Colorado Bend State Park

Base of the Gorman Fall

Beneath the Gorman Fall

Colorado Bend State Park is a 5,328.3-acre (2,156 ha) Texas state park in the Hill Country region. It was purchased in 1984 and opened to public in 1987. It is representative of the karst features typically seen in the Hill Country, with many sinkholes, caves, and springs.

Hiking trails

The Spicewood Springs trail is one of the hiking trails in the park with numerous creek crossings. 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.

A protected portion of the park is open by guided tour only. The Gorman Spring and a couple of other springs feed Gorman Creek, which then descends a spectacular 65 feet (20 m) feet forming what is known as Gorman Falls. The tour is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) round trip trail leading to the spectacular waterfall, which is formed by fern covered Travertine. The self-guided Gorman Spring trail and the trail to the waterfall is now open to the public during regular park hours. There are also many wild cave tour opportunities, ranging in difficulties from walking to crawling.

Flora

A variety of flowers could be found in Colorado Bend State Park.

• 

  Castilleja indivisa
  Indian Paintbrush, taken along Gorman Creek Trail

• 

  Asclepias asperula
  Antelope Horns, taken along Gorman Creek Trail

See also

• Colorado River (Texas)
• Texas Hill Country
• Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

External links

• http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/colorado_bend/
• Facilities Map of Colorado Bend State Park
• Event Schedules of Colorado Bend State Park

Coordinates: 31°3′14″N 98°29′32″W / 31.05389°N 98.49222°W / 31.05389; -98.49222