Lone Star State Beauty: 10 Best Natural Wonders In Texas

Best Natural Wonders in Texas
Catherine
Catherine 
Updated
| 5 min read

It’s said everything is bigger in Texas and that includes its beauty. Second only to Alaska, with regard to U.S. state size, Texas covers 261,797 square miles (678,051 square kilometers). So clearly there’s a lot of nature packed into this massive state. If next on your travel plans is to immerse yourself in natural beauty, read on to uncover what Mother Nature has abundantly bestowed on the Lone Star State with these 10 best natural wonders in Texas.

1. Big Ben National Park: beloved West Texas treasure

big-bend-national-park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Yinan Chen used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Marked by breathtaking vistas, Big Ben National Park offers a raw beauty that is vast and enticing. Comprised of desert landscapes, steep limestone cliffs, a magnificent mountain range, and so much more, Big Ben National Park will easily steal your heart. But Big Ben National Park isn’t just about the views. The area also boasts many diverse life forms from black bears to ponderosa pine trees. Located near the Mexican border, check out Langford Hot Springs, an area with pictographs and the remnants of an old bathhouse. Big Ben National Park is the go-to spot for all nature-loving Texans.

Insider tip: visit the Window, a large rock canyon that cuts directly through the Chisos Mountains rim. Definitely a Big Ben National Park must-see for an unforgettable view!

Big Ben National Park

Address: 29.1275° N, 103.2425° W

Website: Big Ben National Park

Visited this place?

2. Hamilton Pool Preserve: idyllic lagoon-like retreat

Hamilton Pool and Falls
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Eric in SF used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Attracting visitors from all over the world, Hamilton Pool Preserve is one of the most inviting spots in Texas, especially on a hot summer day. Situated in the Texas Hill Country, Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool formed thousands of years ago when the surface above an underground river collapsed! The revealed picturesque grotto of Hamilton Pool Preserve, along with the shade of the cave and the cypress trees that line the watering hole, is a spot as beautiful as it is refreshing.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Address: 24300 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Website: Hamilton Pool Preserve

Visited this place?

3. Guadalupe Mountains National Park: pure wilderness beauty

Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Joyradost used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is known for its bright-white Salt Basin Dunes, abundant wildlife, and fossilized reef mountains. And with the dramatic Guadalupe Peak, standing at 8,750 feet (2,667 meters), Guadalupe Mountains National Park boasts the tallest point in all of Texas! A highlight of the area is El Capitan Peak. During the era of U.S. westward expansion, it was used as a landmark for pioneer wagon trails. The remains of an old wagon station can still be seen there today.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Address: 31.9452° N, 104.8725° W

Website: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Visited this place?

4. Beauty and bats in one place at Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area!


With a total depth of over 350 feet (106.6 meters) and measuring 320 feet (97.5 meters) in diameter, Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area is the largest single-chamber cavern in Texas. A vertical chasm comprised of limestone bedrock, Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area was registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1985. If traveling to Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area in late spring to early fall, visitors receive a mind-blowing extra bonus. Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area is also home to the state’s largest colony of Mexican free-tailed bats, which emerge from the caverns nightly! To get a ringside seat to this wondrous display you must make a reservation in advance. Don’t miss out on a truly unique and thrilling experience.

Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area

Address: 30.0575° N, 100.1091° W

Website: Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area

Visited this place?

5. Padre Island National Seashore: pristine aquatic paradise

Padre Island National Seashore
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Zereshk used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Adorning 70 miles (112.6 kilometers) of the Texas coastline with windswept sands, crystal blue water, and formations of pelicans and other various shorebirds along the seaside, is the magical Padre Island National Seashore. While known as a haven for spring-breakers, Padre Island National Seashore is actually so much more than kegs and college kids. Considered the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world, according to the U.S. National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore is home to nearly 400 species of birds, one of the world’s largest sea turtle populations, and some of the most remote beach areas to explore!

Padre Island National Seashore

Address: 27.4641° N, 97.2977° W

Website: Padre Island National Seashore

Visited this place?

