Your Guide to Outdoor Activities in Texas
In terms of square footage, Texas is the second-largest state in the country, and along with size, comes a great selection of outdoor activities to choose from. With its wide variety of terrain and landscaping, Texas has plenty of room to roam and explore. From hiking, biking, and camping to kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, Texas is nothing short of awe-inspiring and entertaining for all of its residents and visitors. Here are just a few of the top Texas destinations to visit when searching for places to experience your favorite outdoor activities!
Big Bend National Park
Pretty much any outdoor recreational activity you can think of - hiking, biking, backpacking, camping, fishing, boating, rafting, kayaking, swimming, bird watching, nature watching, rock and fossil finding, you name it - can all be experienced at Big Bend National Park. You can also find Big Bend Ranch State Park nearby, where you can experience horseback riding, stargazing, ranger tours, and 4x4 riding.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is home to one of the most famous and most amazing attractions in the whole state of Texas: Palo Duro Canyon, also referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Texas.” This breathtaking landmark is 120 miles long, 20 miles wide, and 800 feet deep and stretches from the town of Canyon to the town of Silverton. Aside from experiencing the canyon, there are many other things to do at this state park, such as hiking, biking, backpacking, camping, horseback riding, bird watching, and nature watching.
Garner State Park
Garner State Park, located on the Frio River in Concan, Texas, is one of the state’s most popular vacation getaway destinations. With over 1,400 acres of wilderness, including 10 acres of riverfront space, Garner State Park offers hiking, biking, camping, bird and nature watching, as well as tons of water activities like swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, paddling, tubing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (SNA) is most well-known for hiking and exploring Enchanted Rock. With a dome that rises 425 above the ground, Enchanted Rock is one of the largest natural rock formations in the United States. There are also several other rock formations along a 4-mile trail found in Enchanted Rock SNA. In addition to hiking, visitors can also experience camping, stargazing, rock climbing, picnicking, and bird watching.
Padre Island National Seashore
Stretching 75 miles from Corpus Christi to the Port Mansfield Cut, Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) is the largest stretch of undeveloped barrier island beach in the world and offers some of the most remote seashore area in the world as well. Although PINS is undeveloped and only has a few picnic areas, there is still plenty to do here including swimming, fishing, surfing, shell-collecting, and bird-watching.
As you can see, Texas is truly an outdoor enthusiast's dream destination. From hiking the Palo Duro Canyon to swimming among the Padre Island National Seashore, there is such a plethora of activities to experience and locations to visit while enjoying and exploring the beautiful Lone Star State.
