A tropical waterfall in Texas? Hundreds of hidden underground caves, some not yet explored? A bubbling natural spring inviting you for a long, cool soak? Yep, right here in Texas. Just cruise three to four hours southwest of Dallas/Fort Worth to find this hidden oasis, right here in the Lone Star state: Colorado Bend State Park.

Last summer, our college-age son introduced us to this little-known state park in the Northern reaches of Texas’ Hill Country in Bend, Texas. He had landed a summer internship at this unpretentious Texas treasure and, after our first visit, we quickly became a couple of its most ardent admirers.

You’ll feel like you’re going to the middle of nowhere. The town of Bend is made up of a couple of buildings and one hamburger joint with a cantankerous owner who opens and closes for business at will. Keep going and follow the signs to the park — down a gravel road that never seems to end. Be patient and 20 minutes later you’ll arrive at the site of a former fishing camp. Colorado Bend State Park is 5,300+ acres of awe-inspiring biodiversity along six miles of Colorado River frontage. It is one of the state’s newest parks, having only opened to the public in 1987, and offers 26-miles of mixed-use trails that wind through the limestone canyon lands and offer breath-taking vistas of Hill Country.

The river offers riverbank camping, fly fishing (it’s famous for the white bass run in the Spring), swimming, and, if the water’s deep enough, canoing.

The park’s prime jewel is the 60-foot high Gorman Falls, now accessible to the public for day use activities via a 3-mile round trip self-guided hike over rugged terrain or via a two-hour 1-1/2 mile park-guided tour. You won’t see it from the road. It’s worth the hike — round one bend in the limestone and you’ll think you’re in the Brazilian rainforest.

Approximately 150 wild caves are also located on the park property — ONLY accessible via guided park tour. An experienced guide will lead you on a speleo-adventure through caves where you crawl, slide, and climb through small spaces and into large chambers. Be prepared to get dirty and maybe even soaked (not for the claustrophobic or arachnophobic). [NOTE: Unfortunately, the large Gorman Cave shown in the picture has been closed to walking tours, as of July 29, 2010, to prevent possible human transmission of White Nose Disease to the large, native colony of bats.]

Another hike and you’ll discover Spicewood Springs — a series of sparkling clear, natural-fed spring pools, that invite you to slip into their cooling embrace and unwind after a long day of hiking or caving.

Looking for wildlife? Birders can enjoy viewing some of 155 species of birds found in the park, including specialties such as golden-cheeked warblers, black-capped vireos, and bald eagles. Herpers (that’s folks who seek out amphibians and reptiles) can check out lots of local rock dwellers, including the elusive black-tailed rattlesnake. If you prefer mammals, they also have their share of raccoons, cottontails, and armadillo.

Be forewarned — this locale is not for the Ritz Carlton type of vacationers. Although Colorado Bend’s natural wonders offers you Texas bliss, the available overnight accommodations are limited and rather primitive. Riverbank tent camping is available and self-contained RVs spaces are limited (generators must be turned off by 10 pm). Composting toilets and cold water-only showers are available onsite. Your only other option is one of the affordable chain hotels, about a 45-60 minutes drive away in Copperas Cove, Lampasas, or San Saba.

A few important Tips for your Visit

1) Do NOT drive your luxury vehicle. There is an 8-mile long gravel road just to get into the park that kicks up a ton of dust and requires a very slow 15-20 mph crawl — and you might want to change your air filter once you get home.

2) Do NOT bring children under 8 years old or those who can’t hike over rough terrain for long stretches — this is NOT stroller country or for kids who poop-out after 10 minutes of hiking. Perfect for older kids, teens, and adults who adore the wonders of nature (just forewarn your teens that cell phones do NOT work here…yes!).

3) DO bring all your provisions with you. Either bring EVERYTHING you need from home or stock-up in the not-so-near towns of Lampasas or San Saba.

4) DO make early reservations for your campsite and get there early on a weekend — first come get the best sites. The park is especially busy in March and April — the white bass run and wild laurel in bloom brings out lots of nature-loving visitors.

