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From The Map To You

Colorado Bend State Park

Bend, Texas

Deep in the heart of Texas on the northern edge of the Texas Hill country you will find a beautiful Texas State Park, Colorado Bend State Park.

Colorado Bend State Park — Dude RV field still

Trail Notes

What we noticed on the ground

Deep in the heart of Texas on the northern edge of the Texas Hill country you will find a beautiful Texas State Park, Colorado Bend State Park. One of the highlights of a visit to Colorado Bend State Park is paying a visit to Gorman Falls. This 70 ft hill country waterfall is stunning! The trail to Gorman Falls is rated as easy but be advised it is not a developed trail and is so very rocky. The trail to Gorman Falls in my opinion should be rated as a med due to the slick rock scramble at the end. Colorado Bend State Park is a dry campground and that means no RV connections. There are several vault toilets and a spring fed swimming hole to get clean in. A very beautiful riverside campground that is very removed from modern civilation. This is a must see Texas State Park! Come along with me as I explore Colorado Bend State Park

Field notes: Field coverage sourced from Dude RV campground map video embeds; no invented site intel.

Mapped with our Texas State Parks stops.

Living guide

What the weather is usually like at Colorado Bend State Park

NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for the Lampasas, TX weather station, 18.9 miles from Colorado Bend State Park, show that the warmest month is August (average high 96.7 F) and the coolest is January (average low 33.7 F).

May is usually the wettest month, at about 4.58 inches of rain, and July the driest, at about 1.88 inches. The monthly figures add up to about 32.2 inches in a typical year.

Average high, average low and rain by month (1991-2020 normals)
MonthHigh (F)Low (F)Rain (in)
January59.933.72.24
February63.737.72.19
March70.944.12.96
April78.452.32.53
May85.061.84.58
June92.169.13.53
July95.872.11.88
August96.771.62.34
September90.265.02.45
October80.654.23.02
November70.443.32.25
December61.335.12.20

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (monthly), station Lampasas, TX (USC00415018), 18.9 miles from the park. Station elevation about 1032 ft; the map pin is at about 1328 ft (USGS). Data retrieved 2026-10-02.

See today's forecast for Colorado Bend State Park (National Weather Service)

The story

The story

Colorado Bend State Park began as a 5,328.3-acre (2,156 ha) state park on the Colorado River, mostly in San Saba County, Texas, United States.

The smaller part in Lampasas County has no public access.

The State of Texas purchased the land in 1984, and the park opened to the public in 1987.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages the park.

The park has many of the karst features typically seen in the Texas Hill Country, with many sinkholes, caves, and springs.

The Gorman Spring and a few other springs feed Gorman Creek.

Visit the 70-foot Gorman Falls on your own or with a park guide.

Come prepared for a 3-mile round trip hike over rough and rocky terrain.

There are over 150 species of birds that live in the park, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.

The endemic, near-threatened Guadalupe bass is among the fish that live in the river.

Experience rugged tent camping alongside the Colorado River.

Bring your gear - the fishing is good!

The Spicewood Springs trail, one of the hiking trails in the park, has numerous creek crossings.

The trail is 2.5-mile (4.0 km)-long one way, but hikers can take a slightly different hike back.

It has numerous spring-fed swimming holes along the trail.

The Gorman Creek trail is divided into a blue-marker loop and a yellow-marker loop, with dry chaparral terrain.

The highlights of the park trails are a travertine creek on the east, and a large waterfall with caves on the west.

Also, many wild-cave tour opportunities are available, ranging in difficulty from walking to crawling.

The park offers back-to-nature camping.

Marvel at the beauty of Gorman Falls, cool off in Spicewood Springs, fish or paddle the river, take a cave tour, and test your limits on 35 miles of hike and bike trails.

Sources: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/colorado-bend https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Bend_State_Park

Planning your visit

Planning your visit

Reservations are required.

Choose from drive-up sites, walk-in tent sites or primitive hike-in sites .

The drive-up and hike-in sites have water in the area, but no hookups.

Composting toilets are near the main camping area and at one trailhead.

An open-air, rinse-off shower is near the campground.

Headquarters Hours Open daily, 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

To guarantee entry, reserve passes online or by calling the customer service center before you visit.

Entrance road can flood during heavy rains.

Entrance Fees Adult: $5 Daily Child 12 Years and Under: Free.

RV notes

RV notes

Elevation 1,025 feet.

Call the park with your rig length before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Q: What is the entry fee?

Entrance Fees Adult: $5 Daily Child 12 Years and Under: Free (TPWD, fetched 2026-10-21).

Q: Are there hookups?

The drive-up and hike-in sites have water in the area, but no hookups (TPWD, fetched 2026-10-21).

Q: How do reservations work?

Reservations are required (TPWD, fetched 2026-10-21).

Q: Can the road flood?

Entrance road can flood during heavy rains (TPWD, fetched 2026-10-21).

Q: Are there tours or trails?

Explore more than 35 miles of trails (TPWD, fetched 2026-10-21).

Q: When did it open?

The State of Texas purchased the land in 1984, and the park opened to the public in 1987 (Wikipedia).

Updates

Updates

Know Before YOU Go

Here’s what I’d tell you before you roll in

  • Typecampground
  • WhereBend, Texas
  • GPS31.065169, -98.504232

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Photo mounts

Stills from the stop

Colorado Bend State Park — field still 1
Colorado Bend State Park — field still 2

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Handy Gear For Stops Like This

Activity-based recommendations for this kind of place. These are not claims that the gear was used here.

Solar Powered Mole Repellent

Solar Powered Mole Repellent

Handy outdoor living gear for stays at Colorado Bend State Park.

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VEVOR Beach/Push Carts

VEVOR Beach/Push Carts

Handy outdoor living gear for stays at Colorado Bend State Park.

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VEVOR Garden Dome Tent

VEVOR Garden Dome Tent

Handy outdoor living gear for stays at Colorado Bend State Park.

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5ft Folding Table

5ft Folding Table

Handy outdoor living gear for stays at Colorado Bend State Park.

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Bird Feeder Pole

Bird Feeder Pole

Handy outdoor living gear for stays at Colorado Bend State Park.

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Colorado Bend State Park

Bend, Texas

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