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Five Mile Dam
Photo courtesy Chandra Moira Beal, 2001 |
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‹ Blanco
River, page 1
Take
IH35 to San
Marcos and exit at Aquarena Springs Drive. Stay to the right
and head toward Bobcat Stadium. Just before the stadium, turn right
on Post Road. Continue on Post Road for about five miles. You'll
wind through a rural neighborhood. When you get to the railroad
trestle, go under it and across the Blanco River. Take an immediate
left onto Old Stagecoach Road. It isn't well marked. Go about one
mile and you'll see the park on your left.
Alternate route: Take IH35 to Yarrington Road just south of Kyle.
Follow the frontage road to the 'Y', then take the right on FM 2779.
When you come to the railroad trestle, don't go under it but turn
right onto Old Stagecoach Road. The park is one mile down on the
left. (Note: this is a shorter route from Austin
but I got easily lost as the roads are not well marked.)
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This
Hays County park is a well kept secret. Situated on the banks
of the Blanco River, the park is a short drive from both Austin
and San
Marcos, perfect for a day retreat. Although nearby development
is encroaching on this swimming hole (notice the houses perched above
the river), it remains a beautiful, quiet park.
The Blanco River flows in a long, straight path with high limestone
bluffs on the south side and grassy banks on the north shore. The
water behind the dam is calm and fairly shallow with a few deep pockets.
The characteristic white limestone that gives this river its name
allows you to see the bottom easily. Access to the water is easy:
just slip in from the grassy bank.
A long, short dam spans the river at the eastern edge of the park.
Below the dam the riverbed is rocky and the vegetation is thick. This
area is perfect for dogs. The current can be strong and swift, so
exercise caution here.
Picnic tables dot the banks, and there is plenty of shade to cover
them. There is a boat launch at the far west end of the park, but
no motorboats are allowed. There is plenty of parking, but no other
amenities.
Text and
photos courtesy of Chandra Moira Beal and La Luna Publishing
Copyright Chandra Moira Beal, 1999
‹ Blanco
River, page 1 |
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