Ultimate Guide to Colorado Bend State Park, Texas (Tours, Pricing, History, Map)
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Just two hours from Austin, the Colorado Bend State Park lets you experience nature at its best. You can spend a weekend here to enjoy the sylvan atmosphere and the unspoiled wilderness. The Park is unique as it offers loads of adventure above and below the ground. A network of caves (400 in total) adds a sense of mystery and adventure to the place.
There are innumerable caves in the park, but only a few are open to the public for guided tours. This has been done to ensure the protection of the highly sensitive environment. Since caves and cave formations are non-renewable natural sources, the utmost care has been taken to protect them at all costs.
History of Colorado Bend State Park
Colorado Bend State Park is a state park in Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or TPWD purchased a part of the park in 1984 and the rest of the park in 1987. It was opened to the public in the same year.
It represents the Karst features typically seen in the Hill Country, and it has many sinkholes, caves, and springs. There are more than 400 caves and 35 miles of trails in this park, and it has facilities for some of the best mountain biking in Texas.
Geological Cave Formations
The Dynamite Cave has a fair share of stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstones in the walls and ceilings of the cave.
Wildlife in Colorado Bend State Park
You will be able to view a wide variety of animal species, namely Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, Nine-banded Armadillo, Ornate Tree Lizard, and White-tailed Deer, among others. You will also come across pale crayfish and cave myotis bats in the most famous cave in the park – the Gorman Cave. Rattlesnakes in the caves are common here, so you must avoid them at any cost.
Is Colorado Bend State Park Haunted?
The Park is not haunted, but there is a lovely waterfall by the name of Gorman Falls inside the park, which is a bit infamous. The locals always suggest that one come back from the Gorman Falls area before it gets too dark. It is a 70 ft waterfall that can be accessed after a three-mile trail. It looks beautiful, but locals believe unseen spirits haunt the waterfall. If you get too close to the falling water, you might hear voices and screams.
How Big is Colorado Bend State Park?
The park covers an area of 5328.3 acre.
Colorado Bend State Park Tours
There are two comprehensive cave tours available. The most popular one is the Discovery Tour, which perfectly fits beginners. The tour is suitable for ages four years and above. The tour offers a family-friendly caving experience wherein you get a chance to explore the large Dynamite Cave.
The cave features an easy climb down and an entrance suitable for all ages. There is no crawling inside the park, but you need to bring a flashlight. You must wear closed-toe shoes and helmets will be provided for the visitors.
The Adventure Tour is for those who are adventurous at heart. One can best describe the tour’s difficulty level as intermediate, and it will take you a little deeper than the Discovery Tour. Contrary to what people think, it is a relaxed expedition for anyone willing to crawl and get dirty. A headlamp is essential for this trip, but it will not be provided. However, helmets and knee pads will be given.
It is to be remembered that more than 400 caves have been discovered at the Colorado Bend State Park. However, only a handful of these caves are fit for public tours. The weekend wild cave tours occur at Cicurina Cave, Dynamite Cave, Gorman Cave, Turtle Shell Cave & Lemons Ranch Cave.
Tour Prices and Discounts
The prices of the different tour packages are as follows.
- Discovery Tour – USD 12 for a 45-minute tour
- Adventure Tour – USD 25 for a 90-minute tour
Is Colorado Bend State Park Cold?
The state park experiences a temperature of 80 to 90 degrees F during the warmer months.
What to Wear?
During the cave tour, there is every chance of your clothes getting dirty or even soaked! So you must dress accordingly and wear sturdy shoes for the tours.
Colorado Bend State Park Hours
The park remains open for the public daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
What to Do (Beside Tours)
When you come to the state park, you can do more than tour the caves. You can enjoy the beauty of the majestic Gorman Falls, take a rest at the Spicewood Springs, or test your limits on the 35 miles of bike and hike trails. We all know that the Park is home to six miles of the Colorado River, which makes it ideal for bass fishing, boating, and fishing, and don’t forget to check out the spring-fed swimming holes.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit is early Spring and late Fall. In winter, the temperatures are lower, and the weather remains perfect for hiking.
How to Get to Colorado Bend State Park
Colorado Bend State Park is west of Lampasas and SE of San Saba. If you are coming from San Saba, you need to take US Highway 190 and drive for about four miles to FM 580. Now follow the signs for 13 miles to reach Bend and then follow the signs again for four miles to reach the park entrance.
Hotels Nearby
If you are looking for overnight accommodation options, you can consider the state park itself as it offers back-to-nature camping facilities. You can choose from options like walk-in tent sites and primitive hike-in sites. The drive-up sites and the hike-in sites do not have any hookups.
There are composting toilets near the main camping area, and there is also an open-air shower near the campground. If you are looking to stay outside the Park premises, you can look up various options like Canyon of the Eagles and Dofflemyer Hotel.
Visiting Colorado Bend State Park
Do you need more information before visiting Colorado Bend State Park? Call (325) 628-3240 or email Colorado Bend State Park for an information packet.
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