Central Texas is filled with countless little-known gems. Palmetto State Park is one of these places.
On a recent trip to Rebekah’s parent’s house, the excellent weather called us outside, as it often does. Instead of spending time at our go-to outdoor venue, the family pecan farm, we ventured out. Her parents had recently visited Palmetto State Park, the setting for a church picnic. Even living only a few miles away, this had been their first visit to this little-known park.
When they recommended we hike at Palmetto for the afternoon, I was excited to visit a new state park, grabbing my camera on the way out the door.
View of the San Marcos River
Palmetto State Park is located between Gonzales and Seguin, a short 8 minute drive from Interstate 10. This unique landscape is created by a mixture of the San Marcos River and natural springs, forming a mini tropical environment in the middle of Texas. The park is named after the dwarf palmettos which grow freely across the swampy property.
When we arrived, I was greeted by an impressive structure, the Refectory. This building which serves as a pleasant picnic table pavilion, seems out of place but yet at the same time, perfectly at home in this setting. At first, the Refectory appears taken from a manor estate in Ireland. But this beautiful stone and wood building appears to grow out of the landscape, making it a perfect fit for the park.
The Refectory
Speaking of the park, the State of Texas established Palmetto State Park in the 1930s. The buildings, roads and other infrastructure had been constructed by crews of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Great Depression.
The CCC Water Tower on the Palmetto Interpretive Trail
These lasting pieces of construction impress me as a modern engineer. For example, you can take an easy quarter-mile stroll along the most accessible trail, the Palmetto Interpretive Trail. Along the path, you will get an up-close view of a functioning water tower, built in 1936. A ram-jet pump fills the CCC water tower with water from the artesian well below, and for many years provided fresh water for the park’s guests. The catch: this pump does not use any electricity. This rare system uses the natural force of the spring-fed water to do all the work, and is one of the few ram-jet pumps still operational.
Seven relatively-short trails wind through the park. Click here for a map of the park’s trails. We chose to explore the longest path, the 1.25-mile-long San Marcos River Trail. While the level trail follows the river during half of the loop, you only catch glimpses of the San Marcos River at a few points. However, a variety of birds, plants and trees easily occupied our attention as we strolled along the well-maintained path.
Exploring the San Marcos River Trail
Besides hiking, Palmetto State Park offers a variety of other activities, such as biking, fishing, swimming and boating on the park’s oxbow lake. You can even rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, fishing boats and inner tubes at the park, or you can bring your own. Need a place to stay? The park offers camping and RV sites, along with one cabin.
For all this fun, an adult day-pass is only $3.00, and children under 12 years old are FREE.
Rebekah at the CCC Water Tower
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