Colorado Bend State Park
Colorado Bend feels like discovering a secret. The park sits at the end of a long dirt road in a remote stretch of the Colorado River valley, and it rewards the drive with Gorman Falls — a stunning 70-foot waterfall draped in emerald moss and ferns that looks like it belongs in Costa Rica, not central Texas. The camping here is more rugged than most state parks (many sites are primitive), the trails are rocky and real, and the river offers solid fishing and swimming. If you want to feel like you've actually gotten away from it all, this is your park.
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Campsite Types
Primitive Hike-in
$15/night15 sites
Walk-in Tent
$13/night28 sites
Primitive Hike-in
$10/night8 sites
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Guide to Colorado Bend State Park
Best Campsites
When to Go
March through May and September through November. Summers are brutally hot and the river can run low. Spring is the best time for Gorman Falls when the flow is strongest.
Tips
- →The last several miles to the park are unpaved — it's doable in a car but slow going after rain
- →Gorman Falls trail is 1.5 miles one way — moderate difficulty with some scrambling near the falls
- →Do NOT touch the falls or walk on the travertine formations — they're incredibly fragile and still growing
- →Wild cave tours fill up fast — book them when you book your campsite
- →Cell service is nonexistent at the park — download maps and info before you leave pavement
- →Bring all supplies — the nearest town with a real grocery store is about 45 minutes away
Highlights
Colorado Bend State Park — Frequently Asked
Is Colorado Bend State Park hard to book?+
Yes — Colorado Bend State Park is one of the more popular Texas state parks and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. March through May and September through November. Summers are brutally hot and the river can run low. Spring is the best time for Gorman Falls when the flow is strongest. Using a campsite alert service like Camp.land to catch cancellations is the most reliable way to get a site when it appears sold out.
How many campsites does Colorado Bend State Park have?+
Colorado Bend State Park has 43 campsites, including Primitive Hike-in, Walk-in Tent. Sites start at $10/night plus a $5/person entrance fee.
What is the entrance fee at Colorado Bend State Park?+
The entrance fee at Colorado Bend State Park is $5 per person per day. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives entrance fees for you and all passengers in your vehicle.
How far in advance should I book Colorado Bend State Park?+
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance. For Colorado Bend State Park, popular weekends sell out within minutes of the booking window opening. If your dates are already showing as full, set a Camp.land alert at camp.land/pricing?park=colorado-bend — cancellations happen regularly.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Colorado Bend State Park?+
The best strategy for last-minute campsites at Colorado Bend State Park is to monitor for cancellations. Camp.land (camp.land) scans every 10 minutes and emails you the moment a site opens up, with a direct booking link. Cancellations are most common 1–3 weeks before the reservation date.
Planning Colorado Bend State Park by month
What each month is like, when reservations open, and how hard it is to book.
Don't wait for Colorado Bend State Park to open up
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