Engaging Getaways and Venues for:
USA/South: Fredericksburg, TX
Texas Hill Country is primarily about the scenery and the landscape. Outdoor activities abound here, and for good reason. For hikers, the American Volkssport Association’s Fredericksburg chapter offers a number of walks and hikes in and around Fredericksburg. There are also dozens of lakes and rivers for kayaking and whitewater enthusiasts, and the country roads that crisscross Hill Country are a magnet for road cyclists.
Walks and Hikes
.jpg)
Enchanted Rock: This State Park, located 15 miles north of Fredericksburg, is home to a huge, pink granite “exfoliation dome” that rises 425 feet and covers 640 acres. It’s one of the largest batholiths in the United States, and was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1970. The four-mile Loop Trail takes you around the base of the formation; the Summit Trail climbs 425 feet in a little over half a mile.
.jpg)
Texas Hill Country Lavender Trail: Though not technically a walking trail, this group of a dozen or so farms scattered across the region offers walking tours of various lengths through their expansive lavender fields, primarily in the fall.
Fredericksburg Nature Center: The Nature Center has over a mile of trails winding around fields and lakes that are home to numerous species of plants, grasses and wildlife. Details and maps of the Liveoak and Vista Loop trails are available on the Nature Center’s website.
Cycling
Texas Hill Country offers miles of quiet hilly roads, great weather and friendly, entertaining towns for serious riders. The Cycle Texas website promotes self-guided bicycling in Fredericksburg and Hill Country areas, providing maps and turn-by-turn instructions for cycling routes, as well as identifying points of interest and “hills of interest.”
Kayaking and Canoeing
There are at least 10 kayaking trails within 30 miles of downtown Fredericksburg. James Kiehl Park in Comfort offers access to the scenic Guadalupe River—you can put in at High Street in Comfort and then paddle approximately seven miles down to the Lower River Bend Road Crossing. Ranch Road 1 off Route 290 offers a nice stretch of flat-water paddling on the Pedernales River near the LBJ Ranch. Select a trip at the Hill Country Outdoor Guide website.
