The Texas Hill Country is west of Austin and the north of San Antonio, and sits on the Edwards Plateau and the Balcones Escarpment, with the perimeter loosely (and we really mean ‘loosely’) defined as the area bounded by Interstate 35 on the east, Texas Hwy 29 on the north, US 90 to the south, and US 83 on the west. There is a series of mountains in the 1,900 to 2,250 ft range just west of the line from Barksdale to Montell.
Now that just one definition; the Texas hill country is also defined by the rugged limestone hills that separate the coastal plain from the Edwards Plateau.
Actually, there are widely different views of which towns and what land is in the “Hill Country”. Some folks are passionate about the inclusion of their favorite town and very few want not to be included, possibly because of marketing implications, possibly due to pride. The boundary ‘areas’ (there are no hard “lines” or other official demarcations or definitions) thus are very fuzzy. Kinda like how you feel after getting into the middle of one of the debates on the actual Hill Country boundaries.
The “blending” of lifestyles and culture in such areas is perhaps what makes the subject so hard to define. Folks often live in the fringe hilly area of the Hill Country but work in the neighboring town just down the road in the flat-lands, their kids go to school in that town, they trade in town, many of their every-day friends are in town, so for many it all becomes one and the same. A good example of this is with Sabinal, located less than 10 miles from the last hilly area to the north. Folks there believe that Sabinal is in the Hill Country.
Some folks put it in more simple terms, based on what it is not. If it is not “hilly” then it is not in the Hill Country. If it is not “country-like”, then it is not Hill Country.
Some make it even simpler. If it is a big city (like Austin, San Antonio) it is not in the Hill Country. Everything else is Hill Country until you get to the flat plains.
Speaking of hills, what about mountains? It is pretty clear we do not have any big mountains as in Colorado, but we do have a number of hills and areas with the word “mountain” in their name, such as “Round Mountain” (Hwy 281 between Johnson City and Marble Falls); Rattlesnake Mountain (just W of Round Mountain); Bell Mountain (near Hwy 16 just north of Willow City and Fredericksburg, El 1950 ft); Lone Man Mountain (E of Blanco, El 1421 ft); Long Mountain in Mason County; and Mountain Home.
We’ll throw in the map to give you a better idea, but please just think of the borderlines as more border-‘suggestions’.
A great road trip
No matter where the actual boundaries are or are not drawn (please don’t ask us to explain that again) there is no denying that the area is beyond scenic and whether you’re on a motorcycle, in the car or glamping in your RV, a road trip through Texas Hill Country is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.
Seriously, take our advice, add it to your bucket list. See as many sites as you can and take as long as you can. There has been one area, however, that has been hailed as a favorite generation after generation – Concan, Texas where folks come to truly get away from all the hustle and bustle of today’s world, reconnect with each other and just truly enjoy life for a while.
It’s been written about in major publications such as Southern Living and USA Today, was rated the 2nd best river in the US by the Matador Network; Men’s Fitness deemed it the “laziest river” in the U.S. and therefore the best for tubing (with a cold one); and Thrillist has listed it the Frio in its “Ultimate Austin Tubing Guide”
Look up the Frio on YouTube and you’ll see a crazy amount of folks enjoying themselves here in ways that are so simple but enough to make you want to put you make your reservation now. Don’t believe us? Okay, check this video out..it’s one of the many if you go to YouTube and just type in Frio River as a search. We don’t know these nice folks, but we want you to see how much fun they’re having, then we’ll talk after the video.
See what we mean? Everyone was having a great time, and doing so as a family. There was no computer, no cell phones, no tv’s and nothing to interfere with the fun. There were also no chemicals in the water as everything is right from nature.
That’s part of what attracts families here year after year and as those kids, who were just adorable by the way, grow up and have families – they’ll most likely bring their families here to enjoy this wonderful area and it has to offer.
When you think about it, how many areas can really offer that anymore? How many will there be tomorrow?
To us and to the families who have been vacationing here for generations, and to the new families starting that tradition, that makes the Frio a very loved, a very unique and a very special place indeed.