Photo Source: https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/reimers-ranch
We’re fortunate to have some truly beautiful landscapes here in the Texas Hill Country, and you don’t have to drive more than a few miles outside of the city to discover one of nature’s playgrounds. One of those nearby places worth exploring is Milton Reimers Ranch Park.
Whether you’re looking for a dose of adrenaline, a physical challenge, or some peaceful tranquility, you’ll find all of it within the park.
The Scoop on Milton Reimers Ranch Park
Located just 13 miles north of downtown Dripping Springs, the park is a reserve of pristine natural beauty in Travis County along the Pedernales River. Before becoming a park for public use in 2005, the land was owned by the Reimers family. Rather than see the land slowly be engulfed by commercial development, the family decided to preserve it as a nature reserve for all to enjoy.
While overnight camping is not allowed in the park, visitors can enjoy the park daily for a small fee ($5 for adults, $3 for seniors, free for children under 12) from 7 AM to dusk.
An Outdoor Sports Enthusiasts Paradise
Milton Reimers Ranch Park is a popular destination for area birders who visit in hopes of seeing an endangered golden-cheeked warbler, but that’s hardly its only draw.
The area has been popular with rock climbers for years and the local rock climbing community played a key role in the county’s decision to move forward with acquiring the land. With climbing route names like Crankenstein, Dead Cats Don’t Meow, and Eight Flake, there’s really nothing quite like scaling up the park’s numerous towering limestone cliffs and bluffs.
Maybe something that doesn’t involve heights but still packs a punch of adrenaline is more your speed? Milton Reimers Ranch can deliver on that front, too, and has 18 miles of mountain bike trails. With a trail system that will challenge bikers of all skill levels from beginner to expert, biking enthusiasts won’t go home disappointed. Just be sure to pack a spare tire tube, because there are cacti.
A Chance to See a Star-Filled Sky
As beautiful as the night sky can be from your backyard, you really can’t experience it in all its beauty unless you escape the city lights. Milton Reimers Ranch Park holds a truly special distinction in that it’s an International Dark Sky Park, a title given to parks by the International Dark Sky Association for preserving natural skies from light pollution. In short, it’s a really good place for stargazing.
The park has its own observatory where park guests have the opportunity to gaze through the lens of one of two telescopes. Staff-led programs focus on a variety of wonders in the cosmos above from constellations and planets to shooting stars and passing satellites. Visit on the right night and you might even see the International Space Station.
This is only scratching the surface of all there is to explore in the park. With so much to do from fishing to guided tours and swimming, it’s easy to see why Milton Reimers Ranch Park is a favorite destination for Dripping Springs residents.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast or you simply like the tranquility of a natural landscape, Caliterra is the perfect spot to settle down. With a convenient location in Dripping Springs, Caliterra offers residents a true Texas Hill Country surrounding to call home. If you’d like to find a home in Dripping Springs, reach out to the Caliterra team today.
