Stephen F. Austin State Park offers camping and trails near the Brazos

Stephen F. Austin State Park is located in San Felipe, about 50 miles west of Houston. The park sits along the Brazos River inside the wooded bottomland where Austin's original colony was centered. Five miles of hiking and biking trails run along the riverbank and through upland swamp terrain. The park offers full-hookup RV sites, tent sites, screened shelters, and a cabin. Day-use admission for adults is $5; children 12 and under enter free.

The park is open year-round. It sits next to the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, which has a separate museum focused on Austin's colonial capital. Reservations for camping are managed through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reservation system. The park phone is 979-885-3613.

Wildlife in the bottomland includes white-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos, and foxes. The spring and fall months tend to be the most comfortable for outdoor activity in this part of Texas.