Summertime and the livin’ is easy along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas
Each summer I look forward to the ritual of driving to summer camp with my daughter, and not for the reason you may think. I’m not particularly eager to be rid of my easygoing, teenage bookworm for a week. No, I just really enjoy the two-and-a-half hour drive west through the rugged Hill Country to Hunt, Texas, a surprisingly watery oasis of summer camps and vacation cabins along the spring-fed, cypress-lined Guadalupe River.
With tunes from the iPhone playing on the car stereo — Neko Case and Avril Lavigne (hers); Wayne Hancock, Bob Schneider, and Arcade Fire (mine) — we Thelma and Louise’d it west a week ago. When I made the solo return to pick her up, I stopped to take a few photos of these beautiful swimming holes along the way.
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a mighty tree that loves to keep its feet wet, lining the Guadalupe in green-needled colonnades. Someone managed to tie a rope to a branch about 50 feet high on this one, for swinging off the wooden platform into the deep, green swimming hole.
Crossing the bridge into camp, I paused to admire this peaceful scene.
Between the river and the camp, a savanna dotted with native junipers (locally known as cedars) still showed plenty of wildflower color, kept going thanks to spring rains.
Mexican hat (Ratibida columnifera), one of my favorite early-summer wildflowers
Another look
Daisies and verbena
Before leaving camp, after goodbyes to friends, her bag of smelly, damp clothes stowed in the trunk, my daughter led me down to the stretch of the Guadalupe that she enjoyed all week.
Looks like heaven to me.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Ah, so idyllic. This, to me, is what Texas is. Coming from the NE, this state gets such a bad rep, but not when it comes to such perfection as you’ve captured here. Are any of these lovely water holes open to the public, or are they part of the summer camp, Pam? Cheers.
Northeasterners can be Texas snobs, for sure, but Texas has a pretty healthy ego as well — i.e., the regions are two of a kind in terms of self-regard (but Texans are more fun!). 🙂
Kapila, if you were to drive to Kerrville and then keep going west on Highway 27, then 39, you’ll go right through tiny Hunt and parallel the Guadalupe for miles of the most scenic country you’ll see in the Hill Country. There are a couple of paved pull-outs off Hwy 39 where people park in order to swim, free and open to the public. No amenities like restrooms, but there are old-timey general stores in the area with refreshments and restrooms: https://www.facebook.com/thehuntstore. One of these days I’m going to rent a cabin along the Guadalupe and spend a week out there myself. —Pam
Oh my, I well remember the smelly, damp camp clothes. Thanks for taking us along on your trip to pick up your daughter. I enjoyed this glimpse of wild Texas.
The Hill Country west of Austin is so scenic, but this may be the most beautiful part of it. I’m glad you enjoyed the pics, Alison. —Pam
That place does look heavenly. No wonder she continues to return.
She’s a smart girl. —Pam
With all the drought we’ve had to manage it has been only to easy to forget that Texas is absolutely heavenly when we get a little rain. Thanks for the reminder of all the wild beauty out there for those of us currently stuck in the urban heat islands.
Deb, a local told us that the bluebonnets were a bust out there this spring because they are still in such a terrible drought — much worse than the Austin area. But lately they’ve gotten some rain, he said, and the early summer wildflowers responded. It’s past peak now, but a week ago, when I dropped my daughter off at camp, the fields and roadsides out there were ablaze. I wished I’d had my camera then. —Pam
This is the kind of place for me. This is a texas jewel. Like you, I want to rent a cabin and recharge my batteries.
I don’t know what we’re waiting for, Marilyn. 🙂 —Pam
I love that area. I used to drive though there on my way to Leakey. One spring break my daughter and I stayed in a bed and breakfast there and had the best 4 days of swimming and riding bikes and most of all relaxing in the beautiful surroundings. Maybe it’s time for another trip!
That sounds like such a nice vacation, Margo. Who says Texans have to escape to Colorado in the summer, right? —Pam
Wild spots like this can put our garden creations in perspective – no one gardens like Mother Nature!
Her gardens are always the most inspiring, Kris. —Pam
Reminds me of scenes from Highway 16 through Bandera and Medina up the backside of Kerrville. I’m sure you have been up that one.
I have, though it’s been a while. Nice drive. —Pam
What a beautiful area! I lived in TX for five months once but never made it to this part. I do not miss the stench of summer camp clothes!
Hahaha — yeah, it’s rather frightening. I hope you’re able to visit Hunt one day. It’s really lovely in early summer. —Pam
How I love me some Hunt. Texas and we will be in that area next week. Hurry up , vacation ! Thanks for the warm up !
Have a great visit, Randy! —Pam
Hi Pam,
The Hill Country is my favorite part of Texas. I never tire of looking up into the feathery branches of a bald cypress while tubing down a clear,cold Texas Hill Country river. Nice to see that all the wildflowers are still going strong this time of year. I think the drought is finally losing its grip on parts of Texas. Thanks for the tour!
David/:0)
I hope the drought is losing its grip, though in my pessimistic moments I fear it’s only a temporary reprieve. But I am grateful for it. It’s been a remarkably cool and rainy spring and early summer. —Pam
This looks like a magical place, and I do love a cypress lined river.