Pedernales Falls State Park

08/27/2026

⛈️Well the rain and lightning are here! All of tonight's stargazing events are cancelled due to unsafe conditions (Wind, Rain, and Lightning!)
The Eclipse is still happening though! If you are safe to do so, step outside tonight after 9:30pm to start seeing the moon pass into the shadow of the Earth! It will reach it's darkest point around 11:12pm! Unfortunately there isn't a good chance of seeing it here at the park, but you are welcome to come try to see it here.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

08/26/2026

Don't worry you'll mostly be in the A/C for this job! Though you'll have plenty of opportunities to spend time out in the park.
As a Customer Service Representative you would work at our Park Headquarters greeting visitors and helping them feel welcome in the park. You'll also be answering all sorts of questions from "Where is the bathroom?" to "Can you ID this snake I saw?"
If you or someone you know would like to know more visit both opportunities in the link:
Full-time:
https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Action=U&Page=HRS_APP_SCHJOB_FL

Part-time:
https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Action=U&Page=HRS_APP_SCHJOB_FL

08/25/2026

Blanco County is now in a Burn Ban due to dry conditions. Wood and charcoal campfires are not allowed during this time. Propane and butane stoves are still allowed for cooking.
Please help us keep the park and our neighbors safe!

08/14/2026

The skies should be nice and clear tomorrow night (Saturday August 15th), just in time for Stories in the Stars! Join us for an evening of stargazing and storytelling, with tales, legends, and cautionary stories that cultures from all over the world once told about those tiny bright spots in the sky.
Event Details: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/pedernales-falls/stargazing-3

This event is free to join! Only entrance fees are required to enter the park.

08/03/2026

While the forecast can give you a good idea of what to expect, the reality of what the weather becomes at specific spots in the park can be extreme. Take the falls for example. 🔎
The slabs of rock at the falls are in the sun all day, absorbing heat. The canyon becomes an oven during the day, and the surface can be hot enough to burn human skin and yes, dog paws. The rocks are radiating heat as well, which really affects children and pets who are closer to the ground.
🌞Please take extra care and avoid hiking during the hottest times of the day. Keep your pets in the shade and bring extra water for them.
How do YOU keep your pets safe while enjoying the outdoors? Send us a picture of your pet being responsible in the heat!

(Yes we just want to see pictures of fluffy animals)

07/31/2026

07/30/2026

Park Update 07/30/2026

🌊Pedernales Falls has slowed significantly and the water is clearing up. There is still debris along the river bed that may be dangerous. Swimming is at your own risk.
🌳Park Staff have cleared away a lot of debris hanging over trails, but there will be loose debris hanging down and falling all along the river especially when it gets windy. Please do not go off the trail and stand under these debris filled trees.
🥾All trails are open at this time. The horse trails are open to horseback riding today as well.
🌞As we go into August, please prepare for the worst of summer. Heat can sneak up on you and it can also walk right up to you and slap you in the face if you are not prepared. Many trails here do not have shade, and rocks in the sunlight can burn your skin. Kids and pets are at higher risk since they are closer to the ground where heat radiates upward from.
Start your hike early and plan easy activities for the hottest parts of the day. Bring more water than you think you'll need. It goes fast!

07/29/2026

Have you been seeing large dark shapes flying through the air that you first mistake for a bird, then a bat, before realizing its actually a butterfly? You might be seeing the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly! These large butterflies live across most of the southern United States and Central America.
They drink nectar from a wide variety of plant types which make them extremely important pollinators. You can tell them apart from other dark colored butterflies by finding the 7 orange spots on the undersides of their wings. Their larva are brown to black with reddish "spikes" protruding outward, and you can usually find them eating toxic plants, making themselves toxic to predators.
Next time you see one, be sure to thank them for the awesome job they are doing!

07/29/2026

We finally got our Timelapse footage to work! During the July 16th flood across the hill country we saw a tremendous rise in water at the Falls. At 4:46pm the river went from 1000cfs to over 90,000cfs and possibly higher in just three minutes!
These events can be extremely dangerous. We closed down much of the park before this flood for the safety of our visitors and today all of those closures have ended. All trails are now open to hike and bike!

The first video was from a timelapse camera we placed upriver from the Main Overlook over the falls.
The second video (in the comments for those of yall who can't see it in the post) looks over a bend in the river, north of the Youth Group Area road. Watch till the end to see entire trees just dissappear!

07/22/2026

*This post is out of date. Please check our page for the most recent updates.

Park Updates 07/22/2026
🌊The river has lowered significantly since last week. The falls are still flowing enough that the upper falls are still going as well. If you have visited the falls in the last year or so, you'll notice some significant changes thanks to the flood.
🥾All trails are open except for Cypress Mill Loop and the Lower Hackenburg Loop. Keep in mind all trails by the river will have flood debris partially covering parts of the trail and there may be new layers of sand/mud covering the trail in places. We do not recommend swimming in these conditions.
☀We are currently in a Heat Advisory. Please take extra precautions while you are outdoors this week. Bring enough water for yourself and your pets, and avoid hiking during the hottest hours of the day.
🔭Our Star Party is still on for this Saturday! Beat the heat by coming out after sunset! We'll have telescopes and astronomers to help you explore the night sky. If weather cooperates we should have great views of the moon, Venus, and several well known summer constellations!