San Antonio has history, culture, good food, and, my favorite, stunning natural areas.
The second stop on our 2023 rv travels brought us an hour outside this unique city, and I was utterly blown away by what we found. Who knew Texas had beautiful rolling hills for miles?
I mean, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I mention Texas? Is it Dallas? San Antonio’s River Walk? Cattle farms? Whatever you thought of first, I’m sure it wasn’t rolling hills!
Before arriving in Texas, the San Antonio recommendations I received were mainly all touristy spots everyone’s heard about – River Walk, Alamo, etc. While I made sure to visit all the well-known locations, I was also excited to uncover the natural beauty of San Antonio and its surrounding areas. What I found made me fall in love with the area, and I believe they’ll do the same for you.
I’ve compiled a short list of my favorite natural areas around San Antonio that you should add to your itinerary. Of course, you’ll find popular attractions, like the River Walk, but you’ll also find some places you’ve never heard of before, like Government Canyon State Natural Area.
At the end of the day, my hope for you is to enjoy every aspect of San Antonio, as I mentioned at the very beginning. With the help of this blog post, you’ll enjoy the natural beauty this area has to offer.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE AMAZING NATURE SPOTS…
There’s nothing I encourage more than getting out into nature. But with that encouragement, there are also some things we need to talk about first. Let me put them in a short list for ya:
- Leave a place better than you found it – Just like you wouldn’t walk into someone’s lovely home and completely trash it, the same goes for nature. Clean up after yourselves, as well as those who were careless enough to not clean up after themselves. Nature definitely thanks you!
- The best souvenirs are pictures – I get it, you want to take something home with you to remember your visit, but you can (unintentionally) be ruining the ecosystems that call the area home. Please, leave even the smallest and prettiest of rocks alone, and remember your visit by the lovely pictures you take.
- Pack out what you pack in – Whatever you bring it with you, make sure it leaves with you (i.e., trash, food, kids, etc.).
- Stay on the trail – Yes, it’s fun to explore and be spontaneous, but trails are for the protection of the environment AND your safety. Please stay on marked trails.
- Be aware of wildlife in the area – Research or ask park employees about the wildlife you may encounter and what to do if you do encounter it. If you happen to cross paths with any wildlife, leave it ALONE!
- Prepare, prepare, prepare – Exploring natural wonders goes much smoother when you’re prepared. Whether that’s being aware of the trail difficulty, bringing enough water and snacks, or wearing the proper clothing, being prepared helps protect the natural wonder and keep you happy.
If you’re interested, I have an entire blog post dedicated to the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace that everyone should know. You can read it here.
All in all, this post contains some exciting and unique things to see, like dinosaur tracks, and I want to make sure everyone who visits takes care of them for future generations.
Now, let’s get into the good stuff!
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Government State Natural Area is one of the few places in Texas where you can see dinosaur tracks that date back millions of years. The Joe Johnson trail will take you to the dino tracks, but don’t leave without getting a view from above. The Overlook Trail gives a “sky-high” view of the ancient tracks.
Ancient and historic dinosaur tracks don’t float your boat? There are plenty of other things to do in the 12,000-acre protected natural area. With over 40 miles of hiking trails, picture-perfect picnic spots, and searching for local wildlife, the natural area can keep you occupied all day. Important note: This natural area is only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, so plan accordingly. Don’t forget to check the website for updates on trail closures before you head out.
Admission Fees: $6 for ages 13+ & FREE for children 12 years and under
Hill Country State Natural Area
If you’re up for a drive, this natural area is beyond worth it. Hill Country State Natural Area is nestled in the hills of Bandera, Tx aka the “Cowboy Capital of the World”, and quickly became my favorite place in the area because of the 360 views. Hike to the Scenic Overlook, walk along Bandera Creek, or ride on horseback through the hills (check out a list of service providers in the area here).
Admission Fees: $6 for ages 13+ & FREE for children 12 years and under
Mission Reach
Visiting the five Spanish colonial missions is a MUST while you’re in town. You can easily drive from one to the other, but if you’re looking for a unique way to see them, Mission Reach is a hike and bike trail that connects all the missions. I’ll warn you, the trail stretches 16 miles in total (from the Alamo downtown to Mission Espada), so you may want to bike this one.
Don’t have a bike? No problem! They have electric bikes available for rent at each mission. So you don’t even have to pedal the whole way! Plus, when you choose to take Mission Reachl instead of driving, you’ll get an up-close view of things associated with life at the missions – dams, acequias (used for irrigation), agricultural fields, and the Mission Espada aqueduct.
Admission Fees: Trail AND missions are FREE
Historic River Walk
Contrary to what many tourists think, the River Walk doesn’t begin in downtown San Antonio. Instead, the River Walk follows the San Antonio River for 15 miles. Yes, you heard that right – 15 miles! It starts 4 miles north of downtown and then ends near Mission Espada. So while I 100% suggest exploring the River Walk downtown section, I recommend taking a stroll north or south to get an extraordinary glimpse of San Antonio beyond the downtown borders.
If you’re visiting on the weekend, the Pearl Farmers Market – one of the Top 10 Farmers Markets in the COUNTRY – is a great place to start, then take the River Walk south towards downtown.
Admission Fees: FREE
Friedrich Wilderness Park
Friedrich Wilderness Park is a popular spot for locals to exercise daily. I can see why because the park provides 10 miles of hiking trails, from easy to challenging, as well as rare birds and beautiful flowers. Make sure to read the difficulties of each route on the park map before you head into the wilderness. I missed this simple and easy step and ended up on the Vista Loop Trail, the most challenging trail in the park. So, if you don’t want to be climbing over rocks and ducking under trees, stick to easier trails like Juniper Barrens and Main Loop.
Admission Fees: FREE
Guadalupe River State Park
Less than an hour’s drive from downtown San Antonio, Guadalupe River State Park is the perfect place to escape from the big city in the summer. Who wants to be outside all day in the Texas heat WITHOUT enjoying a nice dip in a cool river? Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but swimming in the San Antonio River (aka the River Walk) isn’t allowed. Bummer, right? Don’t fret because this state park is a GREAT alternative!
Admission Fees: $6 for ages 13+ & FREE for children 12 years and under
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
I absolutely LOVE interacting with my peeps and getting their feedback. With this being said, I have a very important question to ask you: Where are you most excited to visit? Let me know in the comments below!
