Beautiful Texas Spectacles

Venturing through the brush and along the trails will lead you to the greatest spectacles at this Texas park: Colorado Bend State Park. With various trails and hidden gems, hikers are always revisiting to get another look. Read about the park including terrain, weather, wildlife, and more about my trip to Colorado Bend State Park.

All photos are original and captured by me!

At the Colorado River Overlook on Tie Slide Trail.

Terrain & Weather

I visited the Colorado Bend State Park in February 2022 at 2:30pm. The sun was out with little clouds and a slight breeze, while temperatures resided around the mid 60-70s. I was comfortable in my light layers.

The terrain of the park varies per trail and overlook. Here’s the route I took:

• Tie Slide Trail (2.3mi) - Easy/Moderate: The trailhead begins at the first parking lot after the entrance (the first left from entry). The trail is very narrow and weaves tightly around trees at the beginning. The trail frequently breaks out of the trees and runs through meadows. There are lots of rocks in the path which may require extra attention to footing. The end of the Tie Slide Trail reaches the Tie Slide Overlook which provides a panorama of the Colorado River. The Tie Slide Trail then splits into a 0.7mi. trail towards the Gorman Falls Trail or you can walk back to parking on Tie Slide Trail for 2.3 miles.

  • Tie Slide Overlook of the Colorado River is such a beautiful sight. You can see the river stretch and curve along both sides of the hills. There is an overlook deck with benches for you to enjoy the view, as well as a large flat rock to the right of the deck that protrudes further than the deck. I found the rock to provide a more intimate view of the river, but it is much more dangerous. There are no rails or any cliff guards. Please only attempt at your own risk.

• Gorman Falls Trail (0.7mi) - Moderate/Difficult: This trail intersects with the smaller segment of the Tie Slide Trail, but the entire Gorman Falls trail is 1.5mi. if you start from the parking lot. This trail is more open than the Tie Slide Trail and is very rocky. The trail is flat at first but begins to get steeper as you get closer to Gorman Falls. Once you’re less than 0.5mi out from Gorman Falls, the trail becomes incredibly steep and slippery. There is little to no friction on the rocks on your way down, but there is a wire railing to assist you. Gorman Falls resides at the bottom of the trail. The coast of the Colorado River resides right next to Gorman Falls.

  • Gorman Falls is a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall with Travertine deposits up to 60ft thick from millions of years of formation. The Travertine deposits and waterfalls are roped off to protect the natural landmark, but you certainly have a great, up-close view.

• Gorman Falls Trail (1.5mi) - Moderate/Difficult: I took the entire Gorman Falls trail back to parking. Climbing back up the steep rocks is much easier than going down, especially with the help of the wire railing. Once I met more level ground, the trail remained rocky but was really enjoyable. The trail has a slight incline but is still easy to walk.

www.tpwd.texas.gov

Wildlife

The drive to the park goes down country roads. Cows, deer, and horses are likely to be spotted on your way there. Be sure to drive safely as the cows often graze alongside the roads and may attempt to cross.

At the park, I saw an armadillo, several lizards, squirrels, and birds. The armadillo was a little guy and trotted across the trail ahead of me (so cute!!). The grass is thick and tall in meadow areas and cactuses line sections of the trails.

Visitor Info

I highly recommend making a reservation online before traveling to the park. Occupancy is monitored and space fills up very quickly, especially during the weekends. Reservations ensure your entry for specific time slots. Once your time slot is reserved, you can visit the park anytime within your reserved time. I reserved my day pass on a Saturday for the Afternoon/Evening, arriving at 2:30pm. The trails were not crowded, but areas around the overlooks were a little more congested.

• Entry fee: $5 day pass for online reservations

• Time slots: Morning (6am - 2pm) or Afternoon/Evening (2pm - 10pm)

• Print your reservations for entry to place on your dashboard

• Pet friendly, on leash

Cautions

The trail to Gorman Falls is very steep with little to no friction on the rocks. It’s easy to slip but there’s a WRSB (wire rope safety barrier) all the way down the rocks. This is one of the most congested areas of the park (because it’s so beautiful!), so it may be difficult to maneuver around people and pets to get down the trail. Please utilize the WRSB, watch your footing, and know your limits!

Some trails are not clearly paved which may make it challenging to find your way at some points, especially for those who have never visited the park before. I had an accidental detour off of the Gorman Falls trail, but it was not difficult to find my way back. Keep an eye out for the trail posts on trees to ensure you’re staying on track.

Overview

Colorado Bend State Park was such a pleasant experience from the low-riding hiking trails to the intense spectacles. I came across many people who told me they visit the park often, especially Gorman Falls. Local hikers and those only beginning their hiking endeavors share the views of this park, making it a home for all. I will certainly be coming back to explore different trails and revisit these amazing overlooks.