• Austin Events Calendar
  • Giveaways
  • Sponsor
  • Invite
  • Write
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

3 Reasons Blanco State Park Should Be on Your Austin Summer To-Do List

June 19, 2012 by Eric Highland 5 Comments

Summer is here in Austin and we’re already starting to feel the heat. For those of you new to the area, it’s only going to get hotter. But there’s good news. Early summer in Austin is one of the best times of the year to break out the picnic basket and get your outdoor time in.

At the Austinot, we love state parks. The parks within a day’s drive of Austin are some of the best in the entire country. Each state park is unique, and every time we write an article we share tips on what to bring, what not to bring and what to expect. Click here to check out related articles on state parks.

One of the parks we visited recently was Blanco State Park. Whether you’re looking for camping, swimming, hiking, fishing or boating, Blanco State Park is a great choice. There is one drawback which I’ll talk about toward the end of my article, but first the good stuff.

Blanco State Park is a small – but active – state park. Set on 105 acres, it offers RV sites, primitive camping sites and even screened shelters for hot summer days. Blanco is a perfect spot for kids and families. It boasts a large grassy area for picnics and BBQs, with multiple shaded areas.

Swimming at Blanco State Park

A grassy field is co-located with the water feature. The water is fed by natural springs which keeps the temperature around 68 degrees, even in the heat of the summer. However, the swimming area receives direct sunlight, so you won’t be cold hanging out in the water. The main water area is near a dam which separates a shallow wading area from a much deeper area for advanced swimmers and those with floatation devices. There is also a “swimming pool” beside the dam. The water is a good depth for children, so the pool is a relatively safe place to let your kids splash around.

Don’t worry if you forget your tube. The Blanco State Park ranger station will rent one to you for a nominal fee. Floaties aside, the nice thing about this park is that there’s something for you to do regardless of your swimming skills.

Oh, and the deeper area has a rope swing over the water, which is a ton of fun.

Blanco State Park Fishing and Hiking

If you’re interested in hiking and nature study, Blanco State Park offers two small trails to explore. They are perfect for the beginner or families who want to expose their small children to this outdoor activity. The first trail is a half-mile hiking trail. The other is .2-mile nature trail which follows the river and is sure to be a hit with the littlest of explorers. It isn’t uncommon to see armadillos on this little trail, which makes for great photo opportunities.

Fishing is one of the more popular activities at Blanco State Park. The park rangers have a store where you can get all the equipment you need for free, as part of their Learn-To-Fish program. Keep in mind that you don’t need a fishing license to cast your line within the boundaries of any state park. Blanco is known to have bass, catfish, rainbow trout and – one of my personal favorites (and a great eating fish) – perch.

One Drawback to Blanco State Park

The one drawback of the park is that it’s located right off of U.S. Highway 281. It doesn’t create the pleasant vista of some of the other state parks we’ve been to and there can be a lot of road noise. But depending on your perspective, it’s also convenient because you don’t have to drive far off the beaten path to get to the park.

In summary, Blanco is perfect for families with small children, the budding hiker and nature student, and those wanting to spend a day fishing or having an informal family BBQ. If you don’t mind the road noise or lack of a pristine 360 degree view, then this state park might become one of your favorites.

My Top 3 Reasons Why Blanco State Park Should Be on Your Austin Summer To-Do List

1. Fish for free and you don’t need a fishing rod, tackle or a fishing license.

2. There is a a shallow area and a deep area for swimming, which makes it great for people of all ages.

3. The grassy area is perfect for picnics, BBQ and just laying out in the sun. Not all state parks have such an expansive grassy area.

 

I recommend you bring: Aquasocks, flotation devices, picnic or BBQ food, a frisbee or other field-appropriate toy, a blanket and sunscreen.

For more information on Blanco State Park, see the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife official website.

Hope you enjoy Blanco State Park! Please comment and let me know if you have any questions.

 

@EricHighland asks:

What is your favorite place to go in or near Austin during the summer?

Photos via Flickr CC, courtesy of Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife Website and Matthew High photographer.

***

We always have unique content on the Austinot, and we love to give things away. You know, like CDs, event tickets and other cool stuff. We only send out our Best of the Austinot newsletter every 2 weeks. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and where we give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of the Austinot here!

Filed Under: Day Trips, Discoveries Tagged With: blanco, swimming, swimming holes, texas state parks

Sign up for a chance at Austin giveaways via our fun newsletter


Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Latest Tweets

  • NEW: Lunar Pizza Trailer on South First Street Is Thin on Crust, Not on Flavor https://t.co/qGLY5vRKuU ft.… https://t.co/TjVq5QFXps About 2 hours ago
  • Earth Day celebration at @birdsbarbershop Westlake this Sunday! Event page: https://t.co/yhA6hwYZdF #austin https://t.co/aXOllZ8jl4 About 11 hours ago
  • NEW - The Austinot Weekend Concert Picks: April 20-21, 2018 https://t.co/mFscEqzqjx https://t.co/ZxzOPxPV5K Yesterday at 9:01 pm
  • NEW: Support AIDS Services of Austin During #DineOutATX on April 24 https://t.co/4RBUbnWG31 @asaustin https://t.co/VQeDAOlYNl Yesterday at 4:09 pm
  • Follow @theAustinot

Recent Posts

  • Lunar Pizza Trailer on South First Street Is Thin on Crust, Not on Flavor
  • The Austinot Weekend Concert Picks: April 20-21, 2018
  • Support AIDS Services of Austin During #DineOutATX on April 24
  • Spendindie Creates Online Marketplace for Local Businesses
  • Take an Unforgettable Texas Road Trip to Visit San Saba

Get to Know Us

  • Austin Events Calendar
  • Giveaways
  • Sponsor
  • Invite
  • Write
  • About
  • Contact

Welcome to The Austinot!

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We'll respond if you comment. Heck, we'll probably invite you to come and hang out with us.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Recent Comments

  • Embracing Regrets – Mincing Words Abroad on The Rocketboys’ Front Man Expands With Solo Project: The Wealthy West
  • Austin’s Nature – a girl and her commander on The Complete Guide to Austin Greenbelt Access Points and Trails
  • Tips for Runsploring a New City and Running Austin - RunToTheFinish on Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • Bethany featured in The Austinot — Bethany Becker on The Austinot Weekend Concert Picks: Feb. 23-24, 2018
  • Spring activities that won’t break the bank | The University Star on Guide to Bat Season in Austin

Copyright © 2018 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in