South Llano River State Park, State park and Dark Sky sanctuary in Texas, United States.
South Llano River State Park covers 2,600 acres along the South Llano River in Kimble County, Texas. The park has over 17 miles of hiking trails, four bird blinds, and Buck Lake, an oxbow lake. The land was donated by Walter Buck Jr., whose family ranched goats and sheep and harvested pecans.
Walter Buck Jr. donated the land that became South Llano River State Park; his family had used it for goat and sheep ranching and pecan harvesting. The park opened to the public in 1990 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The park serves as a sanctuary where visitors come to escape artificial light and observe the night sky with their own eyes. Many people visit specifically during darker nights to watch the stars above the trees and river valleys.
The park offers campsites with electrical hookups and water access for trailers, plus primitive sites that require a longer walk to reach. The infrastructure is concentrated in the lower areas, while the higher elevations are more sparse for hikers.
Wild turkeys come to roost in the park from October through March, and four bird blinds let visitors watch them without disturbing the flocks. Birdwatchers have recorded more than 250 species here over the years, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, which nests in the backcountry each spring and summer.
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