Pedernales Falls State Park

Location

The park is located 10 mi east of Johnson City, and about 25 miles west of Austin, Texas.

History

Prior to the year 1970, the area that the park occupies was a working ranch, known as the Circle Bar Ranch. The state of Texas purchased the ranch in 1970, and opened the park in 1971.

Recreation

Many of the recreational activities in Pedernales Falls State Park center around the Pedernales River: swimming, tubing, wading and fishing. The park also has a number of picnic areas and campsites, including some primitive campsites that require a hike of over two miles to reach. There are also 19.8 mi of hiking and mountain biking trails, 10 miles of equestrian trails, and 14 miles of backpacking trails. The entrance fee is $6 daily for persons 13 years or older, children 12 and under are allowed in at no cost. There is a small store at the center.

Like many rivers in central Texas, the Pedernales is prone to variable water levels. A sign at the park shows a relatively tranquil river in one picture and a raging wall of muddy water in the next picture, said to be taken only five minutes after the first. The speed at which flash floods can arise along this river has resulted in several deaths at the park.

Weather

|Jan record high F=89 |Feb record high F=100 |Mar record high F=102 |Apr record high F=101 |May record high F=102 |Jun record high F=110 |Jul record high F=108 |Aug record high F=107 |Sep record high F=110 |Oct record high F=98 |Nov record high F=93 |Dec record high F=89 |year record high F=110 |Jan record low F=7 |Feb record low F=3 |Mar record low F=13 |Apr record low F=27 |May record low F=36 |Jun record low F=50 |Jul record low F=56 |Aug record low F=53 |Sep record low F=37 |Oct record low F=22 |Nov record low F=17 |Dec record low F=1 |year record low F=1

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Nature

The river limestone at Pedernales Falls is 300 million years old. Erosion from deposits in the Cretaceous period created the current formations.

Wildlife in the park is typical of the Texas Hill Country, including white-tailed deer, coyotes, rabbits, armadillos, wild hogs, skunks, opossums and raccoons. Many types of birds, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, can be found in the summer.

Trees commonly found in the area include juniper, pecan, sycamore, elm, walnut, hackberry, and others.

Venomous snakes most commonly found in the Texas Hill Country are the western diamondback rattlesnake, eastern copperhead, and the water moccasin.

References

References

1. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/pedernales-falls/park_history, {{Webarchive. link. (2019-05-13)
2. "Pedernales Falls State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department".
3. "Pedernales Falls State Park Nature — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department".
4. "Pedernales Falls State Park Nature — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department".
5. (22 November 2017). "Venomous Snakes of the Texas Hill Country".