6. Explore mysterious & magical Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Source: Photo by Flickr user Manuel Delgado Te... used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Within the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area resides one of the largest natural rock formations in the United States. Enchanted Rock stands 425 feet (129.5 meters) above the ground, and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970. This massive domed piece of pink granite rock has enthralled visitors, and the area provides a great adventure for hiking, rock climbing, and camping. Don’t miss the opportunity to climb Enchanted Rock. Reach the summit and you will certainly be rewarded with amazing panoramic views of the surrounding Hill Country!

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Address: 30.5066° N, 98.8189° W

Website: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Visited this place?

7. Discover sandy bliss at Monahans Sandhills State Park

Monahans Sandhills at Sunrise
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Wing-Chi Poon used under CC BY-SA 3.0

While it may not rival Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes or New Mexico’s White Sands, Texas’ Monahans Sandhills State Park offers some pretty majestic-looking dunes, and a tranquil environment that thousands of visitors flock to every year. Most of the dunes are stabilized by vegetation, in fact one of the common plants is a shin oak. Possessing the appearance of a large dwarfed tree, shin oak is actually a plant that produces an abundance of acorns. Luckily, the dunes within the park are still active. Responding to seasonal and prevailing winds, Monahans Sandhills grow and shift in shape to create a breathtaking and dynamic landscape.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

Address: 2500 E Interstate 20 Exit 86, Monahans, TX 79756

Website: Monahans Sandhills State Park

Visited this place?

8. Palo Duro Canyon: an artist's inspiration!

Palo Duro Canyon 2
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Kimberly Vardeman used under CC BY 3.0

Located in the Texas panhandle and formed by a fork of the mighty Red River, Palo Duro Canyon is known as the “Grand Canyon of Texas.” Palo Duro Canyon may be the second-largest canyon in the country, but its stunning display of beauty is surely first rate. With glorious rock towers, multi-hued walls, sheer drops, and a collection of natural cave formations, it’s not surprising Palo Duro Canyon served as an inspiration to acclaimed American painter Georgia O'Keeffe.

Palo Duro Canyon

Address: 11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX 79015

Website: Palo Duro Canyon

Visited this place?

9. Caverns of Sonora: glistening gem beneath the Texas landscape!

The Caverns of Sonora, Tx
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ken used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Offering less hustle and bustle than the more touristy Natural Bridge Caverns, Caverns of Sonora does provide just as much natural beauty, possibly more. Caverns of Sonora has an extensive cave system, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, which features exquisite calcite mineral formations, and a particular “room” that is enchanting and awe-inspiring called the Crystal Palace. Caverns of Sonora does not disappoint. Tours are conducted every 2 hours, and an expert guide takes guests down 155 feet (47.2 meters) below the surface!.

Caverns of Sonora

Address: 1711 Private Road 4468, Sonora, TX 76950

Website: Caverns of Sonora

Visited this place?

10. Big Thicket Natural Preserve: watery & woodsy wonders

Trees at Big Thicket National Preserve (2)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user USDA photo by Lar... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Lying on the coastal plains of southeast Texas, Big Thicket Natural Preserve showcases an unbelievably beautiful forest land that is the result of nine ecosystems converging, making it a must-see for nature enthusiasts! Big Thicket Natural Preserve consists of a wide-ranging biodiverse landscape of nearly 100,000 acres (40,468.5 hectares) that features hills, cactus, swamps, and pine trees. As a result, Big Thicket Natural Preserve has been referred to as “America’s Ark.” A feast for the eyes, Big Thicket Natural Preserve is a great place to explore nature’s wonders by hiking, camping, or simply taking a leisurely stroll.

Big Thicket Natural Preserve

Address: 30.4722° N, 94.3473° W

Website: Big Thicket Natural Preserve

Visited this place?

Deep in the heart of Texas

Texas is a bona fide gold mine of natural wonders. Blessed with the serene beauty of rolling hills, gloriously beautiful canyons that cut through the expansive landscape, rivers that crisscross the land, tall pine trees in wooded areas, and so much more, Texas is an excellent slideshow of nature and a place, designed by Mother Nature, to be lived outdoors.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Catherine has written professionally for over 10 years, and a sizable amount has been travel writing. Her desire to see the world was sparked at a very young age. Growing up, there were many family...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Texas
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.