While there are hundreds of great towns in Texas, there is only ONE “Top” and it sits about 60 north of the town of Van Horn inside Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Guadalupe Peak sits 8,749 feet in the sky. A trip to the top covers approximately 8.4 miles, takes 6-8 hours to hike, and includes 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Whew! But for those willing to make the hike, it is the ultimate trek in Texas. My advice is to bring lots of water, check into the visitor’s center for updated trail information, and enjoy the journey. It is amazing! For those who can’t make this hike, the park has a number of other places to explore, including some trails that are even handicap-accessible.
Before or after your hike, if you have the energy, make sure to explore the town of Van Horn. The best place to dig into its history of cattle, mining, and railroads is the Clark Hotel Museum, a quirky museum full of artifacts and knick-knacks that isn’t to be missed. Walk upstairs if you are brave enough. The other place to learn a bit of history is by visiting Hotel El Capitan, built in the 1930’s and designed by famed architect Henry Trost. This is, by far, my favorite place to stay before or after a massive hiking trip.
Hiking certainly works up an appetite. I recommend some signature huevos rancheros from Pappa’s Pantry, or a plate of West Texas Tex Mex from Chuy’s Restaurant. Chuy’s is known for its food, but also because NFL Hall-of-Famer John Madden put it on his epic “Haul of Fame” list as one of the best places to stop for road trip grub. Enjoy!
As with many hill country towns, it isn’t so much what’s in town, but all around town. This is especially true with Dripping Springs the “Gateway to the Hill Country.” To download this episode or purchase it on DVD – CLICK HERE.
But before you head to the hills, there are some things in the town worth checking out. First off are the namesake springs of this small town which sit on the private property of the Homestead B&B. Just knock on the door, and the owner is usually happy to show you around. However, Start the day off right with breakfast at Rolling in Thyme and Dough. A delicious breakfast and lunch spot tucked away in an old house right off Highway 290. The egg/sausage/pesto croissant is phenomenal. Later in the afternoon, you might want to grab a fresh pint of craft brew from The Barber Shop serving house-made brews and Texas brews from all over the state.
To experience the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, there are 3 must-do activities just north of town. The first is Hamilton Pool, an amazing natural grotto that is also some of Texas’s most magnificent swimming holes. Make sure you arrive early, or else you might be waiting in the parking lot for hours to get in. While Hamilton Pool is well-traveled, the second activity is as untouched and pristine as possible. This is West Cave Preserve. Take a guided nature tour down to this stunning grotto and cave and be taken into a world far away from human hands. Finally, if you want to jump into the hill country full-on, then there’s no better place than Milton Reimer’s Ranch, this private ranch turned public park is an outdoor playground with everything from fishing to mountain biking to some of the best rock climbing in Texas.
And to cap off an exceptional day, head south of Dripping Springs to the town of Driftwood, TX and take down a big, honkin’ plate of some of the best BBQ in Texas at – The Salt Lick.
