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Pace Bend Park
Rating Details »
6 reviews for Pace Bend Park
Some of my favorite memories in Austin have been with friends at Pace Bend. A couple of times a summer we go on "camping" trips. Why the air quotes on camping? It's hard to feel like you're roughing it when your friends Rav4 is parked like 50 feet away from your tent. And by the time morning comes we're always happy to get the hell out of there and get a celebratory meal at the McDonald's down the road.
But anyways.
Pace Bend has beautiful views of Lake Travis and is an awesome spot to spend a Saturday afternoon/night. After a little bit of rain, come here and do some cliff jumping. The water is perfect when it's 95-100 and the cliffs are the right height so people will actually jump and not pee themselves with fear.
The park rangers are actually pretty strict, but I never got the sense that they were doing it just to be pricks. They're trying to make sure the park stays in good shape. Just keep your cans, plastic bags, food, etc. in coolers or trash bags and they won't hassle you. Never had a problem with noise either.
There might be campsites with better views, better atmosphere, whatever, but Pace Bend works just fine for me.
Pace Bend is one of my favorite spots on Lake Travis with some of the most beautiful views of the lake.
The park is located on the West shore of Lake Travis about 45 minutes from downtown Austin or 15 minutes west of 620/71 and well worth the drive.
This park offers just about everything: hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, moderate to difficult rock climbing, cliff jumping (be sure and check water levels), improved and primitive camping, restrooms, picnicking, grills, fishing, designated swimming only areas, wave runner rentals and 2 boat ramps (smaller boats and wave runners can be launched off the beach).
The West side of the park has cliffs and several rocky coves and has the best secluded camping sites with the best views. Not so great a camping spot if you happen to be a sleep walker;)
The interior of the park can only be reached via foot, bike or horseback and the trails that lead up into the hills provide some great views of the lake.
FYI:
Quiet time between 10PM and 7AM and leash laws are strictly enforced .
Bring a crate for your dog if they like to wander at night.
Make reservations 2 weeks ahead for improved sites on the weekends.
If you are coming with a group there is a HEB down the street you can carpool from since there is a car entrance fee.
Have Fun!
Not far out of the city of Austin is Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis. Freshman year of college (1998), my RA Glenn took our whole floor of our dorm out here to go cliff diving the week before finals. I ended up coming back every day for the next week. Cliff diving is addictive.
You can also swim, camp, make s'mores, etc.
This place is beautiful. I haven't been here camping yet, but am slowly accumulating the equipment to do so. It's a great place to go spend a lazy Saturday afternoon in the sun. You are better off going in a truck to safely ride out onto the beach. Nice swimming water & great view. I have yet to jump off the cliffs because the water has been to shallow & I am a little chicken.
ahhh Pace Bend Park is SO nice! I love it.... I live at Lake Travis, about a block from the water, and Ill drive half an hour or more to visit Pace Bend because its just SO nice out there!
It had been a couple years since I'd hit up Pace Bend, but I went last weekend with my husband and his friends. We had a great time climbing down the smaller cliffs, jumping into the water, discovering a rope swing that someone had so kindly left for others looking for that ole timey waterin' hole kind of day. We made friends with a group of guys that brought their dog, then three people on a road trip from Illinois. Then we went back to our camp site, even though we were just there for the day, and grilled up some real and fake burgers, and ate some very quickly melting cupcakes. It was hot as all get out, but we still had a great time.