I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but camp Tejas is a great place to park to do this loop. Another thing to note for anyone doing this hike in the summer is that the south side of the lake (Tejas park-Cedar breaks) has no water source for 11 miles. If you're planning a summer hike I highly recommend doing it clockwise so you can hit this section earlier when it's cooler. Thank you Cameron for documenting this trail:)
Another great video !! My favorite thing about that hike, were all the birds and bird sounds !! What about all your gear you took for this trip !!! Really nice, thanks for sharing !!
Thanks so much for watching. I noticed the birds while editing this video. They were all over. Despite not being super far out, there was still a lot of nature on this trip. I have a bigger trip in a few weeks. I'll try to show off my gear a bit more in those videos.
Glad you had a great time and appreciate where you were. I spent a lot of time there. It really makes me appreciate the PNW and where I grew up. There really isn’t much to explore in Texas that hasn’t been touched by modern technology or civilization. It’s either private and inaccessible or touched and regulated by the government. Most Texas natives are still amazed by what they have. Please leave your state and make more videos.
Texas still has some good wilderness areas. Just not as many as more western states. I don't mind driving to West Texas for these experiences. And there are some decent areas in the LBJ Grasslands and the East TX national forests.
I was interested in your video because it's my favorite trail to run...and I noticed that's my car parked at the trailhead in the opening scene! Sorry I missed you that day. I was headed counter clockwise as well and just started earlier. I really enjoyed your video!
That's crazy! Cool. Well, if things had worked out with my original plan, we probably would have passed each other on trail. Thanks a lot for watching. I enjoyed spending some time on the loop.
I've been hiking Goodwater often for about 24 years now, and almost went there today but ended up picking a different trail since I hiked it last week. 20 years ago it was surrounded by large tracts of rural land, with an occasional house visible off at a distance. You really felt like you were away from it all. The trailhead parks were out in the country too. Of course, the trail segment from Russell Park to the dam didn't exist yet, either, so not all the changes are for the worse. I will say that it looks prettier a little later in the spring and also in the late fall. In early March the flowers haven't really gotten going and the trees are just barely starting to leaf out. Anyway, it was fun to watch, seeing all the familiar places. Nice video!
That's what I figured. It is crazy, all the construction going on. Thanks for the info. I knew I was early for good wild flowers. But I still thought there were lots of sections of trail that were really pretty. I'd definitely do this trail again. Thanks a lot for watching, Travis.
Appears you had a really nice trip. This is a trail I’d definitely do again but you’re correct about the urban sprawl. It saddens me to think how it’ll be in just 10 years. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed watching it from your perspective.
Best get away backpacking lake. Glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to the special YT vid with chainsaws sounds of the Georgetown loop hahahaha. Good one. Happy new year
Progress isn't always such a great thing for us outdoors people. Lake Fairfield State Park for example. We're losing the "whole park" to another high dollar subdivision. That sux! Hey you expressed interest in doing a bikepack overnight a while back. I have a plan I'll discuss with you the next time you have time for breakfast. Thanks for such an in depth look at the Goodwater Loop. I've had opportunities to go but never have.
Yeah, I know what you mean. In my opinion, the state is the one who messed up the Fairfield deal. Still sad either way to see it get developed. Yeah I'm still interested in the bike packing trip. Just let me know and we'll try to get it scheduled.
The dead ferns at Crocket Falls were due to a collapse of part of the falls because ice buildup during the winter storm. Before it was a nice grotto that you could easily stand under and enjoy being behind the flow of water.
I did read something about the collapse of the waterfall since I made this trip. I'm sure the ice added an immense weight to the ledge. I know it probably isn't near as beautiful as it once was, but it was still really neat to me. Not too many waterfalls in North Texas. So I'm impressed by them anytime I see one anywhere else in the state. I appreciate you watching. And thanks for the info!
To me, it made the most sense to start at Russell coming from North Texas. It just didn't workout on this trip. But I'm glad it ended up like it did as the mileage worked out for me to stay at Walnut Springs. Its not exactly a wilderness experience but it is a nice trail with a good amount of miles that is pretty centrally located in the state. Thanks a lot for watching, Jerry.
Hey Cameron! I’m looking to get back into backpacking, and Austin is drastically different from the woods of middle Tennessee. Have you found that any particular mapping app (Gaia, onX, etc) has performed better in the areas in Texas where you hike? Thanks, and super happy to have found your channel & another Texan backpacker!
Hey, thanks for reaching out. I use Gaia and really like it. But I am mostly designing my own routes off of it. I still think AllTrails is good for discovering new trails. Gaia is just awesome for all its different layers and historical maps.
@@CameronHall88 That’s awesome. Thanks so much. Hope you’re getting some time outside now that the weather is improving. Looking forward to your next videos. Maybe I’ll see you out there!
It may have already been said but there is a place to park to do the trail outside of each park. Just leave a note in your car saying you’re doing the trail. Best to be able to put your car somewhere a bit safer. ❤
@@CameronHall88 recently the website says you have to buy day passes online, but there is no option. to do so. Next time I want to go I'll just ask them at the gate to help me out. Again, thank you for the video. :)
![A Summer on the Appalachian Trail [2023]](/img/n.gif)
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but camp Tejas is a great place to park to do this loop. Another thing to note for anyone doing this hike in the summer is that the south side of the lake (Tejas park-Cedar breaks) has no water source for 11 miles. If you're planning a summer hike I highly recommend doing it clockwise so you can hit this section earlier when it's cooler. Thank you Cameron for documenting this trail:)
Thanks for watching. And thanks for adding this info and suggestions. Hoping to do this loop again in 2025.
