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.

57 campsites|Hill Country|2 hr from Austin|$5/person entrance fee

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Campsite Types

Water + Electric

$20/night

Lemons Pass Loop · Sites 1-19 · 19 sites

Water, 20/30-amp ElectricRV OKTent OK

Water + Electric

$20/night

Windmill Loop · Sites 20-35 · 16 sites

Water, 20/30-amp ElectricRV OKTent OK

Water Only

$15/night

Gorman Springs Loop · Sites 36-44 · 9 sites

WaterTent OK

Primitive Walk-in

$10/night

River Loop · Sites 45-57 · 13 sites

NoneTent OK

Guide to Colorado Bend State Park

Best Campsites

For Families:Sites 20-35 (Windmill) — water + electric, closest to restrooms and the trailhead to Gorman Falls

For Privacy:Sites 45-57 (River) — primitive walk-in sites along the Colorado River, true solitude

For RVs:Sites 1-19 (Lemons Pass) — water + electric, but roads are rough — smaller rigs only

For Couples:Sites 36-44 (Gorman Springs) — water only, shaded, quiet, closest to the falls trail

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

Gorman Falls — a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall covered in moss and maidenhair fernsWild cave tours led by park staff (reservation required)Colorado River fishing and swimmingRugged, uncrowded trails through Hill Country terrainDark skies — excellent stargazing away from city lightsOne of the more remote and wild-feeling parks in the system

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