Inks Lake State Park

Directions: Take US 183 north to Texas 29 (in Seward Junction) and head west through Burnet to Park Road 4.

Inks Lake is the most-visited of Texas parks, but its hiking trails are seldom crowded. Most visitors visit the park when it is too hot to hike and spend all their time in the water. The cooler months are the best time to enjoy the 7.5 miles of trails, which offer several loops for a variety of distances.

The highlights along the trails are the pink granite outcroppings, native to the Llano Uplift area, as well as the cedar and oak woodlands. The Pecan Flats Trail Camp in the southeast corner of the park offers primitive camping. The short hike to Devil's Hole on the north end is best during the hot months. Wildlife is abundant throughout the park, especially deer. Budgeting was just approved to build a hike-and-bike trail to the nearby Longhorn Caverns State Park, which will offer six to eight more miles of hiking in a few years.

Source: Riemenschneider, Chris. "Hiking Central Texas." Austin American Statesman 7 Nov. 1996 XLent: 33,36.

Leashed dogs are allowed in both tent and primitive camping areas.