East of Cordillera Ranch on SH 46, then up Park Road 31, a 1.5-mile spring-fed creek runs below bald cypress inside Honey Creek State Natural Area. You can't drive to it, and you can't walk to its banks on your own. Texas Parks and Wildlife opens the creek only on guided weekend tours. Five of those mornings are left this October, and after that the calendar gets thin.
Cordillera Ranch already has the Guadalupe. The community's River Club provides river equipment, guided family trips and a ride home. Honey Creek works on different terms. You get a date, a guide and a group limit, and TPWD's calendar lists no general guided creek walks after Oct. 31.
What makes Honey Creek different from the river next door
Guadalupe River State Park and Honey Creek share a fence line, and they're managed for different purposes. The state park has four miles of Guadalupe River frontage, with swimming, fishing, tubing and paddling. Honey Creek is a state natural area, and TPWD describes it as a protected piece of land that lets visitors "imagine the Hill Country of 100 years ago."
TPWD's Honey Creek page explains the protection. The guided hikes are capped, and the agency gives its reason:
Hikes are limited to the first 18 people who arrive. This is to protect the creek.
On your own, you can walk 3.6 miles of trails through the savanna that feeds the creek, including the ADA-accessible Box Turtle Trail and the winding Roadrunner Trail. The creek itself is for guided tours. On those tours, the route passes a scenic overlook where Spanish moss hangs from live oaks and Ashe junipers. From there you get your first look at the creek far below, and the walk ends beside it.
Three ways in, and one listing promises the creek
The access rules lead straight to the calendar, so they come first.
| Option | Reaches the creek? | Admission | Group and age notes | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-guided Honey Creek trails | No, savanna trails only | $2 adults, free 12 and under | Trails open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Online day pass only, none sold on-site |
| Friends-sponsored guided walk | Yes | Free with Guadalupe River State Park admission, $7 adults, free 12 and under | Recommended for ages 7 and up, no dogs except service dogs | Email [email protected] |
| Guided bird walk at Honey Creek | Not stated, the listing describes an easy two-mile route through birding habitat | $2 adults, free 12 and under | Capped at 15, recommended for ages 10 and up | Email registration closes 3 p.m. the Thursday before |
The guided walk costs the $7 state park fee and not the $2 Honey Creek fee because it starts inside Guadalupe River State Park. Groups meet outside the Rust House, and TPWD suggests exploring the house before or after the tour.
The fall 2026 calendar, in order
Counting from today, October 12, here are the TPWD dates that matter most for a trip to Honey Creek or the state park next door through mid-December:
- Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18: Guided Honey Creek walks. The Oct. 17 walk runs 9 to 11:30 a.m. The state park also lists a Ranger hike on Oct. 18.
- Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25: Guided Honey Creek walks. The state park lists its Halloween Night Hike on Oct. 24, and the first bird walk of the season is on Oct. 25, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 31: The last guided Honey Creek walk on the October schedule.
- Sunday, Nov. 1: Texas State Parks Day. Entry is free, and TPWD still urges visitors to reserve a "Save the Day" pass.
- Sunday, Nov. 15: Bird walk at Honey Creek.
- 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 to noon Tuesday, Nov. 24: Guadalupe River State Park, the Bauer Unit and Honey Creek close to everyone except permitted hunters.
- Sunday, Dec. 6: Bird walk at Honey Creek.
- Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12: Christmas in the Park, 5 to 9 p.m.
October has five guided creek walks plus a bird walk. November and early December have two bird walks between them, and both are capped at 15 people. TPWD's published calendar shows no general guided creek walks after Oct. 31.
The hunting closure lands on the weekend before Thanksgiving. If you planned a park outing for visiting family on Saturday, Nov. 21 or Sunday, Nov. 22, it won't work. The park reopens at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 24. The same closure repeats from 8 p.m. Jan. 11 to noon Jan. 15.
Getting a spot without a wasted drive
Book two things, not one
The guided walk and the day pass are separate bookings. You sign up for the walk by emailing [email protected] with your name, the number of people in your group and the date you want. The walk is run by the Friends of Guadalupe River State Park/Honey Creek State Natural Area with certified guides. The state park day pass is a separate reservation, and you can book it up to 30 days ahead. That means every remaining October date and State Parks Day can already be booked.
The day pass matters because, according to TPWD, Guadalupe River State Park often reaches capacity, and the agency strongly recommends reserving ahead. One reservation covers up to eight people in a vehicle and up to two vehicles per arrival date, which helps if two households want to go together.
The headcount rule has two versions
TPWD's pages don't agree on how spots are given out. The event listing for each walk asks you to register by email. The main Honey Creek page says hikes are limited to the first 18 people who arrive. To be safe, register by email and still arrive early at the Rust House. If you aren't sure your spot is confirmed, the Honey Creek number on TPWD's page is (830) 438-2656.
What to carry
The walk is about two miles. Much of it is flat, with some rocky stretches, slopes and two short, steep hills, and it takes about 2.5 hours because the guides stop often to talk about plants, wildlife and geology. Bring sturdy shoes, water and sun protection. Bring your own water. A park alert dated July 21, 2026 asks visitors to conserve water and carry drinking water. As of an Oct. 7, 2026 notice, all Honey Creek trails are open to foot traffic only. Leave the dog at home for this one, since only service dogs are allowed on the guided walks.
The Bergheim stretch on the way home
The park sits 13 miles east of Boerne at the north end of Park Road 31, 3350 Park Road 31 in Spring Branch. From Cordillera Ranch, the drive runs east on SH 46. The walk ends at about 11:30 a.m., and the Bergheim corner at SH 46 and FM 3351 is on the way back.
O'Brien's Restaurant, at 848 Highway 46 East, serves Hill Country food including steaks, pasta, seafood and burgers. It serves lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday, so it works after a Saturday walk but not a Sunday one. Its site notes that hours may change. Across the highway, The Bergheim Meat Market, at 843 State Highway 46 East, sells meat, produce and groceries daily. It doesn't sell prepared food, so it's a place to shop for dinner, not to eat. If you remember the Bergheim General Store, KENS 5 reported that its normal operations ended on New Year's Eve 2018.
If the walk leaves you wanting to help out, the Friends of Guadalupe River State Park and Honey Creek State Natural Area runs the volunteer side. TPWD says volunteers do wildlife surveys, trail maintenance and program support.
At Evoke Realty, we keep track of the dates and details that shape a weekend around Cordillera Ranch, from the October walks at Honey Creek to the park closure the weekend before Thanksgiving. If you're hosting family this season and want suggestions for the area around SH 46, or want to talk about what's happening around Cordillera Ranch, Contact Us.
