Two state parks, a 1,100-acre LCRA preserve, two lake shorelines, and a downtown riverfront — more public outdoor space per capita than almost any county in the metro.
6,600 acres in the heart of the Lost Pines. CCC-era headquarters, swimming pool, cabins, hiking, biking, fishing. Most visited park in the county. Reservations strongly recommended on weekends.
1,016 acres, 12 miles east of Bastrop. Quieter, more mature canopy (less of it burned in 2011), small lake, paved camping loops. Underrated.
1,100-acre LCRA preserve at the western edge of the county. Five distinct ecosystems, 18 miles of trails, riverside bluffs, environmental learning center. Day-use only.
LCRA-run lakeside parks on a power-plant cooling lake. Year-round swimming because the water stays warmer. Fishing, paddleboards, primitive and RV camping.
Bastrop's downtown riverfront park. Boat ramp, playground, splash pad, riverwalk access. The community gathering point for festivals and movie nights.
Smaller community parks for kayak put-ins, picnics, and evening walks. Locals' parks more than tourist destinations.
The county has more than 50 miles of public trails across the parks system. Bastrop and Buescher State Parks are connected by Park Road 1C and a hike-and-bike trail through the forest. McKinney Roughs has the steepest terrain. The Lost Pines Trail concept — a long-distance route linking the parks — is partially built and continuing.
The Colorado River is the county's defining recreation amenity. Public put-ins at Fisherman's Park (Bastrop), Smithville's riverfront, and several LCRA access points let you launch a kayak, canoe, or float tube. Outfitters in town rent gear and run shuttles. The current is gentle; the water is fishable; the scenery is the best in Central Texas.