Colorado Bend State Park (CBSP) is situated on the the site of two former ranches. CBSP encompasses 5,328 acres, including six miles of frontage on the Colorado River.
There are plans to develop CBSP. Now, the attractions are all natural: primitive camping, fishing, swimming, birding and wildlife watching.
Add 16 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of mountain bike trails (Upper Gorman Creek Trail and River Trail), and there is something for everyone at CBSP.
The most magnficant feature in CBSP is Gorman Falls, a 60-foot high spring-fed waterfall. Water from the creek flows over the cliff and deposits minerals that create travertine formations. Gorman Falls is only available by tour.
At the bottom of the drop is Spicewood Creek, a refreshing natural pool. Please visit the Pbase photograph archive by RichO. He has captured some fine pictures of the Gorman waterfall (and other water features at state parks in Texas).
Although the park has not been developed, there are remnants of its many past lives. The park headquarters is housed in the former Gorman Falls Fish Camp office. You may see the roadbed where it once crossed the creek; the gold mine is still evident and you may find an old tool or two; an old pump, perhaps used to provide water for railroad steam engines and finally to water lifestock, rusts at the top of a hill; and every now and then you will come across a railroad tie.
There are approximately 378 caves and karst features on Colorado Bend State Park. A few are accessible via cave walking and cave crawling tours. Gorman Creek Crevice is the longest cave in San Saba County. In fact it may be the longest cave in Texas. Lemon Ranch Cave has spectacular formations. Many of the caves are little more than sinkholes, but do not explore the caves on your own. In some caves, the level of CO2 is dangerous.
Contact the park (325/628-3240) to make reservations for guided tour and for more information.
- Gorman Falls Tours - 10 am and 2 pm Saturday; 10 am. Sunday (weather permitting).
- Gorman Cave Walking Tours - 915 am Saturday and Sunday (resource and weather permitting)
- Crawling Cave Tours - 9 am First Saturday of each month (resource and weather permitting)
When Lake Buchanan is at normal levels, the trip from the park to Lake Buchannan is a 10-mile trip through the beautiful canyonlands of the Colorado River. Kayak or canoe if water levels permit.
Tags: Colorado Bend State Park, Gorman Falls, travertine falls, 378 karst features and caves, springfed pool, guided tour, Colorado River, Bend, Texas
The sentence below was all I needed to read to realize my guest blog this week would be Andrea Allison and her blog, Southern Expressions.
