Palmetto State Park

I never really know what to expect when I drive into a new state park. My thoughts always go to the Civilian Conservation Corps and that some part of their work will greet me at the entrance, usually in the form of a rust-colored stone fence bordering both sides of the road, the name of the park in bold letters. And here, at Palmetto, that would not be the case because the park is actually on the side of a public road, both sides in some areas. It was a fact that kept me turned around anytime I exited one of the park areas.

The ranger station is also on the side of the road and no gate exists. You simply pull of the road and park in front of the office, which is what I did before confirming my reservation for the park’s solo cabin.

Usually, my first thing to do after getting settled is to take a ride around the park to sort of plan my photo trek for the following day. Most stations at state parks have a trail a map available, and this park was no exception, and while one can find the same thing online, a paper map is such a nice thing to have on hand for sure. You can find an online trail map here.

So, map in hand, I hopped in the truck and drove through the tent camping area and toward a group camping area that was gated closed. I parked in a nearby camping spot, and walked around the gate, I wasn’t the first to do that at by the looks of it, walked into the group area, and then toward the edge of the river. I was summarily greeted by this wonderful view of the San Marcos River and the low-water crossing.

The San Marcos River during winter, although without the greens of spring, still impresses.
The low-water crossing at Palmetto State Park offers a gentle walk down to the river and can be accessed from the Group Camping or the Refrectory side of the river.
Water flows from the downstream side of the low water crossing at Palmetto State Park. The river has high banks that make reaching it difficult. The low water crossing would be a great place to launch a canoe.

The Trails

The park has approximately five miles of trails, all of them listed as easy to moderate in difficulty.

I decided to start with the 1.3 mile San Marcos River Trail, which is listed as moderate in difficulty and, as with all of their trails, open to bicycle travel as well. The trail meanders through the woods and skirts the river along the way.

Dwarf Palmetto dot the San Marcos River Trail landscape as it winds through the park. Dry shallow pools attest to the swamps that must encompass the area during a wet season.

The San Marcos River Trail is listed as having an abundance of wildlife, but winter and the dry conditions must have taken its toll. And, as I neared the end of the trail, the unexpected happened and a woodpecker decided to grace me with his presence. It was a great feeling to say hello.

According to the Palmetto State Park, either of the sapsuckers listed on their bird chart is rarely seen in the park. I believe this to be a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker according to Sibley’s, but it could be a hybrid or the Red-naped.
Extinct mud boil.
Forgotten wheel. Not noted on the park literature, this iron relic is located on the Mossycup Spur, which ties into the San Marcos River Trail.

I finished the day by hiking the 1.1 mile Mesquite Flats Trail. This trail was also listed as moderate in difficulty. I encountered one bicyclist on this trail, along with a few small groups of people, but no wildlife. Tired from the day’s hikes, I decided to head back to the cabin for a relaxing dinner and plan for the next day’s travels.

The single cabin has several beds along with a microwave, heater and air conditioner. Running water is not available inside the cabin nor is there a bathroom. However, it does have a nice wrap around porch complete with a couple of rocking chairs. Here is pictured the evening setting with my trusty Coleman lantern providing some nice ambient lighting. It proved to not be that trustworthy though as it failed, and I had to put it away for another time.

The third day proved to be the most eventful. I usually take what I have learned on the previous days and use that to get a few more shots before leaving. But my first stop was the CCC Refectory, which was built in the 1930’s. From there, you can see the river as it meanders below the high-bluff setting of the picnic area and historic building.

From there I traveled down a section of the Ottine Swamp Trail. It was while hiking down the trail that I came upon a side path that took you to the river’s edge. It provided one of the most striking views in the park.

The Ottine Swamp Trail intersects with the Palmetto Interpretive Trail, which is the location of the CCC Water Tower.

The Civilian Conservation Corps used this area to pump water to the group picnic area, installing a pump in 1936. It now supplies water to the interpretive trail’s wetland areas.

Palmetto State Park is designated for rainbow trout stocking and, to my surprise, today was the day. I didn’t even bring fishing gear, but it was interesting to watch the event. The fisheries biologist releasing the fish said that contrary to what many believe, the trout will bite right away. And they did.

My Stay

I arrived at Palmetto on the last day before the start of school. So, the park was busier than I anticipated. Having traveled to others during the winter, I had found the solitude (at Falcon I was the only person in the shelter area and at Corpus, the only one in the park) quite refreshing. But, that’s OK. It was also nice to see others enjoying the park. The restrooms were different than I was accustomed to, and I’d like to see more parks incorporate them. There were only two in the tent camping area, but the cool thing was that each one was like your bathroom at home. You lock the door, and you have your own little shower, sink and toilet. They were kept nice, and I enjoyed the concept over community showers. I would like to return again for the stocking, and this time, I’m bringing a fishing pole.

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