ottine swamp with a ranger under the light of the full moon.

Night Hike! at South Llano River (Aug. 16) - Come experience the park after dark!

Star Party with San Antonio Astronomical Association at Guadalupe River (Sept. 7) - Join us for stargazing!

More San Antonio Area Events

South Texas

Estero Llano Moth Light

Full Moon Party at Estero Llano Grande (Aug. 16) - Come join an especially kid-friendly ranger-led hike to explore creatures of the night!

Night Hike at Resaca de la Palma (Aug. 30) - Join a hike to show you the nocturnal side of the park! Reservations required.

More South Texas Area Events

West Texas

night hike at Big Bend Ranch State Park

Critters of the Night at Hueco Tanks (Aug. 29) - Bring the whole family and explore in the dark to learn about nocturnal critters!

Twilight Hike at Franklin Mountains (Aug. 16) - Join the Franklin Mountains Rangers for an evening hike to explore the night life!

More West Texas Area Events

park reservation system