Texas Hill Country Solar Eclipse Version

Cycling Texas Hill Country

How about a classic Timberline cycling tour right in the path of totality during the next total eclipse to occur in the United States?  Our Texas Hill Country Cycling tour of south-central Texas will be an amazing combination of the allure of the Hill Country for 5 days of riding, along with an opportunity to feel the otherworldly experience to be in the moon’s shadow in the middle of the day.

This tour utilizes an extensive network of 2-lane farm-to-market country roads traversing a vast undulating expanse dissected by deep green valleys, rolling hills, rushing creeks, and rugged limestone cliffs, and no more than a scattering of small villages. Notwithstanding its proximity to the major population centers of San Antonio and Austin, the Hill Country is astonishingly rural and unpopulated — a nostalgic reminder of a past era. It is an area that retains its rich cultural heritage and identity. Fredericksburg and Boerne are characteristic of the early German immigrants who settled and homesteaded in the Hill Country in the 1840’s. The Hill Country is also cattle country and the region’s many historic ranches are reminders that we are in Texas.

Changes for this year: We expect some additional traffic and crowds due to the eclipse, so the route might be slightly altered.  We have also found that the local businesses have initiated some price gouging due to the eclipse, so our usual lovely inn has outpriced us during the eclipse.  There will be an option to upgrade to a nicer hotel for the last three days, and we will publish this once rates are disclosed.  But the experience will all be worth it.  The hills will be ablaze in an array of bluebonnet blooms, the routes are rolling and pleasant, the ice cream shops are plentiful, and the eclipse experience will be ethereal.

Day 2: Climb to Devil’s Backbone

Our Texas Hill Country Cycling trip assembles in Gruene, just outside of New Braunfels on the Guadalupe River and we’ll ride through the Guadalupe River Valley early morning of Day 2. By mid-morning, expect to get in gear as our route begins to undulate in earnest. The climb to Devil’s Backbone is a poignant reminder that we are, after all, in Hill Country. Country-style hospitality awaits our arrival in Blanco, where we’ll spend our first night at the Blanco County Inn & Guesthouses.

Day 3 & 4: Boerne to Fredericksburg

We’ll ride south from Blanco along the Blanco River on Day 3. Count on a fair number of Texas-sized “rollers” that we’ll likely chat about over dinner in Boerne that evening. Day 4, it’s on to Fredericksburg the following morning, but not before a visit to Luckenbach of Willie and Waylon fame. Fredericksburg is a fascinating town, richly endowed by its German cultural legacy, with an abundance of intriguing museums, craft shops, restored early settlement structures, and, of course, its biergartens. We’ll spend our next three nights in Fredericksburg in a basic local hotel.

Day 5: Witness the Eclipse!

Day 5 is the day of the eclipse!  We have the entire day to witness this unique event and its potentially life changing aura.  We will plan to have a cookout at a local park and just enjoy the day.  The hotel does have a pool to enjoy and there are plenty of places to explore in Fredericksburg.

Day 6 & 7: Kerrville to Vanderpool

Our bike tour continues on Day 6 for a ride to Kerrville on some backroads.  We’ll have some time to explore Kerrville before our final night at Inn of the Hills.

For our final day, Day 7— we have chosen a beautiful ride along the Guadalupe river, with a gentle climb into the Lost Maples Natural area, before descending down to Vanderpool in the heart of Hill Country.  We’ll end our cycling here and van shuttle back to San Antonio, where our Texas Hill Country cycling trip concludes.

Timberline Adventures offers bike and hike vacations throughout the USA and Canada. View the calendar here!