April 5-6 : Colorado Bend State Park
Colorado Bend State Park has beautiful bluffs and hiking trails with spring-fed creeks and waterfalls that run year-round. Our campsite at the bank of the Colorado River will provide convenient access to fishing. Tours will be offered in a natural wild cave by a professional guide for 2nd Grade and older (see the Cave Tour section below, additional fee and timed entry reservation required).
This is a “family camping” event. Each family will camp in their own tent for one or two nights, depending on when you choose to arrive at the park. Hot meals will be served buffet-style by the Pack for Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast.
The sign-up link can be found at the bottom of this webpage in the How To Register section.
How to get there
Colorado Bend State Park is 20 miles west of Lampasas. Allow at least 2 hours for the drive from northwest Austin to our campsites. The roads as you approach the park are small, one-lane ranch roads, and our campsites are deep inside the park. Make sure to use a map or GPS.
Map links to our exact campsites: Google / Apple (GPS Coordinates: 31.021459, -98.443541) (See the “Parking & Park Passes” section below for additional instructions about entering the park.)
When to arrive
You can arrive Friday and camp for two nights to maximize your time in the park, or you can arrive Saturday morning (anytime after 6:00 AM) to set up your tent before opening ceremony.
Opening ceremony will be Saturday 1:00 PM near Campsite 5. All scouts should be at opening ceremony, ideally in their Class A uniform shirt. If you cannot arrive in time to set up your tent before opening ceremony, then you will need to set it up later in the afternoon between activities.
Friday night campers (we’re expecting more at this campout) can arrive and start setting up their tent as early as 2:00 PM on Friday afternoon. Please do not use Campsite 5, as we want to keep that campsite empty for the Pack campfire and other functions. Sunset is 7:54 PM. Note that the park entry gate is locked between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM; to enter the park between those hours requires a gate code that will be shared to those who need it, closer to the date of arrival. Sunrise on Saturday is 7:15 AM.
Parking & park passes
We will be camping in Campsites 1-16. This Park Facilities Map (PDF) has been modified to highlight our campsites and other important locations. After you enter the park, go directly to our campsites to get your pre-printed, pre-paid parking pass from a Pack leader. Parking without a pass can result in a citation and penalty.
A few days before the campout Pack leaders will send out an email requesting vehicle information (license plate, etc.) so that we can pre-register your vehicle with our group at the state park. When you arrive at the entry gate, tell the gate attendant you are “with Cub Scout Pack 421” and that the Scout leaders already have your entry and parking passes at the campsite. They should wave you through.
Our campsites are a 20-minute drive past the park entrance. When you arrive at our campsites, park and immediately find a Pack leader to get your parking pass which must be taped to the inside front windshield of your vehicle. After you have your parking pass, you can start setting up your tent and/or join the ongoing activities.
Note that our campsites are what is called “walk-in camping”. This means the tent sites are near, but not immediately adjacent to parking. Expect a 50- to 100-yard walk on uneven terrain from the parking lot to your tent site. Bags, totes, or a small wagon can help reduce the number of trips.
Campground services
There is no electric service in the campground; if you want to recharge devices or need to run a CPAP at night, bring your own battery packs.
Potable water is available from spigots at central locations in the campground. The nearest spigot to our campsites is in the parking area near the parking for Campsite 7, which is where the Pack trailer will be parked and the Pack kitchen will be set up.
Toilets at Colorado Bend are a bit primitive (like permanent outhouses), but they are generally clean and satisfactory, stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. There are no showers, but the campground has a place to rinse off outside if you want to freshen up.
Cellular service throughout the state park is spotty. Most carriers have a signal only on the hilltops. Emergency landline and satellite communications are available if needed.
Food
Saturday evening dinner and Sunday morning breakfast will be provided by the Pack. Our Bear and Tiger dens are coordinating the meals. Thanks you Bears and Tigers! If anyone in your family has special food requirements, please make a note of it in the comment field for the grub fee when you register to attend (link at the bottom of this webpage).
Depending on your travel plans, the other meals you will need to bring or provide for yourself…
If you plan to arrive Saturday morning, you could stop for breakfast en route at a restaurant in Lampasas and/or bring a picnic lunch to eat in the park. Keep in mind that the closest restaurants in Lampasas are still about 45 minutes by car from the campground, so plan accordingly to arrive in time to set up your tent and not be late for the 1:00 PM opening ceremony.
