Bastrop: Forests, Water and History

Bastrop County is located in the Lost Pines region. Bastrop State Park is home to the Lost Pines, an isolated region of loblolly pines and hardwood trees. This landscape is also part of the park’s history: in 1997, it was designated a National Historic Landmark, largely because of the preserved craftsmanship and landscape design of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Nature, Water and the Lost Pines

The hilly, 12-mile Park Road 1C winds through the wooded Lost Pines as a scenic route, connecting Bastrop State Park with Buescher State Park. McKinney Roughs Nature Park has miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, riding UTVs and horseback riding. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset; as operating hours may change, check them before your visit.

Lake Bastrop North Shore Park provides access to a 900-acre lake surrounded by loblolly pines. Kayaks and canoes are available to rent in the park; rental availability may change, so it’s worth checking before your visit. The El Camino Real Paddling Trail in Bastrop is on a different scale in terms of length and time: the trail is six miles long, and paddling it takes approximately 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the current and breaks. The river corridor provides habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species along the river and beyond its banks.

In addition, Bastrop County manages three free public recreation parks in its unincorporated area. This means the nature offerings range from wooded parkland and multi-use trails to a lake and river corridor.

Museums and History

The Bastrop County Museum & Visitor Center is an official interpretive site and partner of the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. It offers self-guided tours of Bastrop County history medallions and the downtown district. The Bastrop Opera House was built in 1889. Built in 1883, the Bastrop County Courthouse features a Renaissance Revival style with Prairie School adaptations; the courthouse and jail complex is designated a State Antiquities Landmark.

The Bastrop County African American Cultural Center & Freedom Colonies Museum is located in the historic Kerr-Wilson House, built in 1890. Four exhibition rooms are devoted to the Freedom Colonies and the contributions of their community members. The museum offers docent-led tours during opening hours; check current opening hours before your visit.

In Elgin, the Elgin Depot Museum is located in the historic Union Depot, dating to around 1903. It features changing and permanent exhibits on the city’s history. The Smithville Heritage Museum houses artifacts and photographs from Smithville’s early history; the museum is housed in a Victorian building built in 1908. Railroad history exhibits include reproductions of the first railroad depot, as well as objects from the MKT and Union Pacific eras.

Dinosaur Park is an open-air museum with realistic, life-size dinosaur displays; it also shows differences in skin and coloration. Check current operations before visiting.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When planning your hotel stay, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: forest and multi-use trails, the lake and paddling, or museums and historic buildings. This can help you choose a travel base that suits your priorities.

Explore more destinations: Smithville, Bastrop, Elgin, Jefferson, Frio County, Medina County, Fort Bend, Hopkins.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.