The Hill Country is considered a rare jewel in the eyes of Lone Star State bicyclists—and more and more riders from outside the state are learning why. Join us on this tour showing off some of the best riding the region has to offer — and America has to offer in the spring–time.
Imagine crystal-clear streams cutting shallow valleys through oak-covered hills criss-crossed with lightly traveled, paved roads. In the springtime, the roadsides are absolutely covered with wildflowers, including Texas bluebonnets, Indian blanket, and paintbrush. Temperatures can range from the thirties to the eighties, but most likely we’ll see fifties at night, warming into the seventies during the day.
Our Hill Country adventure begins and ends in Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World,” where you’ll likely want to spend an extra day or two before or after the tour. From Austin, we’ll spin through farmlands east of I-35 before heading west into the hills. We can stop and grab a cold one, and possibly hear some live music, at Gruene Hall, the oldest dancehall in the state. We’ll enjoy the evening along the pristine banks of the Guadalupe River, where you can take a dip in the chilly waters if you’re so inclined.
The next is day is relatively short as we ride to Blanco; this can allow for an easy side trip to the top of the Devil’s Backbone, with its 180-degree-plus panorama of the Blanco River Valley and hills beyond. We’ll also ride what is considered one of the prettiest roads in the state, with several low-water crossings and open-range ranches. Be prepared to take your shoes off and walk through the cool water at the river crossings!
From Blanco we’ll head to Fredericksburg, stopping at former President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s ranch along the way. The visitors’ center contains a wealth of interesting information about the ranch and the general area. If time allows, we might even take a ranch tour.
There’s lots to do and see in Fredericksburg, including shopping galore for those with a little extra money to spend, and the Nimitz Pacific War Museum, which any history buff will find fascinating. The town also features some great German-style biergartens, where we can relax with a drink and some good food. Then there’s the option of riding to Enchanted Rock State Park, location of one of the largest batholiths in the United States. The exposed pink granite of Enchanted Rock rises more than four hundred feet above the surrounding area.
Heading back to Austin, we’ll ride through Johnson City and perhaps visit LBJ’s boyhood home. The pedaling parallels the Pedernales River, with plenty of nice vistas but also lots of ups and downs as the roads cross many of the creeks feeding the Pedernales.
On our last day we’ll pass through Buda, home of Jardin Salsas, with their popular “Blazing Saddles” jerseys. After a week of blazing through the Texas Hill Country in your own saddle, there's an excellent chance that you’ll be back for more one day soon.
For more detailed information, see Event logistics.