Friday night campers will likewise need provisions for Friday evening and for Saturday breakfast and Saturday lunch. You can bring picnic meals or set up your own cooking gear at your tent to prepare meals. Be aware that if the burn ban is still in effect, you will need to use propane for cooking, instead of wood or charcoal.
All food in camp should be stored in lockboxes or vehicles due to wildlife. Racoons and wild pigs in this park can smell food even through unopened packaging and will ravenously shred tents or bags to get to it. Trash needs to be secured well, too.
If you bring snacks or drinks that other Cub Scouts could perceive as special treats, please be discreet or generous. There will be various drinks available in the jugs at the Pack kitchen from Saturday noon through Sunday morning until we break camp. Alcohol is strictly forbidden at all Scouting events.
Activity planning
There are lots of options for activities on this campout. Unless you are coming Friday night or very early on Saturday morning, you will have to be selective.
Older dens (Wolf and above) will not be able to organize hikes or advancement as a den on this campout because of the way cave tours are being scheduled with mixed, smaller groups. We therefore recommend that families in older dens (Wolf and above) find other families with similar interests and form “family buddy groups” for doing activities together like hiking or fishing. Please avoid going off on you own as a single family if possible; the buddy system in Scouting is not just for individuals. YPT rules must be respected for all family buddy groups.
Please plan your activities to ensure that everyone will be back at the Pack 421 campsite for Opening Ceremony, Saturday Dinner, Sunday Breakfast, and Closing Ceremony (see the Campout Timeline section later on this page for exact times). If your family group is missing at any of these key gathering times, we will get worried and might have to send out a search & rescue party.
Recommended hikes
Colorado Bend has two hiking routes considered highlights of the Texas state parks system. Both of those hikes are described in detail below.
But first, let’s remember that before any hike, every Cub Scout should be reminded to take all six of the Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials. A fanny pack or small backpack is recommended.
Also, adults should have a map before starting or leading any hike (“know before you go”). The park’s trail map is linked here for reference: Colorado Bend Trail Map (PDF) (download this map to your smartphone before you come to the park because there is limited cellular service inside the park; paper copies may be available from the park HQ or from Pack leaders when you arrive)
Parking lots for the hikes are highlighted in this Colorado Bend Facilities Map (PDF).
Spicewood Springs Loop:
This hiking route has breathtaking spring-fed pools and scenic views. From the trailhead, the loop is 3.7 miles and takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. If you don’t have that much time or are with very young children, you can do part of the trail out-and-back, instead of the full loop.
The terrain on this loop is rocky and steep in places, so watch your footing and keep a close eye on children; running or getting out-of-sight should be sternly discouraged. There are multiple creek crossings, so commit yourself to the idea that shoes worn on this hike will get wet. Children (and probably adults too) should have a spare pair of dry shoes to change into after the hike. All shoes worn on Scouting trips (including for creek crossings) must be securely fitted and have closed toes; no sandals or Crocs. Closed-toe water shoes are okay.
To get to the Spicewood Springs Trailhead, drive about a half mile down the gravel road from our campsite toward the boat ramp at the southern-most end of the park. The trailhead can be found at the opposite end of the parking lot from the boat ramp. There is plenty of parking. While it seems like you could just walk to the trailhead from the campground, it is far enough that it is probably better to drive. Walking there and back on the dusty campground road by foot burns valuable time that could be better spent on the spectacular hiking trail.
From the parking lot, hike 0.4 miles down the well marked trail, which parallels the bank of the river, until the trail splits. The recommended direction around the loop is to hike the Spicewood Springs Trail first (blue on the trail map) until it tees into the Spicewood Canyon Trail (red on the trail map); then return on the Spicewood Canyon Trail to the parking lot.
Make sure to have a digital or paper copy of the park trail map with you. Trail junctions are well marked, but there are a few places where you may need to search around for the trail, especially at creek crossings. If you can’t see where the trail goes, it is probably somewhere across the creek or on the other side of some bare rocks. Also note that trail markers on this loop may be yellow in places, instead of red or blue, because the park service ran out of the correct colored markers when they made these trails.
Gorman Falls Trail:
This trail is out-and-back (not a loop) and leads to Gorman Falls, a large and beautiful spring-fed waterfall that empties into the Colorado River. The trail (shown in yellow on the park’s trail map) is 1.5 miles each way and takes about 3 hours roundtrip from the trailhead including some allowance for time enjoying the waterfall. It is not worth starting this hike if you do not have enough time to make it to the falls and back.
