Have you ever felt that life can get overwhelming sometimes? The best way to clear your mind and rejuvenate your soul is with nature getaways in Texas. Everyone needs to escape reality from time to time, so we’ve created this little list of secret spots in nature where you can forget the real world for a while and immerse yourself in pure tranquility. We hope you enjoy visiting these secret nature spots in Texas!

1. Walnut Springs Park, Seguin
Walnut Springs Park, 317 W Court St, Seguin, TX 78155, USA
Larry D. Moore, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
To start off our list of secret nature spots in Texas, let's head to Walnut Springs Park in Seguin. This tranquil locale makes the perfect afternoon getaway from the hectic concrete jungle. You'll find walking and jogging trails along the banks of Walnut Branch, a small tributary of the Guadalupe River. Plenty of greenery and beautiful gardens await you at the park, as well.

Take a virtual tour of Walnut Springs Park in Seguin, TX in this video from Reuben S:
2. Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville
Boca Chica Beach, Boca Chica Blvd, Brownsville, TX, USA
Justin Hundsnurscher/Wikimedia Commons
This undeveloped beach near the Mexico border in Brownsville doesn't see very many visitors, simply because many people don't even know it exists. You can find peace and solitude among the white sandy beach and blue waters at the end of Highway 4, where you'll feel like you have just landed on a deserted island in the tropics. Learn more about Boca Chica Beach in our previous coverage.
3. Claiborne West Park, Vidor
Claiborne West Park, I-10, Vidor, TX 77662, USA
Liz E./Google Reviews
We've mentioned this park before in a previous article about hidden gems in Texas, but we think it deserves a spot on this list as well. You can find several hiking trails here deep within the forest, and the tranquil bayou lined with cypress trees just adds to the peacefulness of this Southeast Texas treasure.
4. Blue Hole at Riding River Ranch, Leakey
Riding River Ranch, 971 KENT Crk Rnch Rd, Leakey, TX 78873, USA
Angi English/Flickr
Only overnight guests at the ranch can gain access to this private oasis, but a swim in this gorgeous watering hole surrounded by canyons will make a trip here well worth it. Learn more about this fun outdoor adventure on the Riding River Ranch website.
5. Waterfall near Agua Adentro Mountain in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio
Big Bend Ranch State Park, 21800 FM170, Terlingua, TX 79852, USA
Big Bend Ranch State Park-Texas Parks and Wildlife/Facebook
What could be more relaxing than a waterfall with a backdrop of mountains? Head to Big Bend Ranch State Park for more relaxing places near you in Texas.
6. Marufo Vega Trail at Big Bend National Park
Marufo Vega Trail, Texas 79830, USA
Kirk Kittell/Flickr
This trail offers a strenuous but rewarding hike through the desert, lending spectacular views of the Rio Grande winding through the mountains. While the route doesn't provide much shade and can get extremely hot in the summer, the secluded beauty here makes the hike worthwhile. Just remember to bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you venture down this trail. Learn more about Marufo Vega Trail on AllTrails.

The Marufo Vega Trail in Big Bend National Park is a beautiful area for a walk in nature. Take a look as The NotLostNomad shows us around in this video:
7. South Llano River State Park, Junction
South Llano River State Park, 1927 Park Rd 73, Junction, TX 76849, USA
Nicolas Henderson/Flickr
This is actually one of the least visited state parks and one of the best hidden gems in Texas, but that just means more nature and solitude for you to relish in. Tube or swim in the Llano River, traverse the hiking trails or simply relax in the heart of the hill country. Learn more about South Llano River State Park and its designation as a Dark Sky Park, which makes it the perfect place in Texas to see the night sky.

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8. Terry Hershey Park, Houston
volcanogirl/TripAdvisor
Terry Hershey Park, 15200 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079, USA
volcanogirl/TripAdvisor
You wouldn't think this park existed in the heart of Houston, but thankfully, you can escape the city while not having to travel too far. Lush meadows, miles of hiking and biking trails, and even direct access to Buffalo Bayou for paddling make this park a true hidden gem of Houston.
9. Levy Park, Houston
Levy Park, 3801 Eastside St, Houston, TX 77098, USA
Claudia Dominguez/Google Reviews
This started out as a dog park in Houston, but it has been expanded into a peaceful getaway for humans, too. It has a nice little area with manicured botanical gardens, a play area for kids with a splash pad, and walking trails making Levy Park one of the nicest places to relax in Texas.
10. Dragon Park, Dallas
Ernesto M/Yelp
Soannia T/Yelp
As one of the most whimsical places to visit in Texas, this garden feels like a fairytale with statues of angels, fairies, gargoyles, dragons, and lions. Looks like heaven from our point of view! Read more about Dragon Park in our previous coverage. Note: Unfortunately it seems Dragon Park in now on private property and is no longer accessible to the public.
11. Lakeside Park, Dallas
Nivedita Veeramanigandan/Google Reviews
Lakeside Park, 4601 Lakeside Dr, Dallas, TX 75205, USA
Zunera Nadeem/Google Reviews
Lakeside Park is another one of our favorite relaxing places near Dallas to enjoy a day in the park. Take a stroll along the path that leads to several life size teddy bears, some of which are around 8 feet tall, which make a nice photo op with the kids. The park and streets in the area may still be under construction so keep an eye out on the Lakeside Park website for the latest on park opennings. It was slated to finish construction late spring 2023 so it should be ready to enjoy very soon.
12. Secret Beach at Roy G Guerrero Colorado River Park, Austin
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park, 400 Grove Blvd, Austin, TX 78741, USA
MarkScottAustinTX/Flickr
Okay, so it isn't all that much of a secret, but we wanted to include it because it still offers solitude from the chaos of the city, plus you can take a dip in the Colorado River or just spend time relaxing on the beach. A beach in the heart of Austin is certainly a welcome sight. Read more about Secret Beach in our previous post.

One of the most relaxing places in Texas has got to be the Roy G Guerrero Colorado River Park in Austin, TX. Austin Parks & Recreation shows us around in this video:

What secret nature spots in Texas do you like to go to in order to escape the real world and unwind from your workday? Share your favorite nature getaways in Texas with us in the comments! If hiking is your go-to path to zen, try out AllTrails+ for all the latest info on hiking trails near you.

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More to Explore

Secret Nature Spots In Texas

Melissa M | May 11, 2021

What are some hidden gems in Texas?

Some hidden gems in Texas include:

 

Texas is one of the largest states in the nation so of course, we should expect to find hidden gems tucked away in every corner. Among some little-known locales is the National Butterfly Center in Mission, an outdoor conservatory that protects native butterfly species of the Rio Grande Valley. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Buena Vista protects an area of 98,000 acres and is one of the best places for birding and viewing wildlife in the state. Learn about these locations and more on our Texas Hidden Gem Road Trip. 

What are some of the best natural attractions in Texas?

Some of the best natural attractions in Texas include:

 

The Enchanted Rock of Fredericksburg is, in a word, enchanting and filled with hundreds of archaeological sites. There is also a lot of folklore and mystique about this rock. Head to Dripping Springs to see Hamilton Pool, a swimming hole that features a waterfall and an overhang that makes for an enchanting place to swim. 

What are some of the most unique places to visit in Texas?

Some of the most unique places to visit in Texas include:

 

The Lone Star State has some of the most strange and unique places to visit in the country. From the Beer Can House in Houston to Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, you can spend months exploring one-of-a-kind attractions that can only be found in Texas.

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