This realistic Honey Creek Guided Walk Review helps you plan your next adventure in this hard-to-visit park.

Honey Creek State Natural Area is a park in South Texas. It protects plants and wildlife along a scenic creek. The park is home to a few native plants and wildlife species.

This post includes affiliate links that will earn us commission if you make a purchase via these links.

Sights & Places of Interest

Honey Creek is not your typical park or area. You cannot just drive to this park and see its sights. In fact, a visit to Honey Creek involves a few hurdles.

To start, the park is only open to visitors on guided walks on the weekends year round. Most walks take place between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the morning. You need to book a spot in advance.

This leaves a short window for the park visitors. But it ensures that plants and wildlife get the best possible protection from human activity.

This Honey Creek Guided Walk Review documents a realistic experience in this park. Learn how to register for this hike, where to find the trailhead, and what to expect during the walk.

1. Rust House

A guided walk of Honey Creek State Natural Area covers 2 miles (3 km). You should expect to spend between 2.5 and 3 hours on this easy to moderate hike. It is open to visitors of all ages.

All guided walks in this park start from the Rust House. This house is part of the historic Doeppenschmidt-Weidner Ranch. It dates back to the early 20th century.

The house and its surroundings look quite similar to the LBJ Ranch and Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms. This observation should not surprise you. These structures date back to the same period.

The park offers occasional tours of the ranch. You could learn more about the life at the turn of the 20th century. These tours cost $30 per person. It might be too high of a price to pay. But decide for yourself.

The Rust House has some modern developments. There is a restroom for you to use. It looks like any other restroom in a state park. You might thank the wind pump for the running water in the Rust House.

You are welcome to explore exhibits in the rooms of the house. Just make sure you check in with a tour guide beforehand. This way, you will help the guided walk start on time.

2. Scenic Viewpoint

Once you enter the grounds of Honey Creek State Natural Area, you should expect frequent stops. A lot depends on your tour guide. But it is a fair assumption that most tours run in a similar way.

Your tour guide will point out native and invasive plants along the way. You will see live oak, cedar, Texas persimmon, Spanish moss, and a lot more. Get ready to learn a thing or two about each plant.

If you are lucky to see birds and other wildlife, you will learn a few facts about them, too. This setup makes the Honey Creek Guided Walk a perfect experience for kids.

But even adults in the group could find the explanations worthwhile. This is your chance to ask your burning questions about Texas wildlife and plants.

About half a mile (0.8 km) into the trail you will reach an intersection. You could continue on the service road or take a narrow trail. The former brings you to the creek sooner. The latter leads to a viewpoint.

The tour guide will give you a choice. A simple majority decides on the route. See how you feel at that point and decide if you are up for a longer path.

You will not regret taking the hiking trail. The path brings you to a viewpoint at a cliff a few dozen feet (meters) above the Guadalupe River. You might not see much of the river due to the cedar trees.

But you will see the the Little Bluestem Loop and Golden-cheeked Warbler Trail on the other side of the river. They are in Guadalupe River State Park. Two benches make the viewpoint quite easy to enjoy.

3. Bird Trap

There are few notable things on the Honey Creek Guided Walk after the scenic viewpoint. You will keep walking through the moss covered oak groves.

These large trees provide shade and make the hike more enjoyable. You will appreciate it even more once the trail enters grass meadows. You will be in direct sunlight for the whole time.

Bring sunscreen and a hat. You will need both of them. The same is true for water. Take more than you think you would need. You will be grateful for this decision during the guided walk.

You will pass a shed that looks like an aviary. In a way, it is correct. This shed is a bird trap. The park staff uses it to capture invasive birds that migrated to Honey Creek.

4. Honey Creek

You will reach Honey Creek about 90 minutes after starting the guided walk. It provides a much needed change in scenery after a long walk through meadows, oak and cedar groves.

This spring fed creek is the main attraction of the guided walk. It will amaze you from the first sight. Honey Creek looks more like natural springs in Florida than a typical creek in Texas.

Water color of Honey Creek depends on the season and rainfall. You could experience amazing blue color in the spring and fall. Lower rainfall in the summer slows down the current. The water turns green.

You cannot approach the creek on this trail section. It is quite difficult to get a clear view of the water. Palmetto trees, grass, shrubs, and logs will be in your way. Do not step on the plants as you take photos.

The trail follows the creek for the next few hundred feet (meters). It gets closer to the shore before going inland. Your tour guide will likely pass this section quickly. But do not worry: there are other scenic spots.

In fact, you will reach the southernmost point of the hike within another ten minutes. The group will make a stop at the end of the trail. This is your chance to take pictures of Honey Creek.

Cypress trees that grow on the creek shores are perfect for capturing reflections in still waters. Admire the water lilies for a while. When in bloom they look a lot like the ones in Meridian Lake near Waco, Texas.

Beware snakes as you explore this area. Moisture from the creek attracts these reptiles. With poor network coverage a snake bite is the last thing you want on a guided hike of Honey Creek.

5. Uphill Climb

The tour guide will likely ask the group to resume the hike after ten minutes or so. You will first take the same service road along the creek. But do not get too comfortable.

