Gorman Falls
San Saba County, Texas
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 69 ft (21 m)
- Location
- San Saba County, Texas
- Access status
- State park trail route documented; entrance fee and day-pass reservations
- The walk
- 1.5 miles one way, per Texas Parks and Wildlife; the park also describes it as a 3-mile round trip
- Ground & access
- Very rocky trail with little shade, rated difficult by the park. Steep and slippery descent near the falls. Hot in summer; carry more water than you expect to need.
Gorman Falls is a 70-foot spring-fed travertine waterfall that spills into the Colorado River in Colorado Bend State Park. It is the park's most popular trail. The Gorman Falls Trailhead and its parking lot are near the park entrance, so day visitors do not need to drive to headquarters. The trail is very rocky with little shade and ends with a steep, slippery descent near the falls. The park asks visitors to view the falls from a distance and not to enter the pools or climb on the falls. Return the same way. The park also offers guided visits to the falls.
Plan your visit
Gorman Falls Trailhead near the Colorado Bend State Park entrance, Gorman Falls Trail across open, rocky upland to a steep descent at the falls on the Colorado River
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists the Gorman Falls Trail as 1.5 miles one way, rated difficult, about 1.5 hours. The park overview page calls the outing a 3-mile round trip hike.
Very rocky trail with little shade, rated difficult by the park. Steep and slippery descent near the falls. Hot in summer; carry more water than you expect to need.
Where to start
Parking lot at the Gorman Falls Trailhead near the park entrance, 1201 Colorado Park Road, Bend, TX. The park map warns that most GPS devices will not get you to the park, and the entrance road can flood during heavy rains.
Timing & water
Open daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Spring and summer are the busy season. Check road conditions after heavy rain, because the entrance road can flood.
Before you go
Entrance fee of 5 dollars per adult per day; children 12 and under are free, per the park page. The park often reaches capacity and highly recommends reserving day passes in advance.
Visitor informationVisit sources
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Bend State Park trails
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Bend State Park trails
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Bend State Park
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Bend State Park
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Bend State Park
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Bend State Park map
- The Outbound: Hike to Gorman Falls
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
No other mapped waterfalls within 40 miles.