South Llano River State Park

A camping rig enters South Llano River State Park.

Fishing in the South Llano River.

The South Llano River.

Walter Buck, a rancher, donated 2,641 acres of land to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1977.

Opened to the public in 1990, the former ranch has been divided into a state park and an adjoining wildlife management area. The purchase of an additional 16 acres brought the total acreage to 523, which includes two miles of river frontage, pecan bottomland and typical Hill Country terrain.

A defining feature of the park is the bottomland that hosts one of the biggest and oldest wild turkey roosts in the state. Visitors may see the turkeys from observation blinds or, often, visiting picnic areas for leftovers. The roost is closed October through March, although the rest of the park and the wildlife management area remain open.

Other wildlife includes deer, jackrabbits, javelinas, armadillos and a variety of exotic deer and antelope species.

There are about five miles of hiking/biking trails in the park, linked to an additional 16 miles of trails in the wildlife area.

Day-users as well as campers enjoy the South Llano River, a slow and shallow stream that is fun for tubing, rowing and canoeing. There is swimming at two beaches and fishing for bass, catfish and crappie. One of the park's lakes is stocked with catfish and catch-and-release bass.

Hunting for deer and other game is allowed in the wildlife management area under a lottery system administered by the Wildlife Management Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Campers can choose from 56 campsites with electricity and water and six walk-in campsites up to 70 yards from the parking area.

A dump station is provided. There is also a Texas State Park Store, which shares Mr. Buck's former farmhouse with the park office. Built around 1910, the house has been restored and some of the Buck family's furniture and personal effects are on display.

The park is on Park Road 73, five miles south of Junction on U.S. Hwy. 377.