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All across the country, Texas is a beacon for individuality. We have our own cuisine, our own fashion, our own music, our own super cool shape, and even our own weather. Summer in the rest of the States is the time to play outside, but in Texas, summer is when we crank up the AC and catch up on all our shows.
Come fall, however, Texans dust off the picnic basket, fill up one of the 40 tumblers we keep getting as birthday presents, and head off into the most beautiful landscapes this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
And there’s no Texas town where the sun shines brighter and the breeze blows cooler than San Marcos. With so many outdoor adventures to choose from, we thought we’d make it easy and whittle them down to six of our favorites. So make like it’s a pile of leaves and jump in!
Hitting the Trails
Hiking just keeps elevating in popularity. The farther we get away from nature in our little offices, staring at screens all day, the more our spirit yearns for the outdoors. Don’t keep that spirit waiting (it may get angry and do scary spirit things)! Venture out to Purgatory Creek Natural Area for a 700-acre natural wilderness with some of the very best hiking you’ll find in the entire state. With trails named Dante, Paraiso, Virgil, and Styx, you may think you’ll need a diploma in 14th-century Italian literature, but you really just need some electrolytes and snacks!
Keep an eye out on the Styx trail for the legendary “Grandma’s Oak,” a massive oak tree that must be seen to be believed. Good luck reaching your arms around it to give grandma a hug! On Dante’s trail, you’ll find Geryon Grotto, an enchanting limestone grotto located in a 50-foot canyon. With sights this beautiful, that first day back at your gym’s treadmill is going to be a bit of a letdown. Sorry!
Beyond hiking, the trails in San Marcos are just as famous among both casual and professional birdwatchers. A particularly great spot for birdwatching is Schulle Canyon Natural Area, which features 21 acres of undeveloped parkland and even a dedicated birdwatching trail (Warbler Way Trail) with a bird-viewing station. The area is a chirping metropolis for a wide variety of year-round and migratory songbirds, such as kinglets, thrushes, wrens, and Carolina chickadees.
There’s no wrong time to visit San Marcos’ abundant natural areas, but it’s safe to say that fall is prime time. The temperature is just right, the wildlife is out and about, and you can freely explore without feeling like you’re being slow-cooked at a family BBQ.
Run Wild: Fall 5Ks & Trail Races
Now that we’ve walked, we can run—or talk about running, at least. Fall is race season in San Marcos, welcoming runners who are chasing a personal best and those who are just looking for a free t-shirt. We don’t judge!
To kick off the fall season, we have the Roughhouse Brewing 5K Beer Run. As you might’ve guessed, the starting line is none other than Roughhouse Brewing, although you may want to save the beers for when the race is over. In fact, runners get a complimentary beer flight and a souvenir pint glass! And if you don’t want to be so sweaty that the beer will slip right out of your hand—not likely, but you can’t be too careful with a delicious beer—this 5K is open to walkers.
For those looking for a more serious test of their cardio, the Great Springs Trail Race will take runners through the rugged terrain of Purgatory Creek Natural Area. Depending on your skill level, the race can be completed as a 10K or a full marathon. Oh, and we can’t forget about Blue Santa’s Dam 5 Miler and 5K, for which all proceeds go to helping families during the holidays.
Flying Armadillo Disc Golf
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…a flying armadillo? Oh wait, no, that’s just a disc. We got worried that the guy who throws armadillos at people escaped from prison. Anway, Flying Armadillo Disc Golf is a charming disc golf course perfect for families with energy to burn.
You’ll find two courses, each suited to a different type of player. The Mini Course is exactly what it sounds like: a miniature version of a typical course with quirky obstacles like metal art sculptures, a classic lighthouse, and even a yellow submarine. Groovy!
The other course is the aptly titled Big Course. This is where more serious players can scratch that competition itch. With disc rentals, a pro shop, lawn games, and picnic areas, Flying Armadillo Disc Golf is an entire evening’s worth of family entertainment!
Putt Pub
Deep in the heart of Downtown San Marcos, you’ll find one of its greatest loves: Putt Pub. Putt Pub doesn’t shy away from what it’s all about: mini-golf and drinking. Gather your friends to zip through a wacky 18-hole course that merges mini-golf with foosball, basketball, and many other surprises. No, you haven’t had one too many drinks; that really is Will Ferrell with a cowbell at the end of the hole.
Two full bars make it easy to find drinks and the rotating selection of food trucks give every visit a new flavor. All ages are welcome until 8pm, at which point it’s strictly 21+. The indoor and outdoor seating, cornhole, hammocks, seesaw, and overall laidback atmosphere make Putt Pub more than just a quirky attraction, but an all-day hangout.
Glow Kayak Tours
Ah, the San Marcos River. You can swim in it, fish in it, photograph it, admire it from afar while eating a hot dog, but did you know you can paddle across it in a glow-in-the-dark kayak? Well, now you do! As a matter of fact, there are two companies that can make your brand-new lifelong dream a reality!
Paddle SMTX will take you on a nighttime tour in an LED-fitted kayak that lasts roughly 75 minutes. Not only do the lights give the river a dreamlike aura, but it also helps in spotting fish and underwater plants. Get Up and Go Kayaking lets you commandeer a kayak that doesn’t just glow, but is totally see-through! It makes seeing into the crystal-clear waters even easier. It’s common for kayakers to come across beavers, deer, and bats on their moonlit ride.
Best Breweries for the Fall
Craft beer tastes better in the fall. We don’t know why, we can’t explain it, and we’re just as confused as you. It’s a fact of life that has yet to be explained, but is perhaps all the more magical for it.
We guess that makes Middleton Brewing a magician, as its rooftop seating with Hill Country views, onsite disc golf course, and live music make it the ultimate spot to kick back with a hazy IPA or a pepper-spiced ale. Not to be outdone, the family-owned Roughouse Brewing specializes in farmhouse ales, crisp lagers, and cave-aged beers using native yeast harvested on-site. There’s no better place to relax after a full day of hiking, marathon running, disc golf, mini-golf, and kayaking—assuming you crammed everything on this list into one day.
So Many Reasons to Visit San Marcos this Fall
From glowing rivers and rugged trails to disc-golf and craft beer on the roof, San Marcos knows what the Texas fall is all about: making the most of the weather and snuggling into that cozy holiday season. Pack light, because you’re bringing home a heap of memories.
First things first: finding a place in San Marcos to stay! You can’t really go wrong, but we’ve put together a list of the city’s coziest lodgings just to make it easy for you.