To get to the Gorman Falls Trailhead from our campsite, you need to drive 15 minutes back toward the park entrance on the main Park Road. Just before you get to the park entrance there is a well-marked gravel driveway leading to the trailhead. The driveway is rutted but passable for 2WD vehicles. At the trailhead there is a decent size parking lot, but on busy days it can get crowded, so carpooling with another family is recommended if possible.
Gorman Falls Trail is well marked, but at trail crossings take care to not confuse the Gorman Falls Trail with the Gorman Spring or Gorman Road Trails which are also nearby. The Gorman Springs Trail is a beautiful side trail, but add it to your itinerary only if you are sure you have abundant time for the return hike back to the parking lot and your kids are doing well.
Terrain on the Gorman Falls Trail is rocky but mostly level until the end where there is a steep and slick section with handrails to get down to the waterfall. Small children may need help on this short section, but they can do it with assistance. The potentially bigger challenge with Gorman Falls Trail is the lack of any shade until the very end. The waterfall itself is a shady oasis, but take plenty of water and good sun protection (hat, sunscreen, etc.) for the hike there and back, even on cloudy days when you might doubt it will be needed.
Cave tour
A professional cave guide, Jeff Nichols of Nichols Outdoors Adventures, will lead small groups from Pack 421 into Turtle Shell Cave, one of many natural caves inside Colorado Bend State Park. Jeff has offered cave tours in the park for over 8 years under a license from the park service, and he is Youth Protection certified by the BSA. His cave tours have been featured on Texas Daytripper and Texas Monthly. This is a must do activity for Cub Scouts who are old enough!
Eligibility: Adults and children in 2nd Grade or older can participate. If an adult (possibly with a younger sibling) wants to wait outside the cave entrance while a group is inside the cave, they can bring a camp chair and wait under a tree. The amount of time the tour group will be inside the cave is about 45 minutes. You do not need to purchase a tour fee if you plan to wait outside the cave. Every tour will have a professional guide and adequate adult supervision, so you do not have to go inside the cave with your Cub Scout if you really don’t want to. (But you really should go, if you’ve never been in a wild cave before.)
Motivation: Every Scout should explore a wild cave at least once, and this is the perfect “novice cave” for a Cub Scout who is Wolf or older to give it a try. All of the caves in Colorado Bend remain in their wild, natural state, so it is a completely different experience from commercial caves you might have visited in the past. Your child will be so proud and remember it for the rest of their life.
Overcoming Fears: Adventure activities in Scouting are always challenge-by-choice, but don’t let fear of the unknown hold your Cub Scout (or you) back. This wild cave tour is much less scary and much less uncomfortable than your scout’s imagination (or yours) might be making it out to be. Please encourage your Cub Scout to participate, even if it means leaning on the “A Scout is Brave” virtue of the Scout Law a little bit. Here are a few common worries that should not deter your Cub Scout (or you) from participating in this experience:
Are there bugs in the cave? A few crickets and daddy long legs perhaps, but they are completely harmless to humans and easy to avoid.
Are there bats? Exactly three solitary bats live in this cave. Their names are Roxanne, Steve, and Bart, and they will either be hibernating or already gone for the summer.
What if I have claustrophobia? The tour guide will help anybody who needs extra assistance, but claustrophobia is rarely an issue in Turtle Shell Cave because you are never far from an entrance. (There are actually three entrances, but the tour only uses the easiest one.)
Will I get dirty or wet? Turtle Shell Cave is dry and rocky, so you shouldn’t get excessively dirty, but your clothes and shoes will probably get dusty.
Can a big person get stuck in the cave? The tallest and heftiest adults in Pack 421 will be able to get around in this cave easily. There is only one tight squeeze between two rocks on the scramble down toward the cave’s entrance, at which point someone with a big gut or wide shoulders might need to maneuver a little bit to slip through, but everyone will get through, no problem.
Will I have to crawl? Yes, once you are in the cave, the majority of the time is on your hands and knees or sitting to listen to the guide explain features of the cave. But don’t worry, the tour guide will provide everyone with helmets and heavy-duty kneepads so that you really won’t mind the crawling. If your 50-year-old Cubmaster with his bad knees can enjoy the cave tour without pain or regrets, which he has done, then you can too!
