Trails of Wildflowers & Cavern Combo - Inks Lake & Longhorn Caverns (Day hike, & Caverns)
Schedule
Sat, 11 Apr, 2026 at 08:30 am
UTC-05:00Location
Inks Lake State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife | Buchanan Dam, TX
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Get ready for a day packed with color, history, and some of the coolest geology in Texas. Inks Lake State Park rests along the eastern edge of the Llano Uplift - the ancient core of the state - where billion-year-old rock outcrops create a landscape unlike anything else in the region. In April, those rugged formations explode with wildflowers, making this the perfect time to explore.We’ll hike a full 9.5-mile route that showcases sweeping views, striking pink gneiss (looks like granite but it’s not!), and fields of bloom after bloom. After wrapping up the trail, we’ll make the quick 15-minute drive to Longhorn Cavern State Park and cool off underground during a 90-minute guided walking tour through their spectacular limestone cavern system.
Feel free to bring snacks or a lunch to enjoy on the trail or between the hike and the cavern tour. After our underground adventure, anyone still hungry can join for a casual bite at Bill’s Burgers Wings & Things to round out the day.
Pro tip: Be sure to reserve your Longhorn Cavern tour tickets ahead of time - they often sell out. The 2:30pm walking tour is the timeslot (https://visitlonghorncavern.com/).
Starting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9KLQYa8JAb5qPZ737
Eats: Bill’s Burgers Wings & Things (Sat. 11 AM-10 PM) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/gVEryyDvpaQn1TkQ7
Important information:
- Reservations: They are available online from https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com/, 30 days prior to the event for a day pass, and 5 months prior for camping reservations. See the shared Google Calendar (https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=ZGU0NjNhMzkxNzBhNGQ2MjUyZTBhMGFiODgyNDFmNDM4ZjAzYmFlMTNkNTczZjM2NTViNDk2NDc5NTc0YmJiMUBncm91cC5jYWxlbmRhci5nb29nbGUuY29t) which has all of the scheduled events, and event reminders about obtaining passes. Make sure you print them out and bring them with you to make your trip a smooth one!
- Waiver/Release: Make sure you fill out a waiver/release form (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vdhCDW7bpvdlmnkPrV_n0iUwR_7QB7GRvBBT1tLWlKY/edit?usp=sharing) and either send it to me as a PDF (Facebook messenger is fine), or print it out and bring it with you. I will have blanks available at the start of the event if you forget. However, you WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to join the adventure without one being completed!
- What to bring?: Required items are - A positive attitude, at least 3L of water, and snacks. Nice to have things are - Personal first aid kit, electrolytes, hiking poles, head covering and/or sunscreen.
- As always: If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to post in the discussion or message me directly. I'm happy to help, and answer any questions!
#hikingwithjosh #hikingadventures #hiking #optoutside #getoutside #outdoors
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Where is it happening?
Inks Lake State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife, 3480 Park Road 4 W,Buchanan Dam, Texas, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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