Archive for the 'State Parks' Category

New State Park Reservation System

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

This is a Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

Planning your next State Park Getaway just got easier thanks to a new reservation and business system that launched last month. Bryan Frazier has details.

We’re proud to offer what we think is going to be a very helpful solution to a lot of people with a new software system. And it’s an integrated software system. It does everything from the business function to making reservations.

We think it’s really going to help people. And I think what they’ll notice at first is the three dollar online camping fee that we’ve always charged people is going away. That’s going to be one of the good benefits—so maybe it will encourage people to make more online reservations in our state parks. But there will also be some other benefits, like with the state park pass…people can leave with their pass card instead of having the down time waiting for it to come in the mail; they can use their discount coupons on their first visit.

We’re revamping the Bluebonnet pass—the parklands passport for people with disabilities and disable veterans and senior citizens. We’re implementing some new gift card concepts in our state parks. So, this new software system should really be something that helps the customer; it is more convenient for the customer, and makes that experience more efficient and better in the long run.

We’ll have some transition time in the early going in the summer, as we break into this new software system, but we think eventually it will be something that everybody will really like.

Thanks Bryan.

Find more state park information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show … For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

National Trails Day

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

June 5th is National Trails Day—a nationwide event organized by the American Hiking Society to create awareness about the variety of trails across the country. Texas will observe the day with several events.

Head to Seminole Canyon SP and Historic Site in West Texas, where you can participate in a two-mile round trip guided hike that’s an hour and a half long. You’ll even see some of Texas’ oldest known pictographs. The hike is moderately strenuous; remember your sunscreen and bottled water.

Speaking of water…The San Antonio River Authority hosts the Goliad Paddling Trail Flotilla from 9 am to 2 pm, June 5th. The put in is at the US 59 crossing at the San Antonio River; and the take out is at Goliad State Park. You’ll need your own canoe and kayak, and preregistration is required for this 6.6 mile trip. Register at riverrec.org.

Registration is not required for the San Marcos Greenbelt National Trails Day event, a three-mile photography hike. San Marcos, located between Austin and San Antonio, has some truly stunning natural areas! Professional photographers will be along for the hike to provide you and fellow shutterbugs pointers on shooting breath-taking photos. Dress for the weather, wear appropriate footwear, and remember, it’s a photography hike, so bring your camera! Go to smgreenbelt.org for directions.

Even if you don’t participate in one of these events, there’s a state park near you where you can stretch your legs and appreciate the great Texas outdoors.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Park Getaway–Kickapoo Caverns

Monday, May 24th, 2010

This is a Passport to Texas State Park Getaway

Make plans for a road trip June 12 for the grand opening of Kickapoo Cavern State Park. Visitation to the site has been limited—until now. Bryan Frazier is our State Park guide and tells us more about this exciting destination.

It’s out in a little bit of a remote area. A lot of people are familiar with Uvalde, Brackettville and Rock Springs. That’s the area we’re talking about. It’s a beautiful area.

As part of Central Texas, we have so much limestone that creates the caves—the labyrinth of cave systems that we have here—and Kickapoo Cavern actually has fifteen caves on site. And two of them are big enough, significant enough, to be developed for tours: Stewart Bat Cave and Kickapoo Cavern.

And we’ve built campgrounds around that; so we’re going to just unveil that to the public. We’re going to have free entrance, free camping, free bat cave tours and bat flights, free hikes. There’s a network of hike and bike trails. I think you’ve got fourteen miles of developed trails and eighteen miles of undeveloped trails. And it’s a really unique experience and we want to encourage people to get out and do something different. June 12th, the grand opening of Kickapoo Cavern State Park…so….put that on your calendar.

Thanks Bryan.

Find all the details about the Kickapoo Caverns State Park grand opening on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show … For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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June 12, 2010 — Kickapoo Cavern SP — Grand Opening — Bring a picnic lunch and spend the day or the weekend! We will have the Kickapoo Cavern Wild Cave Tour (bring sturdy shoes and two flashlights), birding, native plant walk, hiking, mountain biking (bikes and helmets provided), Evening Bat Flight viewing, hands-on Archeology and more! All activities on a first come, first served basis. Some age restrictions may apply. Light refreshments served at 10:00 a.m. in conjunction with Sergeant Memorial Trail Dedication. Free entry, camping (reservations required) and guided tours. Main activities 8 a.m.-5 p.m., but early morning birding and evening bat flight viewing also planned. For more information or camping reservations, contact the park. (830) 563-2342.

Fun Hikes with Dogs

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

:04—You know, I think my dogs like me more now since I took them on all those hikes.

Melissa Gaskill hiked over three hundred miles with her dogs while conducting research for her book, Best Hikes with Dogs Texas Hill Country and Gulf Coast.

:13—I really love the Lake Georgetown Trail. I also love the Hill Country State Natural Area. That one was really great. And then, some of the East Texas trails in the Big Thicket, in the National Forests. You get into deep thick woods and you find all kids of swampy areas.

Some of her favorite hikes were in Texas State Parks.

:26—In my experience, all the hikes that I made in state parks – it was really easy to stay on the trail. You know there’s lots of nice amenities, the staff is always really helpful. They’re always really excited you’re there and willing to share what they know. And there’s so much variety. I hiked in Galveston Island State Park, which is basically just walking through a coastal marsh – tons of wildflowers and you see waterfowl. Nice vistas, they had a viewing tower that you could climb up. And then, you know, you hike in Enchanted rock and you’re climbing a giant rock.

Gaskill says Texas has a lot of variety to offer hikers and their furry friends.

:05—Among these trails, there’s just about anything you could want from flat coasts to mountains and everything in between.

Find more information about hiking on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Hiking with Man’s Best Friend

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

This is Passport to Texas

For everyone out there who has ever had trouble finding a hiking companion, Melissa Gaskill suggests you may want to consider recruiting your dog.

It’s just great for the dog. I mean so many people have dogs and the dogs don’t get enough stimulation and exercise and interaction; and rather than having to do something like take them to a dog park where you’re just doing something for the dog – this is something for both of you.

Gaskill is the author of Best Hikes with Dogs Texas Hill Country and Gulf Coast. She says it’s easy to start hiking with man’s best friend.

You don’t need any special skills really. If you haven’t done it, don’t start with a twenty-five mile overnight. But for the most part, if you can carry a backpack with some water in it and you’ve got some shoes on – you can go.

Before heading out, to a state park, Gaskill recommends doing some research to make sure that dogs are allowed and that the trail is right for you.

Every park has some management. Whoever is in charge of it, whoever owns it, and they’ll have their own rules. You just have to ask. One thing that I would recommend is talking to the people at the park when you go for a variety of reasons. Ask them about the conditions of the trail. You might ask them what sorts of hazards there are. You can ask them about the weather. You know, people at the parks are really knowledgeable, they’re there and in general, they love to talk to you.

Dogs are welcome in state parks across Texas but leashes are required.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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Prepping Your Pooch for a Camping Trip