Pedernales Falls State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pedernales Falls State Park |
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Pedernales River running over limestone.
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 Pedernales Falls State Park
Location in Texas
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| Location | Blanco County, Texas |
| Nearest city | Johnson City |
| Area | 5,211.7 acres (2,109 ha) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
Pedernales Falls State Park is a huge park in Texas, USA. It covers over 5,200 acres of land! This amazing state park is found right next to the Pedernales River in Blanco County, Texas. It's a fantastic place to explore nature and have fun outdoors.
Contents
Where is Pedernales Falls?
This beautiful park is located in the heart of Texas. It's about 10 miles east of a town called Johnson City. If you're coming from Austin, it's about 25 miles west.
Park History
Before it became a state park, this area was a large working ranch. It was known as the Circle Bar Ranch. In 1970, the state of Texas bought the ranch. Just one year later, in 1971, the park officially opened its doors to visitors.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Many activities at Pedernales Falls State Park involve the Pedernales River. You can go swimming, tubing, or wading in the water. It's also a great spot for fishing!
The park has many places for picnics. There are also campsites if you want to stay overnight. Some campsites are "primitive," meaning you have to hike over two miles to reach them. This is perfect for adventurers!
There are also many trails for different activities:
- Almost 20 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.
- 10 miles of trails just for horseback riding (equestrian trails).
- 14 miles of trails for backpacking, where you carry all your gear.
You can visit the park store to buy gifts and ice. If you are 13 years or older, the entrance fee is $6 per day. Kids aged 12 and under can enter for free!
River Safety: Flash Floods
The Pedernales River, like many rivers in central Texas, can change very quickly. The water level can rise fast. Park signs show how a calm river can turn into a rushing, muddy flood in just a few minutes. These sudden floods are called flash floods. It's very important to be aware of the weather and river conditions. Always follow park rules and warnings to stay safe.
Weather at Pedernales Falls
The park has a climate typical of central Texas. Summers can be very hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are generally mild, but temperatures can drop below freezing. The park gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.
| Climate data for Pedernales Falls State Park | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
110 (43) |
108 (42) |
107 (42) |
110 (43) |
98 (37) |
93 (34) |
89 (32) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61 (16) |
63.7 (17.6) |
71.2 (21.8) |
79.2 (26.2) |
85.2 (29.6) |
91.2 (32.9) |
94.8 (34.9) |
94.8 (34.9) |
88.8 (31.6) |
80.3 (26.8) |
70.7 (21.5) |
62.5 (16.9) |
78.6 (25.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 34.8 (1.6) |
38 (3) |
46.1 (7.8) |
53.9 (12.2) |
62.4 (16.9) |
68.7 (20.4) |
70.9 (21.6) |
70.1 (21.2) |
64.3 (17.9) |
54.3 (12.4) |
45 (7) |
36.2 (2.3) |
53.7 (12.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 7 (−14) |
3 (−16) |
13 (−11) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
50 (10) |
56 (13) |
53 (12) |
37 (3) |
22 (−6) |
17 (−8) |
1 (−17) |
1 (−17) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.1 (53) |
2.2 (56) |
2.7 (69) |
2.3 (58) |
4 (100) |
4 (100) |
2.4 (61) |
2 (51) |
3.3 (84) |
3.9 (99) |
3.1 (79) |
2 (51) |
34 (860) |
| Average precipitation days | 3 | 3 | 3.7 | 5.6 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 5 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 51.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 65 | 58 | 61 | 65 | 62 | 59 | 59 | 64 | 66 | 65 | 63 | 63 |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
