I recently went on a weekend trip to the rural town of Castell, Texas in the heart of the Hill Country. Ever heard of it?
I saw an old Facebook friend post about a fishing trip in Castell, and I was immediately intrigued. Social media works I guess. If I'm honest, life has been a little chaotic for me and Andrew lately, so we were aching for a relaxing, cheap, easy getaway. Castell ended up being the perfect choice.
We packed our bikes, coolers, and Gussy boy on a Friday and drove west along TX-29. It's about a 2-hour trip from north Austin. As we drove into town, I knew this was the trip I needed. Wildflowers lined the traffic-free country roads. Cows, longhorns, or donkeys greeted us at nearly every turn. The sun was shining while a cool, north wind was developing around us.
Now, if you're looking for a town to take mom shopping and grab a bite at the local, quaint cafe, Castell may not be it. But if you are in need of a true small-town Texas getaway, full of charm, history, and easy water access, Castell is your place.
About Castell
This unincorporated town is situated alongside the Llano River, between the larger towns of Mason and Llano. The town includes a church, a general store, and a post office/library. So, yes, it's pretty tiny.
Castell's northern border is formed by the Llano River and is part of the Texas German belt region. Castell began in 1847 as a land grant settled by German abolitionists and Free-Soilers, as part of the Fisher–Miller Land Grant.
It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964, marker number 9440.
Where to Stay
After a very quick Google search of Castell, I came across the El Castell Cabins. They offer four cabins and a house with private access to the Llano River. They also have kayaks and bicycles to rent if you don't want to pack your own.
They have a few different cabins, so you can go with your partner or a large group of friends. Cabins C & D are alongside the river and sleep 10 guests. Or you can rent out the entire place for a fun, remote family retreat—kind of my dream.
El Castell Cabins https://castellcabins.com/
102 Rockin River Road
Things to Do in Castell, Texas:
We know Castell is small. But there's plenty to do here. Our weekend was full of adventure and relaxation. Best of all, it was just EASY.
If you need a cheap, close-to-Austin weekend trip, here are some things to check out in Castell:
Swim or kayak in the Llano River
As I mentioned, we stayed in the El Castell Cabins so we had easy, private access to the Llano River. When we first arrived, we threw our stuff down and made a beeline for the river with Gus' leash in one hand and a beer in the other.
The water is mostly shallow with some deeper spots scattered throughout. The water was pleasantly cool in April and even Gussy dipped his paws in.
Pro-tip: Be careful with your pups and the tall grass. We saw three snakes on this trip, so I would recommend keeping your pup on a leash.
If you want to kayak, you can rent them directly from El Castell Cabins with an easy launch spot. If you're not staying at the Cabins, you can also launch from Castell Crossing. Directions found here.
I believe they also have kayaks available at the Castell General Store.
Bicycle Across Gravel Roads
I genuinely believe you haven’t fully discovered a place until you’ve biked through it. You have a completely different vantage point. There are so many routes you can cruise around in Castell. These beautifully golden and remote roads are what cyclists dream about. But definitely bring your gravel or fat-tire bike, because it's sandy out here!
To get started, you can look at the routes from the Castell Grind, Castell's annual gravel race. We downloaded the 50K route and tweaked it a bit to make it a little shorter.
I definitely recommend planning a route in the Spring when the wildflowers are in full bloom. I stopped for a million photos. Every time we turned down a new road, it seemed the flowers were getting prettier and more plentiful.
Swim at Schneider’s Slab
Cool off at this beautiful watering hole that crosses the Llano River at CR 103, about 8 miles from Castell. An old bridge crosses over the river, creating a dam with deep, cool water perfect for swimming, fishing, and kayak launching. We came here around noon on a Sunday and had the place to ourselves.
Instead of searching for a place to cool off in Austin this summer, make the short drive to Schneider's Slab. You'll keep coming back, I promise.
Listen to live music at the General Store
Located across the street from the Llano River, the iconic General Store is the place to be on a Saturday. They have live music until 2 pm and serve a damn good burger. This is a great place to stop and relax after a long bike ride or paddle.
We came here just for a quick beer but ended up staying awhile. I knew we were in the right spot when the bartender asked if I wanted my cold beer "dressed." Yes, please!
We sat outside in the shade with a Dos Equis and listened to a guy wearing a cowboy hat sing Train's "Meet Virginia." It felt like time was slowing down.
Visit wineries in Mason Nearby
Wineries are plentiful throughout this Hill Country, so one won’t be hard to find near Castell. Drive about 40 minutes to Texas Wine Country in Fredericksburg, or stay much closer and discover a new winery hub in Mason, where you’ll find about 8 wineries all within walking distance to each other.
I love this blog because it keeps me inspired and allows me to explore new places. I'm so thankful I added Castell to my list of places to try. I'm already dreaming about my next bike ride through the sand.
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