🥾 ActiveWeekend · from Austin, TX
Stone Peaks & Crimson Maples
Escape Austin to conquer granite peaks and wander beneath blazing maple canopies in two iconic Hill Country natural sanctuaries.
Day 1 — Enchanted Rock State Natural AreaDay 2 — Lost Maples State Natural Area
Day 1 — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Day 1 — Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
🚗 3 hr 13 min driving📍 5 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Austin, TX → Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
1 hr 47 min8:00 AM → 9:47 AM
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
★ 4.8A massive pink granite dome rising 425 feet above the Texas Hill Country, offering panoramic views, hiking trails, and rock climbing that draw visitors from across the region.
9:47 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
Hill Top Cafe
★ 4.2A Texas Hill Country institution in a 1930s filling station north of Fredericksburg — Cajun-influenced plates, live music on weekends, and a wildly eclectic atmosphere. People drive an hour for this.
10:47 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area → Turkey Pass Summit Trailhead
2 min12:00 PM → 12:02 PM
Turkey Pass Summit Trailhead
Climb rocky switchbacks through oak and juniper woodland to reach panoramic hilltop views stretching across the Hill Country. Watch for wildlife and wildflowers along this moderately strenuous 4-6 mile round-trip.
12:02 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Turkey Pass Summit Trailhead → Hondo's On Main
24 min5:00 PM → 5:24 PM
Hondo's On Main
★ 4.3A lively Hill Country roadhouse with Texas comfort food and live music on the patio.
5:24 PM📍 See location
🚗
Drive
Hondo's On Main → Lost Maples State Natural Area
1 hr6:24 PM → 7:24 PM
🛏️
Texas Stagecoach Inn
A small historic inn in Vanderpool at the entrance to the Lost Maples corridor — the closest lodging to the park, with simple rooms in a restored 19th-century Texas stage stop and a location that puts you minutes from the morning trailheads.
Day 2 — Lost Maples State Natural Area
Day 2 — Lost Maples State Natural Area
🚗 3 hr 33 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Lost Maples State Natural Area → Lost Maples State Natural Area — East Trailhead
5 min8:00 AM → 8:05 AM
Lost Maples State Natural Area
★ 4.8Famous for dramatic canyon scenery and rare bigtooth maple trees that offer spectacular fall foliage, this gem near Vanderpool is a favorite among hikers and photographers.
8:05 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
Mill Creek Cafe
★ 4.3A Texas Hill Country café with scratch cooking and a relaxed atmosphere that suits any pace of road trip. A dependable midday option in a stretch of Texas where good food is worth knowing about.
9:05 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Lost Maples State Natural Area → Pond Day Use Area
6 min12:00 PM → 12:06 PM
Pond Day Use Area
Explore scenic loops around crystalline spring-fed ponds, spotting turtles and native fish while hiking through cedar groves and limestone bluffs. Perfect for swimming, picnicking, and easy-to-moderate trail exploration.
12:06 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
🚗
Drive
Pond Day Use Area → The Hog Pen on 336 BBQ
33 min5:00 PM → 5:33 PM
🍽️ Dinner5:33 PM
The Hog Pen on 336 BBQ
Escape to this rustic smokehouse destination to experience authentic Texas barbecue traditions with live entertainment and a true Hill Country atmosphere just a short drive from Austin.
2 options · tap to switch
🚗
Drive
The Hog Pen on 336 BBQ → Austin, TX
2 hr 49 min6:33 PM → 9:22 PM
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