People who love the outdoors will find a plethora of outdoor activities in San Marcos. The nice thing about the Texas Hill Country climate is that it lets you enjoy the outdoors year-round. From swimming in the San Marcos River to trails for bikes and runners, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor adventures.
Here are five San Marcos outdoor activities that will allow you to connect with nature and revel in hours of fun.
- Wonder World Park
1000 Prospect St.
San Marcos, Texas 78666
For more than 100 years, Wonder World Park has welcomed visitors. Known as the first show cave in Texas, park visitors can explore the earthquake-formed Balcones Fault Line Cave. It has something for everyone with attractions like the observation tower, anti-gravity house, and train ride.
In the anti-gravity house, water flows up and other illusions play tricks on your eyes. Catch the express train that travels to a waterfall where visitors can splash around. And you can finish it off with new friends at the petting zoo.
- San Marcos River
City Park St.
San Marcos, TX 78666
Tubing on the San Marcos River is, well, tubular! Tube Texas shares excellent advice on how to prepare for a one-mile floating trip on the river. When you go kayaking or stand-up paddling, expect a spectacular backdrop to keep you captivated for hours. Thousands of threatened and endangered species reside around the river.
No matter how hot the weather gets in the summer, the river stays at a refreshing 72 degrees year-round thanks to hundreds of springs feeding into the river. You can also go snorkeling or discover the world undersea on a glass-bottom boat.
- Rio Vista Park
555 Cheatham St.
San Marcos, TX 78666
For a change a scenery, head to Rio Vista Park where you can kayak, tube, and paddle. A city swimming pool is on site as are hike and bike trails. You can do plenty outside the water with its tennis courts, half basketball court, picnic areas, and pavilions.
You can rent a tube from the Lions Club Tube Rental and get a free shuttle ride to go back to the top and tube down again. If you bring your own tube, the shuttle costs just $6 per person.
- Texas Ski Ranch
6700 IH 35N
New Braunfels, Texas 78130
The 70-acre Texas Ski Ranch is a sports paradise filled with fun activities like wake surfing, wakeboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, and waterskiing. They have coaching to help beginners learn and master these water sports.
The ranch has dry activities with trampolines, skateboarding, and paintball. You don’t have to wait for winter and go north for snow sports. You can go snowboarding at the Texas Ski Ranch’s Snow Park, the newest kid on the block. You can practice your snowboarding skills on flats, mini pipes, rollers, and banked turns on the Snow Park’s artificial turf.
- Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark
400 N. Liberty Ave.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
Located 30 minutes from San Marcos on the banks of the Comal River, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels waterpark stars more than 50 water attractions. Like the San Marcos River, the water at Schlitterbahn relies on fresh spring-fed water to maintain the water temperature at 72 degrees.
You get two water parks in one as the original park called Schlitterbahn West features the lava-heated lagoon pool, a 45-minute tubing adventure, and float on a mysterious river. Take the tram to Schlitterbahn East to catch a wave on Boogie Bahn, go hang gliding on the Sky Coaster, and journey on the endless river with tidal waves in every turn.
If you love spending time outdoors, you’ll be able to enjoy it to your heart’s content when you live in TRACE, a live-play-work community in San Marcos. The community has three onsite parks, as well as an amenity center underway, which includes a resort-style pool and splash pad, covered pavilions for picnics, athletic fields, playscapes, and more.
