Guadalupe River State Park
Guadalupe River State Park is one of those places that seems to fly under the radar—maybe because it’s just 30–45 minutes north of San Antonio, maybe because Pedernales Falls gets all the attention. But after spending a couple of days there, we can confirm: this park is worth a visit.
The river is (obviously) a big park of this park.
Great Hikes and Camping
Guadalupe River reminded us a lot of Pedernales Falls State Park—the same Hill Country landscape, the same mix of rugged trails and scenic water views. But we actually found the hiking here a little more interesting. The river access is great, and the terrain has a bit more variety. Also, less ash juniper—which, as someone allergic to it, I deeply appreciated.
The campground was another pleasant surprise. It’s spacious, with large RV sites and—luxury of luxuries in a state park—individual shower rooms.
A Little Off-Trail Adventure
On our first afternoon, we took the obvious route: straight to the river. Even in late December, there were people fishing, relaxing, and even a few kids swimming. Texans don’t let seasons get in the way of a good swim.
We started on the Bald Cypress Trail, which follows the water, but soon spotted a smaller, unmarked trail leading west into the trees. Naturally, we followed it. The path meandered through a shaded ridge lined with maidenhair ferns and palmetto plants. It wasn’t on the map, but it was clearly a real trail, and it felt like we’d found a little secret corner of the park.
Eventually, we started wondering: does this ever loop back? As the sun started setting, we decided to play it safe and turn around. Even if it didn’t lead anywhere, it was a fun, unexpected detour—the best kind of adventure.
Secret Trail!
The Big Hike (And the Big River Crossing)
For our full hiking day, we decided to cross the Guadalupe River Rapids (point of interest #4 on the map) to explore the north side of the park. The water was shallow, so we rolled up our pants, took off our shoes, and waded across. There’s really no way to do it without getting wet, but it was all part of the fun.
Once across, we hiked:
Little Bluestem Loop
Golden-cheeked Warbler Trail
Curry Creek Overlook Trail
The Curry Creek Overlook Trail took us to the northern edge of the park, where we had a great view of the neighboring land. The whole route had a perfect mix of river views, rolling terrain, and scenic overlooks, making for a solid, satisfying hike.
Charlie loved hiking at Guadalupe River too.
Wildlife Encounters: Armadillos and Christmas Cactus
Guadalupe River had no shortage of armadillos. One night, we heard an absurd amount of rustling near our campsite. For a moment, we thought it might be a bobcat or coyote—but nope, just two very busy armadillos, shuffling around like tiny armored vacuum cleaners.
We also spotted one off the side of the road later that night and stopped to watch him for a while. Later, I read that armadillos can hold their breath for up to six minutes and even walk underwater to cross rivers. They might look goofy, but they’ve got some serious survival skills.
Oh, and as a bonus plant sighting—we always keep an eye out for Christmas cactus on our Hill Country winter road trips, and we spotted our first one of the season at Guadalupe River State Park. Always a cool find.
Merry Christmas!
Final Thoughts
If you’re into river crossings, peaceful trails, great campsites, and random armadillo sightings, then this park is absolutely worth a visit. Guadalupe River State Park has a little something for everyone—whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend by the water or a good day hike with solid variety.
Have you been to Guadalupe River State Park? What was your favorite trail or wildlife sighting? Let us know—we’re always looking for new spots to explore.