4) DO call ahead to make reservations for the Gorman Falls waterfall tours and crawling cave tours — incredibly informative, led by knowledgeable park naturalists. Call the park office directly to check schedules, weather conditions, and to make reservations: 325/628-3240.

Available Tours

Gorman Falls Tour: 1.5-mile round trip hike to the Falls, reservations recommended, $5 per person, offered each Saturday at 2 pm.

Gorman Cave Crawling Tour: reservations required, $30 per person, Saturdays at 9:00 am.

A mere 4-hour drive from DFW will take you deep into the Ouachita National Forest of southeastern Oklahoma and into the tiny town of Broken Bow. Now, don’t expect much here — that’s the point. The town has little to offer other than a few family restaurants and a gas station. But, follow the signs for the state-run Beavers Bend Resort Park and you’ll discover a hidden gem of nature — the 14,000-acre Lake Broken Bow, the Mountain Fork River whose sandy beaches offer great canoe picnic spots, 16 miles of hiking trails and 4 miles of mountain bike trails that wander along ridge tops, over creek bottoms, through tall stands of timber, and into areas so remote you can almost experience what early-day explorers must have felt. There’s even a tiny nature center and museum. Native wildlife includes deer, turkey, rabbit, bobcat, coyote and raccoon. Bald eagles likes to winter on the river, so keep your cameras handy.

Lodging is easy. The park offers a choice of a The Lakeview Lodge, cabins, or RV/tent camping. There’s also lots of neighboring cabin rentals and lodging available off the park premises. Be sure to book early, as more DFW families are discovering this place. There are little to no dining options at the park (except for one general store cafe), so be sure to pack your ice-chest filled with easy breakfast fare and lunches for picnics. Dinner in town is simple and kid-friendly and won’t break the bank.

This quiet retreat offers a lazy weekend for the nature-lover or miles of natural playground for the kids — either way, you’ll sleep soundly after a long day exploring what Beavers Bend has to offer.

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One of the joys of being a wildlife educator is the travel. Yes, you do spend most of the year in the city, where large school districts and elite private schools can easily fund the money to routinely schedule your programs. But, the real adventure is in the travel to small, out-of-the-way towns. Small churches and rural libraries spend the entire year hosting cake sales and car washes to raise the funds to have us visit their community once each summer.

As you drive due east from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the landscape rapidly changes from concrete and suburbs to tall, towering East Texas pines. The air becomes laden with humidity and smells of freshly mown grass and dry pine needles. Glimpses of swampy, bayou lakes, laced with cyprus knees, peek out between stands of heavy trees. Oil pumps, some rythmically moving up and down like egrets, others frozen in time, are sprinkled along the roadways, remnants of a fading era.

Between the long stretches of green are dots of small towns with names like Big Sandy, Uncertain, and Mount Pleasant. Each town has its own unique appeal, but almost always you’ll find the town square and historic courthouse, flower pot-decorated antique shops, peaceful white chapels, the local feed store, the old town graveyard, and historic houses ranging from cajun cottages to Victorian gingerbread. As in all of Texas, each town has a central railroad station, which is what allowed the town to prosper in the first place. Most are now defunct and abandoned, others still serve to transport freight and you can still hear the whistles on a set schedule.

Food is important in East Texas and each town has a favorite local cafe featuring the cobbler of the day. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll find a roadside stand selling local peaches, corn, and homegrown East Texas tomatoes. My favorite? The roadside crawfish and shrimp stands that you’ll find close to the Louisiana border. And, of course, there’s East Texas hot links, a special recipe sausage only found here and served with a fiery, hot sauce (of course).

I never feel more welcome than in East Texas. The small towns are filled with warm, welcoming folk, each yielding the distinctively lilting East Texas accent, mixed with a hint of Louisiana low-country drawl. “Where y’all from?” is always the curious first question, usually followed by the offer of a sweet tea or a Dr. Pepper. The audiences, both children and adults, are delightfully curious and awestuck by something as simple as a hedgehog. And, politeness abounds. You’ll hear “yes, Ma’am” dozens of times each visit and you never have to hold your own door. Who needs summer in the city when you’ve got East Texas?