The Park has approximately 11 miles of trails for hiking and jogging/running. The main part of the Park (south of the Guadalupe River) has 5 miles, and the Bauer Unit (north of the Guadalupe River) has 6 miles. Trails around the Day Use area in the main part of the Park, however, are often heavily trafficked on weekends and in the summer, and thus may be less rewarding for jogging or running during high-traffic times.
The trails in the main part of the park consist of old two track ranch roads and some single-track trails some of which are multi-use (which mean that you may see a horse on the trail). Most areas in the park on our trails have decent cell phone service so be sure to take your cell phone if you have one to make any necessary calls if needed or to just post your experiences to your social media pages so we can all live through your experiences!
The Bauer Unit trails are more of an outdoor adventure experience that you won’t see too many people on because its off the main park and it’s a bit of an extra drive to get there. The Bauer Unit is open 8am-8pm with a gated entry that is time sensitive with a code that is posted on the gate. Please wait to enter the code after 8am so it doesn’t lock out due to multiple early entries.
Please take a trail map with you or at least study it before you venture off in the park so you don’t get lost. If you have a smart phone, you can also use GPS to help you navigate, and there are many free apps that not only provide you with your exact location but also can track and record your route on the trails.
Trail map
Please click on the map to the right for a zoomable map of the Park’s trails.
Directions to Bauer Unit:
Turn right onto HWY 46 from Park Road 31. Go 3 miles and turn right on to FM 3351. Go approximately 3.5 miles and turn right on Edge Falls Road. Continue for 2.4 miles and turn right on Acker Road. Go 2.2 miles to entrance.
For serious runners, the Park co-sponsors the Guadalupe Trail Fest each October in the Bauer Unit. It consists of a half marathon and 12k. Both of the races will run through single and double track trail that borders the Guadalupe River. As the advertising of the 2018 Trail Fest noted, the Guadalupe River State Park’s Bauer Unit is a hidden jewel of trails that run along the shores of the Guadalupe River and consists of some of the most beautiful landscape the Texas Hill Country has to offer.
The Honey Creek State Natural Area is open to hiking only on Saturdays at 9:00 am and on second and fourth Saturdays at 10:00 am except during the hot summer months. Hikes in Honey Creek are interpretive nature walks, led by experienced trail guides and Master Naturalists. For more information on these guided hikes, please click here.
Suggested Items to bring for hikes and jogging/running:
- Dark glasses.
- Hydration Pack: recommend a pack with at least a 70 oz. capacity, 100 oz. for folks doing longer hikes or runs.
- Water bottle(s): some folks like to have electrolyte in a bottle for hydration supplement. Bring more water than you think you’ll need.
- Snacks/food: enough to get you through the hike you have planned plus a bit more to share with friends that did not bring enough.
- First Aid Kit is a great idea; bring a small kit with enough stuff to deal with small wounds.