The admission fee is $7/adult and a map of the park is provided at the entrance gate. Picnicking, camping, hiking, birdwatching, fishing, kayaking, and swimming (weather permitting) are popular activities here.
Parking near the Guadalupe River, our first stop was at the Bird Viewing Blind.
Bird feeders and a water feature attracts many birds to the area behind the blind. We spent quite a bit of time here enjoying antics of the various bird species. The most common sighting was of northern cardinals (both male and female) and American goldfinches.
Below is a cardinal and chipping sparrow. This small sparrow is migratory, traveling to southern states for the winter months. The second photo is a black-crested titmouse.
Squirrels also visit the area to take advantage of the fresh water source.
We walked to the nearby Discovery Center.
Educational opportunities and interactive hands-on displays can be found inside. Skins and skulls of mammals found in the area are part of the ‘touch” and learn portion of the center. A coyote skin and skull is shown below.
Behind the center is an amphitheater used for educational programs at the park.
We explored the Discovery Center Loop Trail and part of the Cedar Sage Trail.
A hummingbird and butterfly garden is also near the Discovery Center. Of course, the plants to attract them are not yet in bloom.
Following the Bald Cypress Trail, we came to the banks of the beautiful Guadalupe River. Huge bald cypress trees line the banks and large limestone bluffs can be found on one side.
Some kids and dogs (including our Sadie) enjoyed swimming in the cool river. Rocky beaches in some areas make for easy access to the water.
The massive root structures of the bald cypress trees were amazing, and made for a treacherous route on some parts of the trail.
We continued along the trail enjoying the different features of the river. Because the river is unregulated by dams, flash floods can be sudden and dangerous. Sometimes the water reaches the tops of the limestone cliffs. Rapids provide kayaking and tubing fun, especially when the river is high.
Picnic tables are positioned along the river. We grabbed our lunch from the car and ate at one of them.
While eating we saw about 10 kayaks pull in here for pickup by a trailer. And we saw some kayakers paddling downstream...looked like a lot of fun!
During the summer months this park can get very crowded and sometimes visitors are turned away when the maximum number of occupants has been reached.
This was one of our favorite hikes to date in Texas (excluding Big Bend National Park that has fantastic trails in a very remote setting). It is just beautiful here and the weather was perfect the day we visited. Loved it.
For additional information about the park, go to tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/guadalupe-river.
No comments:
Post a Comment