If’ you’re looking for a nice long hike with some vertical gain (by central Texas standards), within an hour’s drive of the Austin area, Dana Peak Park on Stillhouse Hollow Lake, near Harker Heights, offers some great trails.
Dana Peak Park is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and features RV and tent campsites, as well as some excellent trails for hiking, horseback and mountain bike riding. If you’re interested in fossils, the trails here are literally covered with limestone casts of ancient mollusk shells.
Dana Peak Loop Hike On Stillhouse Hollow Lake
For those looking to build endurance, or just catch a nice view of Stillhouse Hollow Lake from above, the hike around Dana Peak offers some elevation gain (about 350′), and there are multiple trails around and over the top of the peak which can be combined for a longer hike. Together, the Fenceline Trail and Dana Peak Loop are about 7 miles in length. For a longer hike, these can be hiked along with the Stillhouse Park Trail, which is a 12.1 mile out-and-back.
How to Get There, Fees, Etc.
Dana Peak Park is located just a few miles southeast of Harker Heights and west of Belton, off FM-2410 and Commanche Gap Road. The address you can use for Google Maps (below) is 3800 Comanche Gap Road, Harker Heights, Texas.
There is a $5 day use fee, which you can pay by scanning a QR code on signs found throughout the park. To make this easier, download the Recreation.gov app and log into it before visiting.
Things to Be Aware Of at Dana Peak Park
There are rattlesnakes in the area, so watch your step! Leashed dogs are welcome on the hiking trails at Dana Peak Park. Make sure you pick up after them and bring plenty of water. It can get very hot here! The park is closed Oct 1 through Mar 1 each year. The gate opens at 6 AM and closes at 8 PM each day. While most cyclists are courteous and share the trail, some do take the downhill areas fairly fast, so be aware of mountain bikes when hiking.
If you’re looking for a nice place for a picnic after your hike, there are several nice covered sites with tables in Dana Peak Park.
When we can’t get away to places with more challenging hiking, we find Dana Peak Park on Stillhouse Hollow Lake is a great place to get a workout, especially if you repeat the Dana Peak Loop a few times. Happy hiking!