What to Bring: The cave guide will supply helmets and heavy-duty kneepads for everyone. Beyond that, you need to bring:
A headlamp with elastic headband (not a handheld flashlight)
Closed-toe shoes (no sandals or Crocs)
T-shirt and long pants (the cave is a steady 72°F year round, so a t-shirt is fine; long pants are recommended so that the kneepads don’t chafe or pinch)
Gloves are optional but recommended (gardening gloves are best, but any kind will work)
Backpacks and tote bags are not allowed in the cave but can be left at the cave entrance or in your car. If you want to bring your phone or camera, make sure you have a pocket to secure it in while crawling.
Cave Tour Times: Headcount inside the cave is limited, so multiple time slots will be offered. You can select your time slot when you sign up for the campout via the Pack online store. Tours will be offered on Saturday at 9:30am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 3:30pm; and on Sunday at 11:00am. Each tour will take a little over an hour from start to finish, about 45 minutes of which is actually inside the cave.
Friday night campers are encouraged to sign up for the 9:30am or 11:00am tour on Saturday so that the afternoon tours can be available for those who have to make the trip from Austin on Saturday morning.
Members of the Bear den should avoid signing up for the 11:00am or 3:30pm tours on Saturday so that you can be available to help set up the Pack kitchen (typically starting at 10:00am) and help prepare supper (typically starting from about 4:00pm). The 9:30am or 2:00pm tours are good choices for Bear families.
Cave Tour Meeting Place: Cave tour participants should meet the cave guide at the Cedar Chopper Trailhead parking lot at the tour start time. The meeting place is highlighted in this Colorado Bend Facilities Map (PDF). Try to get there a little early because the tour will not wait for late arrivals.
Allow 15 minutes to drive from our campsite to the tour meeting place. Carpooling with another family is recommended, if possible, since the Cedar Chopper Trailhead parking lot can sometimes be busy.
At the meeting place, your tour guide will be wearing a helmet so you can’t miss him. The walk from the parking lot to the cave entrance is only about 10 minutes. The guide will lead the way after everyone has been kitted out with a helmet and kneepads.
There are no restrooms at trailhead parking lot or at the cave. Go to the toilet before you leave the campground. And, since you won’t be allowed to carry a pack with water into the cave, take a sip of water before you leave the parking lot to keep you hydrated.
Cave Tour Cost: The fee to participate in the cave tour is $25 per person, nonrefundable. The cave tour will proceed rain or shine. A refund will be issued only if there is lightning or extreme weather.
Cave Tour Liability Waiver: A standard liability waiver must be signed in order to participate, by a parent or legal guardian if the participant is a minor. The guide will have the waiver form for you to sign when he meets you at the Cedar Chopper Trailhead parking lot. If you would like a copy to sign in advance (e.g., so that your kid can travel to the cave tour meeting place and go on the tour with other adults), please let a Pack leader know.
Fishing & wading
Fishing in state parks is legal for all ages without a permit. Bring your own fishing gear.
Cub Scouts must be accompanied by a parent (or be with a buddy and supervised per YPT rules) at all times on the campout. This is especially true near water. Campsite boundaries and these safety rules will be carefully explained to Scouts at opening ceremony.
Colorado River water level is currently quite low due to lack of rain, but in any case, if a child will be wading in water anywhere in the park, they must not be allowed to go in farther than waist deep, per BSA policy. Swimming is only permitted at Cub Scout events if organized as formal program activity with many requirements, which we will not be doing on this trip. If you or your scout want to go swimming, please do it on Sunday as a family activity, after the Pack’s closing ceremony; your pass to the park will remain good for the whole day.
Campfire, s'mores, stargazing
Saturday evening we will have a communal campfire and roast s’mores. If anyone in your family (youth or adult) would like to lead a song or demonstrate a magic trick at the campfire, let the Cubmaster know in advance. Don't be shy! The more variety the better.
As part of the campfire program, each den will be asked to perform a skit, organized with help of the den leader. Scouts will also have the opportunity to tell a few jokes (max 2 per person). Jokes need to be approved in advance by a Pack leader or den leader.
If the burn ban for San Saba County remains in effect, our campfire will be powered by propane instead of wood. Such is life in Central Texas. But our propane firepit is almost as good as a real campfire (and less mess), so we’ll make the best of it.
After the campfire, the Cubmaster will lead a stargazing party if the skies are clear. Colorado Bend has fantastic dark skies, but dress extra warmly for this activity, since it gets cold very quickly when you’re sitting still outside at night in the dark.
