Now that the temps will be going down, hiking with your pup is a must! Here's a list of 7 of my favorite dog friendly hiking spots in Texas.
Lake Bastrop North & South Shore Parks
This is a LCRA park located on the North side of Lake Bastrop and does have an entry fee of $5/adult. It has a 4.5 mile trail that connects the two parks, and a total of 9.2 total trail miles shared between the two. The terrain on these trails varies from flat, dirt paths to short & steep rocky inclines, and trail lengths vary from 0.4 miles to 4.5 miles, so there are spots for dogs of every activity level!
Check out their website to learn more:
https://www.lcra.org/parks/lake-bastrop-north-shore-park/
Colorado Bend State Park
This park is owned and operated by Texas Parks & Wildlife and is located in Bend, Texas. It boasts 35 miles of hiking trails for you and your pups to enjoy. There are many options as far as terrain, distance and scenery. The pictures above were taken on a 14 mile hike through the state park with my pups several years ago (when they still had some pep in their step!). If you go, make sure you stop by Gorman Falls! It's absolutely beautiful!
Check out their website to learn more:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/colorado-bend
South Llano River State Park
This State Park is located in Junction, Texas and boasts 22.7 miles of hiking trails! As you can see from the photos above, the terrain is fairly flat, but their are some mild inclines. Most of the trails are rocky. If your pups feet aren't used to the rocky terrain, be sure to pack booties, or avoid super long hikes so their paws don't blister! (Yes, this does happen!) If you're hiking in the back of the park, be sure to bring plenty of water, as there is none past the trailhead. There are primitive campsites a few miles down the Mid-Canyon Trail, and it's very peaceful and much more spread out than the regular sites. If you and your pups are up for a hike-in camping trip, this is the place to go!
Check out their website to learn more:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/south-llano-river/map
Russell Park
This park is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and is located in Georgetown, Texas. The park is amazing and hosts day use, as well as camping. The trails however, border Lake Georgetown and connect all other parks along the lake shore. I chose Russell Park for this Blog, because the Goodwater Trailhead located at the entrance of this park is where I usually start my hike, however, any trailhead will do. You have 28 miles of hiking trails that will take you through meadows, springs, river crossings, forests and more. There are also primitive camping spots dotted throughout the trail, and are very rarely used, so you and your pups will likely have the camp grounds to yourselves!
Check out their website to learn more:
https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/georgetown/Recreation/Camping/Devareas.asp