I’m a few minutes into the video and really enjoying it.
I appreciate you watching!
Another great video !! My favorite thing about that hike, were all the birds and bird sounds !! What about all your gear you took for this trip !!! Really nice, thanks for sharing !!
Thanks so much for watching. I noticed the birds while editing this video. They were all over. Despite not being super far out, there was still a lot of nature on this trip. I have a bigger trip in a few weeks. I'll try to show off my gear a bit more in those videos.
Glad you had a great time and appreciate where you were. I spent a lot of time there. It really makes me appreciate the PNW and where I grew up. There really isn’t much to explore in Texas that hasn’t been touched by modern technology or civilization. It’s either private and inaccessible or touched and regulated by the government. Most Texas natives are still amazed by what they have. Please leave your state and make more videos.
Texas still has some good wilderness areas. Just not as many as more western states. I don't mind driving to West Texas for these experiences. And there are some decent areas in the LBJ Grasslands and the East TX national forests.
Have you ever done anything on the Lone Star trail in the Sam Houston Forest?
I was interested in your video because it's my favorite trail to run...and I noticed that's my car parked at the trailhead in the opening scene! Sorry I missed you that day. I was headed counter clockwise as well and just started earlier. I really enjoyed your video!
That's crazy! Cool. Well, if things had worked out with my original plan, we probably would have passed each other on trail. Thanks a lot for watching. I enjoyed spending some time on the loop.
I've been hiking Goodwater often for about 24 years now, and almost went there today but ended up picking a different trail since I hiked it last week. 20 years ago it was surrounded by large tracts of rural land, with an occasional house visible off at a distance. You really felt like you were away from it all. The trailhead parks were out in the country too. Of course, the trail segment from Russell Park to the dam didn't exist yet, either, so not all the changes are for the worse. I will say that it looks prettier a little later in the spring and also in the late fall. In early March the flowers haven't really gotten going and the trees are just barely starting to leaf out. Anyway, it was fun to watch, seeing all the familiar places. Nice video!
That's what I figured. It is crazy, all the construction going on. Thanks for the info. I knew I was early for good wild flowers. But I still thought there were lots of sections of trail that were really pretty. I'd definitely do this trail again. Thanks a lot for watching, Travis.
Appears you had a really nice trip. This is a trail I’d definitely do again but you’re correct about the urban sprawl. It saddens me to think how it’ll be in just 10 years. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed watching it from your perspective.
I would definitely do this trail again. Now that I really know what to expect. It is a good 1 night trip that really isn't too far for us.
Best get away backpacking lake. Glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to the special YT vid with chainsaws sounds of the Georgetown loop hahahaha. Good one. Happy new year
Happy New Year to you as well. I hope you're doing well. Hope to see you at the meetup this year.
Progress isn't always such a great thing for us outdoors people. Lake Fairfield State Park for example. We're losing the "whole park" to another high dollar subdivision. That sux! Hey you expressed interest in doing a bikepack overnight a while back. I have a plan I'll discuss with you the next time you have time for breakfast. Thanks for such an in depth look at the Goodwater Loop. I've had opportunities to go but never have.
Yeah, I know what you mean. In my opinion, the state is the one who messed up the Fairfield deal. Still sad either way to see it get developed.
Yeah I'm still interested in the bike packing trip. Just let me know and we'll try to get it scheduled.
The dead ferns at Crocket Falls were due to a collapse of part of the falls because ice buildup during the winter storm. Before it was a nice grotto that you could easily stand under and enjoy being behind the flow of water.
I did read something about the collapse of the waterfall since I made this trip. I'm sure the ice added an immense weight to the ledge. I know it probably isn't near as beautiful as it once was, but it was still really neat to me. Not too many waterfalls in North Texas. So I'm impressed by them anytime I see one anywhere else in the state. I appreciate you watching. And thanks for the info!
I need to get back out there! Thanks for sharing. Russel Park is where I parked when I did the loop if I remember correctly.
To me, it made the most sense to start at Russell coming from North Texas. It just didn't workout on this trip. But I'm glad it ended up like it did as the mileage worked out for me to stay at Walnut Springs. Its not exactly a wilderness experience but it is a nice trail with a good amount of miles that is pretty centrally located in the state. Thanks a lot for watching, Jerry.
I enjoyed your video of my regular local hike. It was nice to meet you while you were doing this hike.
It was nice to meet you as well!
Hey Cameron! I’m looking to get back into backpacking, and Austin is drastically different from the woods of middle Tennessee. Have you found that any particular mapping app (Gaia, onX, etc) has performed better in the areas in Texas where you hike? Thanks, and super happy to have found your channel & another Texan backpacker!
Hey, thanks for reaching out. I use Gaia and really like it. But I am mostly designing my own routes off of it. I still think AllTrails is good for discovering new trails. Gaia is just awesome for all its different layers and historical maps.
@@CameronHall88 That’s awesome. Thanks so much. Hope you’re getting some time outside now that the weather is improving. Looking forward to your next videos. Maybe I’ll see you out there!
It may have already been said but there is a place to park to do the trail outside of each park. Just leave a note in your car saying you’re doing the trail. Best to be able to put your car somewhere a bit safer. ❤
That's good info. Thanks a lot. Yes, probably worth the extra money to keep your car a bit safer if staying overnight.
@@CameronHall88 recently the website says you have to buy day passes online, but there is no option. to do so. Next time I want to go I'll just ask them at the gate to help me out.
Again, thank you for the video. :)