Cascading River: A view from the viewpoint deck high above the Pedernales River reveals the various levels of the river as it drops a few feet in elevation with each step downward. The river lies on a limestone base and limestone boulders and rock formations create a beautiful landscape. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Normal Flow: As the Pedernales River flows toward the east beyond the falls area the river’s flow becomes more normal as the water level becomes more level. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
Following the solar eclipse on April 8, we had the privilege of touring the Texas Hill Country and sharing a few locations with the other three couples that joined us for the trip.
One of the stops on this trip was a visit to Pedernales Falls State Park. The park is near Johnson City, Texas, which is about 40 miles west of Austin, right in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
The Pedernales River cascades across several distinct levels of limestone. Most of the time the river is calm as it cascades down in elevation creating large pools of water on each level. However, the river has been known to be deadly as heavy rains upriver can create flash flooding. The river may appear normal and within minutes a flash flood can create chaos and become deadly if visitors cannot escape to the shore and a higher elevation.
We visited the park on a weekday and the crowds were minimal. However, at popular visiting times with good weather the park can become crowded. We spent a few hours exploring the various levels of the cascading river before driving to the designated picnic area for a late lunch before leaving the park.
There are many activities available for visitors in the hill country. If the outdoors and hiking appeals to you, a visit to Pedernales Falls State Park should be on your bucket list. You will not be disappointed.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Clear Waters: As the Pedernales River flows down the cascading levels, pools form on each level before flowing down to the next level. The limestone river base allows for clear waters to fill the pools on each level. The tree on the far side of this pool is decked out in nice spring green foliage. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Rocks and Pools: A view of the Pedernales River as is cascades toward the east creating beautiful aqua pools of waters. The river is normally calm as it was on the day of our visit. However, during storms or periods of heavy rain, water can rush down the river and can become deadly if visitors are not able to seek higher elevation along the shoreline. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Cascades: The waters of the Pedernales River can flow over the rocky limestone cascades but normally the waters quietly flow among the rocks as it flows eastward down through the water levels of the river. This photo illustrates water as it flows through openings in the rock formations as it moves toward the east. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Pool: A view of clear aqua coloring in the water of a pool upstream along the cascading waterfall. This view also illustrates the rocky formations of the river as well as formations along the shoreline. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
