Tourist Attractions - Nature and Natural Areas in the Highland Lakes area of the Texas Hill Country

BLUEBONNET TRAIL
Bluebonnet Trail Information	Enjoy the splendor of the Texas wildflowers. Take sceinc drives through the Lakes and Hills region.	Attend the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival the second weekend in April.
BALD EAGLES HABITAT IN LLANO
American Bald Eagle Photos	Nine miles east of Llano on Highway 29 a family of Bald Eagles can be viewed from the roadside during the nesting season. This is between November and March of each year. Their nest is within 150' from the highway making this one of the closest opportunities to witness these American symbols of beauty anywhere in the wild. Visits on rainy days offer spectacular views of the birds sitting majestically on their treetop perches. Another family of bald eagles inhabit the canyons on the north end of Lake Buchanan on the Colorado River and can be seen from the Vanishing Texas River Cruise boat tours. For a Map of both locations click here.
CANYON OF THE EAGLES
Canyon of the Eagles A Calibre Resort Lake Buchanan 16942 RR 2341 Burnet	Canyon of the Eagles Lodge and Nature Park is located on LCRA-owned land along the shores of Lake Buchanan in Burnet County, about 75 miles northwest of Austin in the Central Texas Hill Country. Open year-round Facilities include multiple fishing docks and piers along three miles of lakefront, an outdoor amphitheater, a 64-unit lodge, swimming pool, restaurant, meeting rooms, campgrounds, RV sites, hiking trails, a lights-out observatory area for stargazing, 14 miles of nature trails, 5 mile recreation area for canoeing and kayaking.and an embarkation point for the Vanishing Texas River Cruise on Lake Buchanan and a 3,200-square-foot natural science center that can accommodate up to 120 people. This hill country resort is accessible from all over Texas within a short 4 hour drive from San Antonio, Dallas / Ft. Worth, Houston or Austin.	800-977-0081 512-334-2070
COLBERT RANCH
Colbert Ranch 2505 RR 1174 South Bertram	Colbert Ranch offers the finest horseback-riding program in the Hill Country. We also offer Picnics, Cowboy Golf, Hayrides, Fishing and more. Prices start at $35/hr. per person. All day, Every Day!	512-355-3225 512-355-2444 512-355-2737 fax
CYPRESS VALLEY CANOPY TOURS
Cypress Ranch Canopy Tours 1223 Paleface RR Spicewood TX, 78669 512.264.8880	Cypress Valley Canopy Tours® is a treetop adventure park in Spicewood, Texas. Cypress Valley offers three unique tour options: The Canopy Tour; The Canopy Challenge; The Sunrise Birding Tour.
ENCHANTED ROCK
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area Reservations: 512-389-8900 Park Information: 1-800-792-1112.	Enchanted Rock State Natural Area consists of 1643.5 acres on Big Sandy Creek, north of Fredericksburg, on the border between Gillespie and Llano Counties. Enchanted Rock was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level, and covers 640 acres. It is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formation uncovered by erosion) in the United States and humans have visited here for over 11,000 years. Camping fees vary; entrance fee. . Current conditions including fire bans and water levels can vary from day to day.
HIDDEN FALLS ADVENTURE PARK
Hidden Falls Adventure Park 7030 E. FM 1431 Marble Falls, TX	The largest Off-Road Park in Texas. Come play with us on our 3,000 acre park and ride over 200 miles of trails. Hidden Falls also offers Paintball, Shooting Range, (18) RV Sites w/Hook-ups, Campsites, horseback, hike and bike trails.	830-798-9820
INKS LAKE NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY
Inks Lake Fish Hatchery Route 2 Burnet 512- 793-2474	Produces one million channel catfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, and rainbow trout annually for stocking in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Oklahoma. Primary distribution is to waters on Federal lands for restoration objectives. Waterfowl and shorebird observation, study, and photography. There is a fishing pier and a Visitor Center with interpretive signs.
KRAUSE SPRINGS
Krause Springs 34 miles west of Austin in Spicewood 830-693-4181	Possibly the most beautiful swimming hole in the state. Situated on a bluff overlooking Cypress Creek, Krause Springs is actually two swimming holes in one, the spring-fed swimming pool and below that is the creek, lined with towering cypress trees and a waterfall coming over a cliff covered with ferns. Campsites and RV spaces are available.
GRANITE MOUNTAIN
Hwy 1431 Marble Falls	Huge dome of high-quality pink and red granite, prized worldwide. Quarrying began in 1880s for construction of the Texas Capitol, and has provided an unending flow ever since without the bulk of the dome diminished. View from roadside picnic area.
LONGHORN CAVERNS
Longhorn Cavern State Park Park Road 4, off Hwy 281 512-756-4680 512-715-0676 (fax) 877-441-CAVE	Locatated near Inks Lake State Park, the Cavern is located in Back- bone Ridge, which is a huge piece of Ellenburger Limestone formed by a shallow sea over 450 million years go. The cavern is a popular spot to visit because of its constant 64° temperature year round. Guided tours take approximately 1 hour, 25 minutes. Other park features include a gift shop, snack bar, picnic area, trails and a scenic park of oaks and junipers.
PACKSADDLE MOUNTAIN
	Packsaddle Mountain in Kingsland is an area land mark that is of interest to both historians and geologists. Intriguing traces of gold, silver and other minerals have been reported in the sands of Honey Creek and the mountainside. The mountain was the site of a fierce battle with Apache Indians on August 5, 1873. Easily seen from most of the area lakes, the long saddle in the mountains is where it gets its name. (Located between Marble Falls and Fuzzy's Comer on Highway 1431).
PARKS - NATIONAL AND STATE
	There are over 10 State and National Parks in the area. For more information, visit our Parks Section
REVEILLE PEAK RANCH
Reveille Peak Ranch 105 CR 114 Burnet, TX 78611	Reveille Peak Ranch is the Texas Hill Country at it's best, combining the love for the land with the spirit of adventure. This 1,300- acre outdoor event ranch & adventure and education center, is just outside the Burnet in the Highland Lakes area, and less than an hour from Austin. Whether you're looking for some of the best mountain biking, trail running,, fitness training, exciting outdoor recreation, SCUBA diving, or a full-service venue to host an event for dozens or thousands, Reveille Peak Ranch provides an experience like no other in Texas.	512-755-1177 512-755-4417
THE SLAB
Llano River crossing in Kingsland Pluton, aka "The Slab"	The Slab is a favorite great swimming hole called located on the Llano River and Ranch Road 3404. The lazy Llano River drifts over large out croppings of granite which creates pools of inviting, cool water during the warm summer months. Near the bridge, currents begin to pick up speed to flow through narrow row siphons. The water then gently cascades on down the river into Lake LBJ.
VANISHING TEXAS RIVER CRUISE
Vanishing Texas River Cruise Canyon of the Eagles on Lake Buchanan 1-800-4 RIVER-4 1-512-756-6986	Winter and early spring are dominated by some twenty-five American Bald Eagles that migrate to the Texas Colorado River Canyon for the winter. Dine on our traditional Mexican/American Fajita Buffet while viewing the awesome beauty of the Colorado River Canyon. Enjoy waterfalls, towering cliffs, abundant wildlife and the many scenic vistas along the river banks. Imagine your own isolated paradise and forget that any other world exists beyond this.