Thousands of motorists pass by the #315 exit sign for Mother Neff State Park south of Waco each year, but not that many of them choose to depart the interstate highway and visit this peaceful little oasis, which is situated on the banks of the Leon river. Despite having lived in Texas most of our lives, we hadn’t yet visited the state’s oldest state park before this year, and we’re really glad that we finally took the time to do so.
Early Texas Pioneer Woman Isabella “Mother” Neff Leaves a Lasting Legacy
In 1921, long before there were any parks in Texas, Isabella Neff, who also just happened to be the mother of then governor Pat M. Neff, donated six acres of the family homestead to the state and unwittingly laid the foundation for the Texas state parks system as we now know it. Mrs. Neff loved the natural beauty of her homestead in the rolling hills of north central Texas, and in speaking with her son, the governor, came up with a plan to preserve its beauty for future generations. Ultimately, more land was donated over the coming years, bringing the total size of the park to its present 259 acres.
While small in comparison to many of Texas’ other state parks, such as Big Bend Ranch State Park, with 311,000 acres, Mother Neff State Park still has plenty to offer visitors of all ages and abilities. From hiking along several trails that wind through both flat prairie, and rocky outcroppings, to picnicking or bird watching or camping at one of the 20 spacious RV spots or 15 tent camping spots, there’s lots to like about Mother Neff State Park.
Large and Private RV Spaces
For those with recreational vehicles or truck camping setups like ours, the twenty RV spots in Mother Neff State Park are nicely spaced and offer lots of room for even large families to spread out. Each of the spacious RV sites at Mother Neff State Park features a wide, level area with crushed granite and a concrete pad, both 30 and 50 amp hook-ups, along with a fire ring, picnic table and a pole for hanging a lantern.
For tent campers, there are 15 well maintained sites. Each features a fire ring, lantern pole, picnic table and water and restrooms nearby.
Nice and Quiet – The first thing you may notice about camping or hiking at Mother Neff State Park is just how quiet it is, both day and night. For those who are looking for motorized outdoor fun, fishing, mountain biking or other more active outdoor pursuits, there are probably better state parks in Texas to visit than this one.
On the other hand, if you enjoy walking in peaceful woods where all you hear are the sounds of nature, or if you enjoy bird watching or simply taking in the views of the rolling landscape from high atop the old CCC tower or even chasing down a hidden geocache or two, this is the place for you!
One thing we liked best about this park was how clean it was. During our time there we only saw one piece of trash on the trails, which we packed out. The park staff and volunteers do a great job of keeping things neat and tidy, including the restrooms, which were spotless.
CCC Tower, Wash Pond and Tonkawa Cave Loop
The trail to the CCC tower, Wash Pond and Tonkawa Cave is about 1.3 miles and rated as an easy hike. There are some sections where the limestone rocks can get very slippery, especially after a rain, so exercise caution if that’s the case.
During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, the 817’th company of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), quarried stone from nearby hills and constructed a large watchtower, along with several park benches and a spacious caretakers’ residence. If you look carefully, you may notice that the culverts under the park road were made of natural stone instead of corrugated metal.
On a clear day, you can see for miles from atop the old CCC watchtower, which is accessible by either a short walk from a nearby parking lot at the old caretakers’ residence (which you can rent for the night), or from a longer hiking trail that leads from the campground.
The Cave Trail leads to a large overhang along a rocky bluff, where the Tonkawa people once camped over 200 years ago. With a small stream near the entrance, and towering native pecan trees overhead, you can easily imagine why they chose this sheltered spot in which to dwell.
The Wash Pond Trail leads to a small pond deep in the woods, which was used by the Neff family and others for bathing and doing laundry. You’ll find several park benches along the trails, each of them a great place to stop and have a picnic or enjoy a morning cup of coffee from a Thermos – as we did.
Is Mother Neff State Park Dog Friendly?
Dogs are welcome at Mother Neff State Park, just make sure you keep them on a 6′ or shorter leash, as required by park rules, and to pick up after your pet. There are plenty of temptations for dogs here, including lots of squirrels, so be sure to keep them under control. Also, beware of snakes, as rattlesnakes are among the several species of snake that also call this park home.
Flood Damage to Mother Neff State Park
A series of devastating floods during 2007, 2015 and 2016 caused thousands of dollars of damage to the lower half of Mother Neff State Park, along the Leon River. A log jam more than 1,000 feet long caused flood waters to back up, and ultimately led to the destruction of the bridge over SH-236.
According to the park ranger we spoke to, repairs are still underway and it may take up to four more years before the lower part of the park is reopened to the public. In the meantime, there is still lots of land in the rest of this amazing and historic Texas state park to explore and enjoy!
For more information and to make reservations see the Texas Parks and Wildlife page for Mother Neff State Park.
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