Hiking We have some fishing equipment to loan. I am no snake ID expert, so anytime I see a wild animal, big or small, and am not sure what it is I turn to theA morning of hiking deserved some relaxing by the lake, and that is exactly what we did. I have a bag to put all my trash in that I carry in my day pack. One of my favorite things about this park is the Scenic Overlook on Park Road 11 before you get to park headquarters. We hiked approximately 4.75 miles of these in just under 3 hours, including a few stops along the way. They offer short and easy hikes from the electric campground at Palmetto State Park and are entirely wooded. We took advantage and enjoyed lunch under the trees at a campsite on Oxbow Lake.

The park is named for the dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor), which grows abundantly in the park. For the more adventurous folks, try kayaking the section of the San Marcos River from Luling, which takes about 7 to 8 hours. Certified teachers lead hands-on activities that promote awareness of and appreciation for the environment.

The park rents: 4-person pedal boats, 3-person canoes, fishing boats and inner tubes; lifejackets and oars are provided. Re: Palmetto State Park oxbow lake? Learn more about their work onNearby State Parks, Historic Sites and State Natural Areas The San Marcos River runs through the park. July average high is 96 degrees and average low is 73 degrees. I sure was, SOOOOO I did a little googling to find an answer. Palmetto State Park offers almost 5 miles of trail interconnected throughout the park. Mountain biking can be found at Palmetto, though limited in duration as there are only 5 miles of trails. The river has a steady current, but no rapids; check river conditions at the park. Dwarf palmettos are everywhere here, thriving the the swamp habitat they are native to. You can swim, tube, fish and canoe here.

Palmetto State Park Trails Map OXBOW LAKE 29° 33’ 37.41” N 97° 35’ 14.95” W Once part of the San Marcos River, this 4-acre bow-shaped body of water was formed when erosion cut a wide meander from the former channel of the river.

The 4-acre (1.6 ha) Oxbow Lake, initially created by flood waters, is now independent of the river and is spring fed. Due to the restrictions in place from COVID we had to reserve a “Save the Day” pass on the park website.The environmental activist in me comes out at the end of every post. The The longest trial in the park at 1.25 miles, the San Marcos River Trail is exactly what it sounds like. Palmetto State Park is often called the most tropical of all the parks, with a mixture of wild animals and tropical plant life—it remains a little jungle full of surprises. About a quarter of the way into this trail we were in for a little slithering surprise. Content of this site copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted.The men of the CCC built many facilities at this park, including the picnic pavilion and water tower.

Please follow guidance from local authorities, A little piece of the tropics lies just an hour from Austin and San Antonio. Palmetto State Park, 270.3 acres, named for the tropical Dwarf Palmetto plant found there, is located in Gonzales County, northwest of Gonzales and southeast of Luling. If you are looking for something more relaxing, grab one of the rental kayaks or paddle boards at Oxbow Lake. This is a can’t miss feature at the park! Stay up-to-date on operations adjustments and temporary closure of TPWD offices, state parks, recreation facilities and water access points due to COVID-19. We identified several cardinals and other species along the hike. Look for dwarf palmettos, the park’s namesake, growing under the trees. It is a great way to begin, or end, your visit to Palmettos State Park.In addition to hiking, the park offers a myriad of other activities, including camping, fishing, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding. And enjoyed playing a little fetch with Winter while she practiced some swimming. If we want to keep being able to enjoy the great outdoors, we have to take care of it! Using a refillable and reusable water bottle or camelbak instead of using a plastic bottle from the convenience store is a must.When I hike with dogs, who are lucky enough to have nature as their restroom, I always carry plenty of baggies to clean up after them. Mountain Biking. Besides the flowing river, the park also has an oxbow lake, an artesian well and swamps.

The park abuts the San Marcos River and also has a 4-acre oxbow lake. This trail follows the river for a majority of its length and offers some really pretty overlooks. Never been there, but oxbow lakes off of a main river have got to be good bets for carp and buffs. It was definitely a warm spring day, and as summer approaches it will only get warmer. We saw many more of these small meadows along Mesquite Flats Trail. Besides the flowing river, the park also has an oxbow lake, an artesian well and swamps.