Rising From the Ashes

For more than 70 years, folks have visited Bastrop State Park to enjoy its history and marvel at the Lost Pines. Forest fires and floods have ravaged the park in recent years. Now comes rebirth: new trees, new plants and new life. Come see the park’s recovery from nature’s fury. We’re just 32 miles east of Austin.

Things to Do

Bring your family out to the park! You can camp, picnic, swim, ride bikes, hike, fish, geocache, take in a nature program, and look for wildlife. Rent our group hall for your next reunion.

Stay overnight at a campsite or historic cabin. Campsites range from walk-in tent sites to full hookup RV sites. Bring a group to stay at our group barracks (with group hall, dorms and space for tents).

Hike seven miles of trail. Explore the growing forest, look for the new generation of loblolly pines, and witness the resilience of nature. Take a virtual tour with our interactive trails map.

Swim at our pool, open May to September. Read through our swimming safety tips before you come.

Bike or drive scenic Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher state parks. The hilly 12-mile road takes you through recovering and forested areas of the Lost Pines. Turn down the radio and enjoy this quiet drive. Share the road! The speed limit is 30 miles per hour.

Fish in the ½-acre Lake Mina. We lend fishing equipment, and you do not need a license to fish from shore in a state park. Download our Fishing Tip Sheet. (The park’s 10-acre lake is dry due to dam failure.)

Shop for gifts and souvenirs at the park store.

Get involved!

We need your help with programs, restoration and maintenance.

Visit our Volunteer page.

Call our volunteer coordinator at (512) 237-2241.

Check out Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks Facebook page. The Friends group helps promote, interpret and operate Bastrop and Buescher state parks through service and fundraising.

Support state parks by donating to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.

Ranger Programs

We offer nature hikes and programs for all ages. Visit our Events page to see the schedule.

Learn more about the park:

Kids

Become a Junior Ranger! Ask at headquarters to learn how.

Borrow an explorer pack, loaded with tools for exploring the park.

Pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Journal. Complete tasks to earn a badge.

Civilian Conservation Corps

The CCC built the dining hall, cabins, and many other park facilities in the 1930s. To learn more, visit our History page.

Area Attractions

Looking for city attractions?

Head west to Bastrop, which offers museums, music, parks, restaurants and more.

Austin offers big city amenities further west.

To the east, Smithville has its own attractions, including the Railroad Museum & Depot.

Buescher State Park is adjacent to Bastrop State Park, connected by the scenic Park Road 1C.

Nearby Lake Bastrop offers 900 surface acres for water sports. The Lower Colorado River Authority runs this park, and charges an entry fee.

Visit the best wildlife viewing spots in the area on the East Austin Loop of the Great Texas Wildlife Trails.

Two paddling trails converge in Bastrop: