Park Ranger Picks for Family-Friendly Hiking

This month take your family and friends hiking! You can try a full-moon, owl or night hike; a nature, butterfly or guided-bird hike; an easy hike along a tree-shaded river; or a hike back in time in a Jurassic-era setting—and that’s just a taste of what you’ll find in Texas State Parks. 

To find January hikes with park rangers or volunteers, check out the Hiking & Walking calendar. Or, visit the Hiking and Walking activities page for a full list of special-interest hikes.

Park Ranger Trail Recommendations:

We asked our Park Rangers to share their favorite parks (and trails) near 4 metro areas — Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston and San Antonio — and here’s what they came up with:

Austin-Area Park Ranger Picks 

• Pedernales Falls State Park- a favorite for family hikes (and only 45 minutes west of Austin), with a duck pond, a quarter-mile nature trail to a scenic overlook of Twin Falls and a wheelchair-friendly wildlife-viewing station. 
• Colorado Bend State Park - 30 miles of multi-use trails will take you through spring-fed creeks and swimming holes, limestone bluffs, canyons and to a breathtaking 65-foot waterfall, Gorman Falls. Guided hikes to the falls are available on Saturdays. The park is less than a 2-hour drive from Austin.
• View 16 other Austin-area state parks and natural areas.

DFW-Area Park Ranger Picks 

• Cleburne State Park- Hiking trails zigzag through limestone hills, canyons and beautiful wooded terrain.  Wildlife abounds at this park so keep your eyes open, especially on the Fossil Ridge Trail. Cleburne is just southwest of the Ft. Worth area. 
• Bonham State Park - Only 1 hour northwest of Dallas, this small park boasts a 65-acre lake with 11 miles of surrounding hiking trails. Enjoy the Lake Loop Trail with its gently rolling terrace and tall, mature trees that cover the area. Watch for squirrels, rabbits, raccoon and numerous songbirds in this quiet park.
• Purtis Creek State Park - You’ll enjoy heavily-wooded, well-shaded trails on this 1,582-acre park just 1 hour east of Dallas.  Take the 1 ¼ mile Prairie Life Nature Trail and bring along this downloadable natural trail guide to learn about the park’s wildlife and foliage.  
• View 18 other DFW area state parks and natural areas

Houston-Area Park Ranger Picks 

• Brazos Bend State Park - Only 15 miles from Houston, this park offers thirty-five miles of multi-use trails. Take an easy walk on Creekfield Nature Trail into the marshes, and see alligators, white-tailed deer and over 300 species of birds. 
• Sheldon Lake State Park - Explore the ½ mile self-guided nature trail that passes 28 naturalized ponds and contains alligators and other wildlife. Occasionally bald eagles and osprey are present, mainly during winter months. (Binoculars are recommended for best viewing). Located 20 minutes east of downtown.
• View 7 other Houston-area state parks and natural areas. 

San Antonio-Area Park Ranger Picks 

• Palmetto State Park- Kids will think they’ve entered the Jurassic-era when walking on the new Ottine Swamp Trail. This 1-mile hike is complete with hanging vines, dwarf palmettos, green ponds, over 200 bird species and convenient boardwalks over swampy areas.  Located 1 hour, 15 minutes from San Antonio.
• Government Canyon State Park - You’ll find it all on the 40 miles of trails — scenic valleys, woods, canyons, meadows, dry creek beds and a lot of Edwards Plateau limestone. This park is within San Antonio city limits!
• View 21 other San Antonio-area state parks and natural areas.        

Texas State Park hiking trails offer you, your family and friends natural beauty, tranquility, wildlife watching and plenty of room for healthy, outdoor fun.  

Watch a “Leave No Trace” video before you go, to enhance your hiking experience.