Texas Hill Country Trail

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Texas Hill Country Trail

This is the official page of the Texas Hill Country Trail Region - one of the 10 Texas Heritage Trails

Our Trails are backroads you can drive...right into the heart of the most scenic region of Texas. First explored by the Spanish who came in search of gold, and settled by many different groups of European immigrants seeking freedom in the mid-1800s, this region was once the home of the "lords of the plains," the Comanche and before them, the Apache. Thousands of buffalo once roamed these hills, not to mention thousands of mustangs and Texas longhorns. The region's tapestry of cultures, friendly people and stunning array of natural resources invite visitors around each and every turn of the road to "Stay all Night, Stay A Little Longer..."

10/19/2026

🎄 Start Planning the Holidays

Fall is the perfect time to plan a holiday getaway.

Many Hill Country towns begin decorating in November, making Thanksgiving through Christmas one of the most magical times to visit.

📍Johnson City, Texas
Dripping Springs
Austin

10/14/2026

When you picture an old Hill Country ranch, you probably picture cattle.

A century ago, you might have been just as likely to see sheep and Angora goats.

The rocky, brushy country of the Edwards Plateau proved particularly well suited to sheep and goats, and wool and mohair became major pieces of the region's economy.

By the late 1800s, Kerrville had emerged as an important wool market. In Bandera County, sheep once outnumbered cattle by more than three to one. And as Angora goat ranching grew, Kerrville would eventually earn a pretty impressive nickname:

The Mohair Capital of the World.

It's a part of Hill Country ranching history that's easy to overlook today.

Cattle may get most of the cowboy movies, but sheep and goats helped shape this place, too.

Historic Photos: Russell Lee

10/11/2026

Looking for a Hill Country town with a few ghost stories to tell? Boerne has you covered.

October brings a decidedly spooky side to this historic community, with opportunities to explore local legends, cemeteries and places with more than a century of stories behind their doors.

Plan a fall visit around Boerne Ghost Tours, the Historic Cemetery Tour, Trick or Treat Trail on the Hill Country Mile, Boerne Boo! at the Patrick Heath Public Library, and Boerne Ghost Stories at the historic Kuhlmann-King Historical Complex.

Boerne Boo! adds plenty of family-friendly fun with trick-or-treating, crafts, games and costumes, while the Kuhlmann-King complex — centered around a home dating to the 1880s — gives those ghost stories an especially historic setting.

Come for the treats. Stay for the history.

And maybe don't ask what goes bump in the night.

🔗 https://events.timely.fun/e6hnx1k2/tile

Visit Boerne

10/10/2026

Yes, Texas does fall color, too.

Tucked along the Sabinal River, Lost Maples State Natural Area is home to stands of bigtooth maples that put on one of the Hill Country's most anticipated shows each fall.

But don't rush it.

Hill Country color tends to arrive on its own schedule—making the wait part of the fun.

When the maples finally turn, you'll understand the hype.

🍁 Lost Maples State Natural Area

10/05/2026

Limestone. Water. Time.

That's really all it took.

At Pedernales Falls State Park, the river winds, tumbles and cascades across massive layers of limestone, creating one of those landscapes that could only be the Texas Hill Country.

Sometimes the best plans are the simple ones:

Take a hike. Find the overlook. Stay awhile.

📍 Pedernales Falls State Park

10/02/2026

Dust off the lederhosen. 🍻

Oktoberfest returns to Fredericksburg THIS WEEKEND October 2–4, bringing three days of German music, food, dancing and plenty of gemütlichkeit to Marktplatz.

And while it's a celebration of Fredericksburg's German heritage, the festival has another local connection: it was founded in 1981 to raise money for the arts. Today, proceeds continue to support scholarships and arts programs in Gillespie County.

Come for the schnitzel. Stay for the polka. And raise a stein to a Hill Country tradition more than 40 years in the making.

📍 Fredericksburg
📅 October 2–4, 2026

09/29/2026

That famous pink Texas Capitol?

Its stone came from the Hill Country.

When the Capitol was being built in the 1880s, its plans originally called for limestone. But concerns over the local stone eventually led builders to another Texas resource: granite from Granite Mountain near Marble Falls.

The owners of Granite Mountain offered the state enough granite to construct the building, and a special railroad was built to help transport the stone.

The result became one of Texas' most recognizable landmarks.

So next time you look at the pink granite walls of the Capitol, remember:

A piece of the Hill Country is standing right in the middle of Austin.

Image Courtesy Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 1/103-55.

09/22/2026

💦 It's Not Too Late for a Frio River Getaway

Think river season is over? Think again.

Late summer and early fall are some of the best times to visit the Frio River. The crowds begin to thin, the water stays refreshingly cool, and warm Texas afternoons are still perfect for floating, swimming, kayaking, or simply relaxing along the riverbank.

Whether you're spending the weekend in Concan, exploring nearby Garner State Park, or enjoying a scenic drive through the Texas Hill Country, there's still time to squeeze in one more river adventure before autumn arrives.

So pack the cooler, grab your favorite people, and head south.

The Frio is calling.

Are you team Frio, Guadalupe, Llano, or Blanco? Tell us your favorite Hill Country river below!

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09/17/2026

🍂 Fall Festival Season Is Calling

Cooler weather, live music, small-town traditions, and plenty of reasons to hit the road—fall is one of the best times to experience the Texas Hill Country.

Here are a few festivals worth adding to your calendar:

🎶 Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival (October 16–18)
Historic Mercer Street comes alive with intimate performances as talented songwriters share the stories behind their music in listening rooms, patios, and local venues throughout downtown.

🍺 Gruene Music & W**e Festival (October 8–11)
Celebrate 40 years of Texas music, Hill Country wines, craft b**r, and community in the heart of historic Gruene.

🥨 Wurstfest | New Braunfels (November 6-15)
A beloved Texas tradition celebrating German heritage with polka music, bratwurst, dancing, b**r, and ten days of Gemütlichkeit.

🍷 Fredericksburg Food & W**e Festival (October 22–25)
Sip, savor, and explore one of Texas' premier culinary events, featuring more than 75 wineries, chef experiences, tastings, and Hill Country flavors in historic downtown Fredericksburg.

🍻 Oktoberfest | Fredericksburg (October 2-4)
One of the Hill Country's signature celebrations, featuring German food, music, dancing, artisans, and family-friendly fun.

🍂 Llano Heritage Days (October 17)
Celebrate the history and heritage of Llano with demonstrations, exhibits, local traditions, and community festivities.

Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or just looking for an excuse to explore a new town, there's no shortage of reasons to hit the road this fall.

Which festival is a can't-miss tradition for you?

09/16/2026

🚗 Scenic Drives Worth Taking

Windows down.

Cooler weather.

The first hints of fall color.

Take the long way through Willow City Loop, Ranch Road 337, or Highway 16 and enjoy one of the best seasons to explore the Hill Country.

Address

Austin, TX

Website

http://txhillcountrytrail.com/

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