Chalk Ridge Falls Park

Such a serene place to be. The ride to Falls park is straight & roads are empty. Now bikers can agree with me, that’s a dream ride. A free road stretching far & wide. Also not having to share it with vehicles. Come on. But that’s besides the point. I didn’t know how out of shape I was until I looked down at the trail & up at the stairs. I was already sore before I even took a step forward. (Lol) I’m kidding. It’s a fairly long trail with lots of branching off into odd directions or just dead ends. The reward for the walk was the fall. It’s a beautiful sight. I decided to drag my boots into the waters. Man it was fun. Perfect for family, couples, fishing or just a relaxing getaway that won’t cost you. I mean there’s the gas but let’s not complain about that. I’m coming back again. That’s for damn sure.

Bring a towel and swimsuit, the water at the falls is clean enough to swim in. We went on a Sunday, so there were a lot of families and other people. I’d give it 5 stars, but there is trash everyyywheeerrree. Bring hand sanitizer, too, there’s nowhere to wash your hands. We hiked up a different path/​kind of made our own. So we thought. We’re pretty sure we found where a homeless lady was camping out… Old tampons strewn around, parts of an old notebook, knife-​sharpened pencil, and some cans. I wouldn’t worry about that though, it looked cleared out. :)

Nice free day park with flat trails but more challenging off trail areas to explore as well

I’ve found a more diverse trail to traverse now! I still like Dana Peak Park for swimming, bringing the dog, and for it’s open space. For a more dynamic hiking experience I recommend coming out to Chalk Ridge Falls. The hike is about 5 miles along the Lampasas River. The main trail isn’t a difficult hike at all and mostly flat. There are, however, side trails going down straight to the river or to higher ground which requires a bit of climbing if you want to change it up.
People come here to fish and swim off the main trail. On my hike I didn’t run into many people, perhaps a handful since it was a Tuesday morning. They do not allow pets (even on a leash).