Walnut Springs Area — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

  • $10.00 /night
  • (4.8)5 reviews

Contact Info

Camping Style

Backpacker
Cabin
Other Camping
RV Camping
Tent Camping
Trailer Camping

About Campground

Moss Lake (eight sites) and Walnut Springs (12 sites) are a 1 to 3 mile hike over rugged terrain. We charge an excess vehicle fee of $6 per car, per night, for each vehicle over two per campsite. No ash-producing fires are permitted in this area. You may use containerized fuel stoves that can be turned off for cooking. Minors (under 17) who are not camping with a sponsored group must provide a written consent form to stay overnight. No hammocks allowed in primitive camping areas.

Magical, Mystical, Enchanted

Climb the ancient dome for amazing Hill Country views.

The massive pink granite dome rising above Central Texas has drawn people for thousands of years. But there’s more at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area than just the dome. The scenery, rock formations and legends are magical, too!

Things to Do

You can hike, backpack, camp, rock climb, picnic, bird, study nature, geocache and stargaze. (You cannot swim here or ride bikes on the trails.)

Hiking

Explore nearly 11 miles of hiking trails. Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.

All trails close 30 minutes after sunset, except the Loop Trail.

The Summit Trail may close in wet weather.

Check our trail status here or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Rock Climbing

Rock climbers must check in at park headquarters. You can pick up route maps there and read the climbing rules. Read through our Climbing Information before you come.

Pets

To protect this Natural Area, pets are only allowed in the designated day-use picnic areas, the campgrounds, and on the Loop Trail (pets are not allowed on any other trail). Don't leave pets unattended, including in vehicles and at campsites, and keep them on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.

Shopping

Our park store carries some gift items. You can buy wood for campfires at the park. Please bring your own drinking water, as it is in short supply due to the ongoing drought.

Get involved

Enchanted Rock needs your help! We will match your abilities to our many needs. You might guide a group to the summit, lead a tour of the loop trail, provide information to park visitors, or help maintain park facilities. Visit our Volunteer page to learn more.

Join or donate to the Friends of Enchanted Rock.

Outfitters and guide services

The following guides lead rock climbing tours at Enchanted Rock:

Austin Ascents, [email protected]

Outpost Wilderness Adventure, [email protected]

Rock-About Climbing Adventures, [email protected]

Texas Climbing Adventures, [email protected]

Ranger Programs

Enjoy a star party or a nature hike led by a park ranger, or contact the park for special tours for your group.

Check our Events page for upcoming programs.

Become a Junior Ranger! Pick up a Junior Ranger Activity Guide and borrow an explorer pack.

Email us to schedule a school or youth group tour.

Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Area Attractions

Visit Fredericksburg for a taste of German culture in the Texas Hill Country. There you can shop, dine, visit museums and find outdoor activities. Stop by Llano, known as the “Deer Capital of Texas,” for museums, music and more.

President Lyndon B. Johnson was born near Johnson City. Learn about this colorful Texan at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Tour the Texas White House and Johnson’s boyhood home. The Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site and the Sauer-Beckmann living history farm are nearby.

Drive the Peach Loop, one of TPWD’s Great Texas Wildlife Trails. It will lead you to some of the best wildlife observation points in this area.

Fees

Information and prices can change. Parks charge a daily entrance fee in addition to any facility fees, unless otherwise stated.

Purchase a Texas State Park Pass to enjoy free entry to more than 80 state parks for you and your guests for one year.

You may bring pets to most state parks, but they cannot enter Texas State Park buildings. Learn about rules for pets at state parks. For park-specific pet restrictions, contact the park.

Call the park or the Customer Service Center (512) 389-8900 for more information.

Access

Hike-in
Walk-in

Accommodations

Tent Sites

Features

Toilets

Essentials

Pets Allowed

Location Map

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Reviews Ratings

Average ratings

4.8

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Heather Haskin

6 months ago
5/5

Our favorite family hike! Suitable for kids 3+ but even younger toddlers can do some of the walking on their own. The temperature varied quite a bit on today's hike- cloudy, sunny, sprinkling rain, and then super windy at the top. We were glad we brought a couple of thin layers.

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Dana Steele

6 months ago
5/5

I’m here from NC, and while visiting family, my brother brought me to this amazing park so I could get in some trail running. We paid $8 each for a Day Pass, which I thought was reasonable. While my brother climbed the Summit, I ran the big Loop trail around the park’s circumference. It’s about 4.6 miles long. It’s well marked and the sandy type path was easy to run on. The views are amazing and I stopped several times to take photos and video because it was so breathtaking! There’s plenty of restrooms along the trail as well. It was super cold today (11°) so I didn’t bring along water. I would recommend it if you run this place or hike it in the hotter summer months. They also have camping sites and rock climbing available here.

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72ocutter

6 months ago
5/5

While visiting Austin Texas, I searched for challenging areas to hike and to witness a beautiful sunset. Enchanted Rock was one of the top three places so I scheduled a day to go that was clear and dry. About an hour and a half away from Austin is Enchanted Rock. The drive was pretty easy and made it there well before sunset. I arrived, pulled over next to the ranger station and paid for my reserved spot. It's always good to reserve a spot here when going to the park. It was January when I visited so it wasn't bad at all. Summer could be a different story. Keep in mind to bring water no matter what time of year you come. Summer obviously bring more. I read reviews that it was a challenging climb. There are some areas where it is a high Rocky step but the remainder of the climb is easier. Overall this reasonably fit 52 year old made it up to the top in about 25 minutes stopping to take a couple pictures along the way. If I would have known that going in I probably would have taken some of the lower trails at the base of the rock before trekking upwards towards the top. Once you are at the top, the vastness of this Park is nothing less than astonishing. I truly appreciated the view and nearby 18ft boulders that I've been standing for probably millions of years. Unfortunately there was very little cloud covers to the sunset wasn't as dramatic as I would have hoped but it was beautiful nonetheless. The ranger said to make your way down no later than 6:15. Once the sunset there is complete darkness so going down is a bit tricky but if you bring a flashlight you will be okay. There were actually people coming up as I was going down at 6:00. Unless you are camping overnight you need to leave the park at 8:00. I would have stayed longer for the stargazing but it was pretty windy that night. Enchanted Rock Park is also classified as a dark sky area so stargazing is breathtaking. You can actually see the Milky way! Would definitely return if I'm ever in TX again

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Joe Taveras

7 months ago
4/5

Enchanted Rock State Park provided an unforgettable family hiking experience! The friendly and helpful park staff made the start smooth and enjoyable. The hike encompassed various terrains - from walking alongside a river to navigating brush and steeper sections. Even with those challenges, it was manageable for our kids. The trail offered scenic views, especially passing by large boulders that were perfect for memorable photos. Reaching the summit was rewarding. Encountering kids exploring cave systems added an extra layer of excitement. A place full of adventure and exploration, offering an abundance of opportunities to discover!

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Luke Thompson

7 months ago
5/5

Enchanted Rock was a great hiking experience for our family today! The big climb up the rock was challenging but easily worth it. We had amazing sightseeing from the top in every direction. After our trip to the top, we hiked around several of the loop trails visiting lakes, streams, and other gorgeous viewpoints. You MUST buy a state park reservation to get in, it easy, just plan ahead. Parking and bathrooms were great, the park ranger who greeted us was friendly and helpful.

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