The trail quickly presents a different option. You will need to hike uphill from the creek level. This is a steep section. Most of the walk’s 134 ft (41 m) in elevation gain takes place here.

There are a few benches about halfway into the climb. Even if you go faster than the rest of the group, you would need to wait for everyone else there. This is one of the downsides of a guided walk.

The guide will share a few stories about Texas nature. You are on your own after that. You are welcome to return to the Rust House ahead of the group. Feel free to explore Guadalupe River afterwards.

Continue with this Honey Creek Guided Hike Review. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Honey Creek

Honey Creek State Natural Area is a park north of San Antonio, Texas. It is near two major highways in the region. US-281 passes the park a couple of miles to the east. TX-46 Highway goes a few miles south.

This location makes it easy to reach Honey Creek. You need to follow the same directions as you would for Guadalupe River State Park. It is the only route to Honey Creek that is open to the public.

You need to check in at the park headquarters first. Then, you should keep driving for a few miles on State Park Road 31. You will pass two parking lots and a RV dump station.

Turn right on a gravel road soon after. The gate will be open when the guided walk is scheduled. You will arrive at the Rust House within a minute. Park at any open spot and check in at the picnic table.

Here is a geo spot to navigate to on your preferred map. Allow for about 5-7 minutes to reach the Rust House from the park headquarters. Drive at the speed limit to avoid a fine and missing your guided walk.

As you probably guessed, a car is a must-have for visiting Honey Creek State Natural Area. You need to rent one if Honey Creek is on your Texas bucket list.

Out-of-state visitors are in luck with this park. It is 45 minutes north of San Antonio Airport. Austin Airport is another option. But it takes almost 90 minutes to reach the park from the Capital of Texas.

Where to Stay near Honey Creek

Most guided walks at Honey Creek start around 9 a.m. in the morning. Unless you are a morning person, you might want to spend the night before the hike near Honey Creek.

There are a lot of places to stay near Honey Creek State Natural Area. You could choose from hotels in Bulverde, Boerne, and San Antonio. All of these places are 40 minutes or less from the park.

Hampton Inn By Hilton Bulverde Texas Hill Country is an unbeatable place to stay for visiting Honey Creek. This hotel is 20 minutes southeast of the park. Just stick to a route via State Park Road 31.

Hotels in Boerne are a further away from Honey Creek. But you have more options. Choose from The Bevy Hotel Boerne, A Doubletree By Hilton, The Kendall, and Comfort Inn & Suites Texas Hill Country.

These places to stay are best for exploring other parks in the Texas Hill Country. You could drive to Enchanted Rock, Lost Maples, or Garner State Park next.

North San Antonio and Stone Oak are other great neighborhoods to consider. Check out Drury Inn & Suites San Antonio North Stone Oak and Tru By Hilton San Antonio North.

Consider Estancia del Norte San Antonio, A Tapestry Hotel by Hilton and Pear Tree Inn San Antonio Airport. These places to stay are great if you plan on exploring San Antonio Missions afterwards.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Honey Creek is a State Natural Area. Natural Areas focus on preservation rather than recreation. It is common for these areas to restrict pets and bikes. This requirement is true for Honey Creek.

But this park takes a special place in the Texas Parks & Wildlife system. It has some of the most restrictive opening hours among all Texas state parks.

You could only visit Honey Creek on a guided tour. The tours run on most weekends. They tend to start at 9 a.m. on most days. Check out the events schedule beforehand.

You have to register for a guided tour ahead of time. Wait for an email confirmation. If you cannot make it to the park in time, make sure to notify the park staff in advance.

There is no fee to take a guided tour of Honey Creek. The suggested donation is $2 per person or $5 per family. Bring cash if you would like to make a donation. And remember that it is not a requirement.

But there are some fees involved. You need to pass through Guadalupe River State Park on the way to Honey Creek. Therefore, you need to pay a park entrance fee.

Admission is $7 per adult. Kids under 13 visit Guadalupe River for free. You could hike a few trails and see viewpoints after a guided hike of Honey Creek.

Guadalupe River State Park is quite popular on the weekends thanks to its proximity to San Antonio. It is good idea to book a day pass in advance. Reservations open up to 30 days in advance.

Takeaways: Honey Creek Guided Walk

Honey Creek is a lesser known park near San Antonio. Nearby Guadalupe River State Park often sells out. You might also expect that this park would get lots of visitors.

But most people do not go through the trouble of booking a guided hike and driving to this park early. As a result, only select few see Honey Creek with their own eyes.

It is true that a visit to Honey Creek requires some preparation. You need to make advance reservations for a hike and day pass. You have to be at the Rust House on time. And you’d better enjoy guided tours.

The beauty of Honey Creak and its surrounding areas are worth an early start. So is the chance to see some of the native plants and wildlife.

In the end, the guided nature of the walk is the only real downside of Honey Creek. You will be walking at a different pace making frequent stops. Lack of shade could make an extended walk far less enjoyable.

Take a look at this Honey Creek Guided Walk Video Review. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!