With spring break rapidly approaching, students finally have a chance to get away from the confines of academics and touch some grass. For those looking to ground themselves, Texas has multiple state parks that make for an adventurous weekend getaway, Outdoor Recreation (OREC) leaders said.
Outdoor enthusiast and OREC trip leader Audrey Vanegas, junior business analytics major, recommended Texas state parks for their natural beauty, numerous activities and even academic benefits.
“Take even just a day out, just to get out of San Antonio. It’s really nice to just reset your brain, get that fresh air and let your brain process everything you’ve been studying,” Vanegas said.
Fellow OREC trip leader Wyatt Kenny, senior geosciences major, agreed with Vanegas. While OREC leads several trips throughout the school year to state parks like Enchanted Rock, Kenny said there are many other options for students hoping to visit on their own time.
The Texas State Parks website has over 80 parks, natural areas and historic sites to browse through. For students looking for a quick trip near campus, Kenny recommends the following parks, which he has ranked “in order of coolness.”
- Enchanted Rock: With the infamous 425-foot pink granite batholith, a large mass of igneous rock, Enchanted Rock offers a scenic hiking experience made for beginners. Considered a “rite of passage for Texans” by the Parks website, it’s also a perfect site for late-night stargazing.
- Government Canyon: Located only 40 minutes from Trinity, this natural area offers 13,000 acres of Central Texas landscapes. Government Canyon is also home to 104 million-year-old dinosaur footprints.
- Garner: This park is great for all things water. Garner is right along the cool, clear Frio River and is known for tubing, canoeing and fishing. It’s also a popular camping spot with hundreds of campsites.
- Mustang Island: For those who want beach vibes without the crowds, check out Mustang Island. The island contains 20 miles of hiking trails along the Corpus Christi Bay and a paddling trail. Building sandcastles, surfing and getting close-ups of coastal birds are main attractions.
- McKinney Falls: Visit the Texas State Capitol with a trip to McKinney Falls. Located in Austin, Texas, the park offers views of historic rock shelters and vibrant wildflowers. Visitors enjoy spending time under the tall cypress trees of Onion Creek.
Aside from typical outdoors activities like hiking or swimming, Kenny said parks are a great place for climbers. For those afraid of heights, Vanegas said she enjoys geocaching, a scavenger-hunt-like game to explore the parks’ vast grounds.
Before heading out to the great outdoors, the trip leaders mentioned the importance of prior planning. The Texas State Parks website offers extensive information on each park, including how to prepare and what to bring and visitors must purchase passes for each entry. OREC leaders themselves offer equipment rentals and trip-planning advice.
The biggest preparation, the OREC leaders said, was food and water. Vanegas prepares by booking a campground and ensuring she has the proper equipment, especially a sufficient supply of food and water.
“I’d say the most important thing is to plan out your meals in advance,” Kenny said. “That will end a trip pretty quickly if you don’t have enough food.”
*This story was updated on Feb. 25
