Colorado Bend State Park – Texas State Park 28/89

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The Deets

Colorado Bend State Park is located in Bend, TX, less than 30 minutes from San Saba, TX, and Lampasas, TX. The biggest attractions of the more than 5,000-acre park are Spicewood Springs and Gorman Falls, but there are plenty of other activities to do if you’ve already marked those off your bucket list. Explore 35 miles of hike and bike trails, enjoy the river in a canoe or kayak, fish, take a cave tour, or enjoy a night of camping. The cost of admission is only $5 per adult and is free for children 12 and under (or free for everyone if using a Parks Pass).

The History

Colorado Bend State Park is the former site of two ranches known as the Gorman Ranch and Lemons Ranch. TPWD bought the land in two different chunks, the first in 1984 and the second in 1987. The park was opened to the public in 1987.

Our Experience

We had an incredible day at Colorado Bend State Park. Trust yourself when you enter the park. The drive is LONG, but you are going the right way. We promise!

The grass was exceptionally high alongside the Spicewood Canyon Trail, but it made walking through it all the more magical. We were very wary of snakes, however, as the tall grass and nearby Colorado River are prime locations for our slithery friends. Luckily, we didn’t see any. We did see tons of birds, though, so if you’re into bird watching, you will probably enjoy your visit.

We enjoyed the scenery and the gorgeous views, including Gorman Falls, and at the end of the day, we took a dip in Spicewood Springs. It was the perfect way to end our visit. The water was cool and refreshing, and the other people that were swimming there were so incredibly nice.

Billy did take a tumble on the slick rocks, so remember to be careful when crossing the water.

The Trails

We only hiked two of the many trails during our visit. We started with the Spicewood Canyon Trail (and a short bit of the Spicewood Springs Trail to reach the spring). It was a nice, easy walk with partial shade. It runs along the Colorado River and there is a spot that opens up to the water with a few picnic tables nearby. The trail bumps into the Spicewood Springs Trail and it’s a short walk to the springs. We highly recommend wearing your swimsuit! Take a dip while you’re at the springs and enjoy the location.

The Spicewood Canyon Trail and the Gorman Falls Trail couldn’t be more different. While Spicewood is easy, keeping a pretty even and clear path, Gorman Falls was a flat-out obstacle course in full sun. It is not an easy trail, and the terrain is rocky and very uneven. Once you complete that part of the path, it is a steep and slippery trek down to the falls. There are handholds, but it is still a tricky descent and ascent. We highly advise that you take plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and wear clothing appropriate for full sun. If you’re going in the height of the Texas Summer, please be careful and go out prepared. There are quite a few rescues every year for people who have gone out unprepared. Nature is brutal.

That being said, it’s a trail that’s worth hiking if you’re up for it. The falls are beautiful and it’s such a lovely refuge to relax in the shade once you arrive. It’s a tough one, but it has a great payoff at the end.

Side note: There are two different ways to hike out to Gorman Falls (three, if you include hiking from the springs where we were). We opted for the shortest hike so that we could spend time swimming at the springs. It involved us driving clear across the park to the Gorman Falls trailhead, so keep that in mind when planning your day.

Our Takeaway

Colorado Bend State Park is one of our favorite parks we’ve been to so far. It is the perfect summer hangout if you’re looking for a cool, beautiful swimming hole, and it has so many miles of trails that you could hit a different section each time you visit for a whole summer. We really enjoyed our time here and can’t wait to get back and visit someday. One thing that we are really looking forward to is seeing the falls during different seasons of the year. It was gorgeous when we went, and I’m sure it is just as stunning throughout the year. If you have the opportunity to hit Colorado Bend State Bend, you won’t want to miss this one!

Prefer to see this park in action? Check out our vlog episode for Colorado Bend State Park.
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy