Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Fredericksburg

What a spectacular place to visit. This is a great place to visit with the entire family. You can take in the loop, which is 3+ mile hike. The loop's trail is fairly easy. Or, if you want something more challenging, you can hike up the Rock. To drive in the park, you must make reservations; otherwise, you risk not being allowed to park or camp. Wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water, especially on those warm days.

Plenty to see and do here on multiple hiking trails. The Summit Trail to the top is a leg-burner at times but well worth the half-mile effort. Take your time to enjoy the views and the rock formation itself and you'll be able to make it. We also did the Loop Trail, which is about 4.6 miles around the outside of the Granite Dome and it offers various views of the dome from different angles, which was neat to see. Several other trails offer different experiences, too, but we'll have to check those out another day. This is a park we'll go back to. Note that you need reservations for timed entry and weekends are way busier than weekdays. Also, there is rustic camping available both near the parking lot and off of the hiking trails. Bring plenty of water because there is little shade anywhere. There are vault toilets along the Loop Trail. Also, watch for snakes, we had a rattler on the Loop Trail when we went. Plenty of parking but RVs would have a tough time maneuvering to anything but the half-dozen spots in the RV lot. Also note the closest gas is about 18 miles away in Fredericksburg, and there is little to no cell service in much of the park (for Verizon and T-Mobile).

One of the best state park experiences I have had! The terrain was beautiful with a lot if amazing rock formations. There is a variety of plants and wildlife, including foxes and cactus. Amazing place to explore. Summit Trail was my favorite trail, containing some of the best formations and views, both towards and at the peak. Prepare to bring hiking shoes however, as the terrain can get very steep and dangerous for those that are unprepared. Try to come on a non-cloudy night, as stars looked beautiful! The campsite was relatively spacious, equipped with hooks to hang trash bags, trees, fire pit, and clean tables/benches. The tables were shaded with a canopy. There was good distance between campsites with minimal litter. There was not much noise from other campsites and rangers were not over-bearing. Only issues were that the faucets were close to the parking lots which was a bit of a walk from the site. Not too bad, but without proper lighting, it was a bit inconvenient. Overall great experience and would be worth to come again!

Beautiful place. Every angle of the rock is amazing. The hike to the summit was not too challenging it was just a steep elevation gain. The loop trail, which is the dog friendly loop, also had a great scenic overlook area. In It's about 5 miles. It took us 20 minutes to climb to the top of the summit trail. Please be conscious of the endangered species on the summit top. In the puddles there are fairy shrimp 🦐. They are part of a delegate ecosystem. Stepping in the puddles disturbs this. Reserve your entrance ahead of time. This park is always full so reservations aren't really optional if you want to get in. It's $8 per person and tickets can be bought online almost a month ahead of time. You won't likely need to buy that far ahead of time, but be aware that you will need a reservation to get in.

This was my fourth time to Enchanted Rock, first time bringing our kids. We felt they were finally old enough, 7 and 10. We saw several families with littles, and I just wouldn’t recommend it if you want to hike the summit. This however is such a beautiful park, wonderfully kept, clean, I love it! I will say though, plan ahead, go online and reserve. We went the week of spring break and we reserved the 30 days ahead (they won’t let you reserve more than 30 days ahead), but there were people getting turned away who were trying to walk in. Plan ahead. Bring water. It’s windy at the summit, so bring a jacket. Other than that, enjoy one of the most incredible natural features of central Texas!