Discover Burnet County: Lakes, Nature and History

Burnet County combines the vastness of the Hill Country with lake landscapes, outdoor experiences and a remarkable regional history. The Highland Lakes consist of five man-made lakes created by dams on the Colorado River. This gives the region a variety of starting points for days by the water, scenic drives and discoveries that can easily be combined into a varied trip.

Water, Trails and Special Landscapes

Those who want to experience the lake landscape actively will find opportunities for swimming, boating, water skiing, diving and fishing at Inks Lake State Park. The Stumpy Hollow Paddling Trail offers a different perspective: the 3.4-mile loop leads through a quiet cove with fully submerged trees as well as granite and gneiss outcrops. The Devil's Waterhole Paddling Trail is also a loop, at 1.7 miles.

Park Road 4 is an interesting option for a driving excursion. The 15-mile historic road was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and offers a scenic drive through the Hill Country. At Lake Buchanan, Vanishing Texas River Cruises' four-hour Ultimate Eagle Cruise combines a trip along the entire navigable length of the Colorado River with waterfalls, eagles and diverse wildlife. Canyon of the Eagles complements these landscape experiences with panoramic views of Lake Buchanan and several miles of hiking trails.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge also has its own special focus. The preserve was established to protect the nesting grounds of the black-capped vireo and the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. Viewpoints and 10 miles of hiking trails offer different ways to experience the landscape. For mountain bike enthusiasts, Spider Mountain is a special destination: it is the only year-round, lift-served bike park in the United States.

Caves, Museums and Regional History

Longhorn Cavern State Park combines guided cave tours with hiking trails, picnic areas and an exhibition about the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Corps' history is evident in several places throughout the region: it cleared Longhorn Cavern and built the park facilities and scenic access road in the 1930s.

Various collections and historic sites provide cultural and historical variety. The Hill Country Motorheads Museum displays restored and original motorcycles from the 1960s to the 1980s. The Highland Lakes Squadron is a working museum dedicated to preserving historic aircraft from the Second World War and other valuable artefacts. In Bertram, the Globe Theatre is a restored Art Deco cinema dating from 1935. It hosts live music, classic films, comedy shows, themed dance parties and special events.

Fort Croghan adds an authentic glimpse into the past with furnished pioneer log cabins, a working blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, an original stagecoach station, a syrup mill and original buildings from the former frontier fort. This allows you to tailor your stay more towards nature, technology, everyday history or regional culture, depending on your interests.

Food and Choosing Your Accommodation

Wine can also be one of the highlights of a trip. Perissos Vineyards offers casual tastings of six wines from its current selection; reservations are not required. At Torr Na Lochs, table-served wine tastings feature wines made from 100 per cent Texas-grown fruit. The Burnet Bluebonnet Festival also brings together live music, carnival attractions, family-friendly activities, classic cars, races, food, shopping and antiques every year.

When choosing your holiday rental or holiday home, you can therefore make your preferred travel rhythm the focus. Water activities, hiking trails, a scenic drive, museum visits, cave tours and wine tastings each create their own highlights. Those travelling with different interests can deliberately divide their days between nature, culture and relaxed culinary experiences. For further orientation, you can also discover Marble Falls, Burnet, Bertram and Spicewood.

More destinations for orientation: Colorado County, Somervell County, Montague, Denton.

For the overview of the wider destination: Texas.