Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
19
Palmetto State Park: Pal-
metto and Lake Trails
Palmetto State Park offers excellent short trail options that can be hiked during a single outing. Palmetto
Trail and Lake Trail have been combined into a single hike. The Palmetto Trail conjures scenes from the
film Jurassic Park, with clinging vines, dwarf palmettos, and green ponds in the Ottine Swamp. Lake
Trail circles the four-acre Oxbow Lake, formed by the meandering San Marcos River, which offers a
variety of vegetation and possibly some water snakes.
Distance: 1 mile for both (0.3-mile Palmetto Trail, lollipop; 0.7-mile Lake Trail, loop)
Approximate hiking time: 0.75 hour total
Difficulty: Easy due to the level terrain and good shade
Trail surface: Dirt
Best seasons: Year-round
Other trail users: Dog walkers
Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted
Land status: State park; Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Fees and permits: Fee required, or use the State Parks Pass
Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily
Maps: Trail maps are available in the park office. You can also find maps on the Web
site www.tpwd.state.tx.us; USGS Ottine
Trail contacts: Palmetto State Park, Park Road 11 South, Gonzales 78629; (830)
672-3266
Finding the trailhead:
To reach the park from Gonzales, travel 10 miles northwest on
US 183 to FM 1586. Go west on FM 1586 for 2 miles to Ottine, then south on PR 11 for
2 miles to park headquarters. DeLorme: Texas Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 78 A5. GPS: N
29 35.367' / W 97 34.920'
