There’s a new tool online for anyone looking to explore the great outdoors in Texas. Hipcamp launched officially in Texas yesterday, and their innovative site allows you to browse hundreds of amazing campsites throughout the state with unprecedented ease.

If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time (often during the work-day) exploring Texas Parks and Wildlife’s website, dreaming about the upcoming weekend, and whether the possibility of a last minute trip to Big Bend is somehow in the cards.

Enchanted Rock State Park
Enchanted Rock State Park

Hipcamp makes these explorations even more engaging, with beautiful photos and witty content written by a “tribe” of people who simply love to camp.

The site also makes it easy to search by region or to filter by preferred activity or attribute. Meaning that if you’re looking for a campground “close to Austin; with a waterfall,” you can get there in a few clicks. Yes, that’s a real thing. Check out this description and photo of Colorado Bend State Park on Hipcamp:

Once you find your spot amongst the seven campgrounds, let the wilderness shenanigans begin! Give the reins to a local, and opt for the Gorman Falls Tour which lasts up to two hours and will take you on a 1.5 mile hike to see lush waterfalls and flora. Or be your own guide, and check out the Gorman Falls Trail, a combined 26 miles of mountain biking goodness. Explore further and your options multiply from caving to whitewater rafting along 16 miles of Class I-II rapids on the Colorado River, a great place for beginners. Colorado State Park truly is a mecca for exploration, how will you spend your time here?

Colorado Bend Hipcamp

 

I’ve already got a long list of new places to explore, and with highs in the upper 70’s this weekend, it might be camping season sooner than you think.

www.hipcamp.com

Featured image by Sarah Vaughn, http://instagram.com/ohexplorar