Hill Country State Natural Area
State natural area in Bandera County, in the Hill Country region. Established 1984. 5,370 acres.
Hill Country State Natural Area is a former ranch of more than 5,000 acres, 52 miles northwest of San Antonio near Bandera. It was donated on the condition that it be kept untouched by modern civilization, so camping is primitive and the multiuse trails are shared by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. It's one of the best state parks for riding: bring your own horse and current Coggins papers.
Things to do
Ride horses
Terrain runs from flat prairie to steep, rocky canyons. The day-use equestrian area next to headquarters has a water trough, hitching posts and a flush toilet. There are no horse-washing stations.
Hike West Peak Overlook
A staff favorite: a steep climb to wide views of the western Hill Country. The easy Heritage Loop passes remnants of the old ranch.
Camping
All campsites are primitive walk-in or hike-in, with vault toilets nearby but no showers. Riders can book equestrian sites or the group camp with a barn. The lodge sleeps nine and has a kitchen and bathroom.
| Site type | Sites | Sleeps | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primitive Campsites (Walk-in | West Verde Creek)Primitive | 3 | 8 | $12 |
| Primitive Campsites (Walk-in | Comanche Bluff)Primitive | 3 | 8 | $12 |
| Primitive Campsites (Walk-in | Chaquita Falls)Primitive | 4 | 8 | $12 |
| Primitive Campsites (Hike-in | Butterfly Springs)Primitive | 2 | 4 | $10 |
| Primitive Campsites (Hike-in | Hermit's Shack)Primitive | 3 | 4 | $10 |
| Primitive Campsites (Hike-in | Wilderness)Primitive | 5 | 4 | $10 |
| Group LodgeGroup | $300 | ||
| Primitive Campsites (Equestrian | Trailhead)Equestrian | 6 | 6 | $17 |
| Group Camp (Equestrian)Group | 40 | $150 |
Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.
Visiting with dogs
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.
Pets must be on leashes no longer than 6 feet.
Swimming
TPWD doesn't list swimming for this park.
Best time to go
- Busy season
- Spring and fall
- Rain per year
- 35 in.
- Night sky
- Bortle 4
TPWD lists spring and fall as the busy season and says the park often reaches capacity. Trails and backcountry campsites can close when wet.
Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).
Getting there
Bandera, TX 78003
(830) 796-4413
Open in OpenStreetMap (29.6280, -99.1811)
| From | Approx. drive | Straight line |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 1 hr 18 min | 41 mi |
| Austin | 2 hr 40 min | 97 mi |
| Corpus Christi | 4 hr 23 min | 178 mi |
| Waco | 4 hr 26 min | 178 mi |
| Houston | 4 hr 47 min | 228 mi |
| The Woodlands | 5 hr 6 min | 223 mi |
Nearby parks
- Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area
- Government Canyon State Natural Area
- Lost Maples State Natural Area
- Bear Creek State Park
- Garner State Park
Straight-line distance. See every park in the Hill Country.
Questions people ask
Can you ride horses at Hill Country State Natural Area?
Yes. Bring your own horse and proof of current Coggins. There are equestrian campsites and a day-use equestrian area.
Are there showers at Hill Country State Natural Area?
No. Campsites have vault toilets nearby but no showers. The lodge has a bathroom.
Photo credits
- Hill Country State Natural Area.jpg by lamoix, CC BY 2.0.
- Headquarters Hill Country SNA Texas 2023.jpg by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0.
- Hill Country SNA Texas 2023.jpg by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0.
- Physaria fendleri - Michelle W 03.jpg by Michelle W. https://www.inaturalist.org/people/pufferchung, CC BY 4.0.
- Physaria fendleri - Michelle W 02.jpg by Michelle W. https://www.inaturalist.org/people/pufferchung, CC BY 4.0.
Sources
Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Hill Country has current alerts and closures.
- TPWD: Hill Country State Natural Area, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Hill Country State Natural Area campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: Hill Country State Natural Area history, retrieved October 14, 2026
- TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
- Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
- OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
- Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026