Rio Guadalupe Resort

Camping at Rio Guadalupe Resort is a good base for visiting Canyon Lake, which lies just eight minutes’ drive from the RV park. It was established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1958 along the Guadalupe River to provide flood control and water conservation for the downstream communities. Canyon Lake is now a hub for recreation, with eight different parks scattered along its shores. You can soak up the lake views from the Canyon Overlook Park or cast a line to see what’s biting from the fishing dock in Cranes Mill Park, with two marinas where you can rent boats and jet skis. A 35-minute drive west of the Rio Guadalupe Resort is the Guadalupe River State Park, which encompasses four miles of river frontage where you can paddle, fish, tube, and swim. Begin your visit at the Discovery Center, where you’ll find hands-on discovery boxes and nature-themed exhibits, then explore some of the 13 miles of hiking and biking trails. Highlights include the 2.8-mile Painted Bunting Trail and the short Barred Owl Trail, which accesses a scenic river overlook. Keep your eyes peeled for endangered golden-cheeked warblers that nest in the park’s juniper woodlands. Or, you can kayak or canoe along the Guadalupe River, with the park serving as the starting point for the five-mile Guadalupe River State Park Paddling Trail. A one-hour drive north of the Rio Guadalupe Resort is the Pedernales Falls State Park, which sprawls across a former working ranch east of Johnson City. It centers around the Pedernales River that provides a peaceful setting for swimming, tubing, and fishing. Around 20 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails wind through the park, including the short Twin Falls Nature Trail that offers picturesque views of Pedernales Falls. If you’re after a more challenging hike, follow the six-mile Wolf Mountain Trail or mountain bike on the Juniper Ridge Trail.