Packing tips
Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring—and also what not to bring.
Note that the campground at Colorado Bend is in a deep canyon which often gets colder at night that the temperatures reported for towns nearby. Do not skimp on bringing warm gear for sleeping, plus warm clothing and a jacket for being outside after the sun goes down.
Scouts are expected to wear their Class A uniform at the opening and closing ceremonies. At all other times, the Pack 421 t-shirt should be worn, with a jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed.
Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times on Scout campouts; no Crocs or sandals except when showering. Every person should bring an extra pair of closed-toe shoes in case their first pair gets wet, especially since some of the most popular trails in this park have creek crossings.
Each Cub Scout should bring a fanny pack or small backpack with their six Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials to carry on hikes. Scouts should pack and carry their own essentials, as much as possible (except perhaps the Lions), so that they can learn about taking responsibility and being prepared.
Mandatory paperwork
There is some paperwork required by the BSA that should be prepared by each family well before departing for the campout.
YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING: All adults staying overnight must complete online Youth Protection Training (YPT) before coming to the campout. This training must be repeated every two years, so if you don’t remember when you last took it, log in to My.Scouting.org to make sure your YPT certification is still valid. NOTE: Additional YPT requirements apply for any adults staying overnight if they are not the parent or legal guardian of a Cub Scout, such as a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling age 18+. If this applies to anybody who will be attending with your family, please inform Pack leaders at least one week in advance so that we can help take care of these additional requirements.
MEDICAL FORMS: Every participant, youth and adult, must have a BSA Medical Form (Parts A, B1, & B2) signed and on file with the Pack. If you turned in med forms for one of the Pack overnights earlier in the 2024-25 school year, we still have it on file and it is good for 12 months. Otherwise, bring a hard copy of completed med forms for each member of your family (youth and adult) and give them to give to a Pack leader upon arrival at the campout.
Weather contingency
We will camp even if the forecast calls for light showers or intermittent rain. But if there is a chance for heavy rain or thunderstorms, or extreme cold temperatures, then canceling or rescheduling might be necessary.
Pack leaders will evaluate the forecast on Thursday evening, April 3, and if they decide we need to cancel or reschedule, we will let everyone know that night by email. The alternate rain dates for this campout is the following weekend, April 12-13. Availability for cave tours on the alternate dates is not guaranteed.
Campout timeline
FRIDAY:
2:00 PM - Earliest allowed campsite setup for Friday campers
7:54 PM - Sunset
10:00 PM - Park entrance gate locked (code required for entry)
SATURDAY:
6:00 AM - Park entrance gate unlocked
6:00 AM - Earliest allowed arrival for Saturday campers
7:16 AM - Sunrise
9:30 AM - Cave tour (option 1)
10:00 AM - Pack trailer arrives, start setting up kitchen
11:00 AM - Cave tour (option 2)
1:00 PM - OPENING CEREMONY
2:00 PM - Cave tour (option 3)
3:30 PM - Cave tour (option 4)
6:00 PM - DINNER (and practice den skits)
7:30 PM - CAMPFIRE (with s’mores)
7:54 PM - Sunset
9:00 PM - Stargazing party (if clear skies)
10:00 PM - Park entrance gate locked (code required for entry)
SUNDAY:
6:00 AM - Park entrance gate unlocked
7:15 AM - Sunrise (coffee and hot coco)
8:00 AM - BREAKFAST
9:00 AM - SCOUT’S OWN SERVICE
9:15 AM - CLOSING CEREMONY
9:30 AM - Strike camp, load up Pack trailer
10:30 AM - Depart for home or more family time in the park
11:00 AM - Cave tour (option 5)
10:00 PM - End of pass validity, must be out of park
How to register
To register:
Go to the 2025 Spring Campout page in the Pack online store
Add tent fee(s), grub fee, and cave tour reservations to your shopping cart
Checkout and pay for your shopping cart; you should receive an email confirmation
Make sure your purchase includes a tent fee (one per family per night) and a grub fee (per person for the correct number people in your family) before you check out and pay.
If the grub fee is showing as sold out in the Pack store, then unfortunately we have maxed out our campsite capacity and you should contact Pack leaders to be added to the waitlist. Similarly, if your desired cave tour time slot is not showing as available, choose a different time slot or contact Pack leaders to be added to a waitlist.
Email the Pack leaders if you have questions or need help.