Pedernales Falls State Park

At the falls the Pedernales River runs over and around great slabs of layered limestone, dropping in steps through a broad rocky channel. Most days it is quiet. But the water can rise from a placid stream to a raging torrent in a few minutes, and the park warns visitors to leave the river at once if it rises or turns muddy. For that reason swimming and wading are not allowed in the falls area; there is a separate swimming area, reached by a strenuous quarter-mile hike with steep rock stairs.

Texas Parks and Wildlife bought the 4,860 acres from private owners in 1970. The land is typical Edwards Plateau country: dry grassland, cedar brakes, oak and mesquite woods, and banks lined with bald cypress. More than 150 species of birds live in or pass through the park, among them the golden-cheeked warbler.

The half-mile Twin Falls Nature Trail leads to an overlook, and the six-mile Wolf Mountain Trail circles Tobacco and Wolf mountains. Mountain bikers have the ten-mile Juniper Ridge Trail, riders ten miles of rocky horse trail, and paddlers can put in at the swimming area or Trammell's Crossing, but never at the falls.