Description of the Park and Natural Area
The State Park and State Natural area encompasses 4,699 acres in the Texas Hill Country on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau. Straddling the boundary between Kendall and Comal counties, the Park and State Natural Area lie about 35 miles north of San Antonio and 30 miles northwest of New Braunfels.
The Guadalupe River divides the State Park into a northern section, known as the Bauer unit, containing 661 acres, and a southern section of 1,227 acres. The north section has 2.9 miles of river frontage, the south section 1.2 miles. The north section was acquired in 1974-1975, the south section in 1975. The Park opened to the public in 1983.
The State Natural Area contains 2,761 acres, bisected by Honey Creek, an approximately 2-mile long permanent stream. The area was acquired in 1985 and 1988. Due to the fragility and relatively pristine nature of the area, access is restricted to guided interpretive hikes and other supervised events and activities.
Announcement: Volunteer Appreciation Day – Saturday, October 5, 2024
Mark your calendars! The Friends of Guadalupe River /Honey Creek and the Park Staff are excited to announce an upcoming Volunteer Appreciation Gathering on Saturday, October 5th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. We will meet in the wonderful Barn at Honey Creek Ranch so, please save the date! We look forward to honoring your contributions and celebrating all that we’ve achieved together. This special event is our way of saying “thank you” to the incredible volunteers who have dedicated their time, energy, and passion to making our park a better place for all. Whether you’ve helped with habitat restoration, guided tours, educational programs, or special events, this gathering is for you. It’s our chance to celebrate your hard work, share stories, and enjoy an afternoon of camaraderie with fellow volunteers. In addition to visiting with fellow volunteers, we will have a presentation by Elizabeth McGreevy, author of the book, Wanted! Mountain Cedars: Dead and Alive.
Near the end of the celebration, there will be an opportunity to visit the gravesite of Michael Moos, who lived just one day and is buried in a field at Honey Creek Ranch. The Moos Infant Grave is listed in the Texas Historic Sites Atlas of the Texas Historical Commission. The grave marker was a cedar tree trimmed to grow in the shape of a cross, but now dead (pictured below).
