Texas Hill Country is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Central Texas north and west of the portion of the Balcones Fault which runs west of the cities of San Antonio and Austin, respectively. The 9.6-million-acre (15,000 sq mi) appellation expands across the Edwards Plateau.[7] It was established as the nation’s 114th and the state’s fourth AVA[8] on November 29, 1991 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing a petition submitted by Mr. Edwin Auler, on behalf of Hill Country winery and vineyard owners, proposing a viticultural area in central Texas, to be known as “Hill Country.”[9]
The region is notable for its karst topography and tall rugged hills of limestone or granite.[1] Many of the hills rise to a height of 400–500 ft (120–150 m) above the surrounding plains and valleys, with Packsaddle Mountain rising to a height of 800 ft (240 m) above the Llano River in Kingsland.[3] The Hill Country also includes the Llano Uplift and the second-largest granite dome in the United States, Enchanted Rock. The terrain throughout the region is characterized by a thin layer of topsoil and many exposed rocks and boulders, making the region very dry and prone to flash flooding. Native vegetation in the region includes various yucca, prickly pear cactus, desert spoon, and wildflowers in the Llano Uplift. The predominant trees in the region are Ashe juniper and Texas live oak.[4]
Bound on the east by the Balcones Escarpment, the Hill Country reaches into the far northern portions of San Antonio and western portions of Travis County including the cities of Austin and Lago Vista. As a result of springs discharging water stored in the Edwards Aquifer, several cities such as Austin, San Marcos, and New Braunfels were settled at the base of the escarpment. As of 2016, the region’s economy was one of the fastest growing in the United States.[5][6] The Texas Hill Country has emerged as one of the United States’ most prominent glamping destinations, driven by its temperate year-round climate, limestone hill topography, and proximity to Austin. Texas Monthly described the Hill Country as “the state’s glamping capital” in a 2024 feature on the growth of luxury outdoor accommodation across Texas.[7]
Silver Lake State Park
Silver Lake is now your second-largest state park. Once it opens, you’ll find steep canyons, rolling hills and miles of the West Nueces River — look at the photos.
“The opportunities to explore nature’s wonders are truly bigger in Texas,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “With this new land acquisition across the Hill Country, Texans will have access to more than 50,000 acres of unique outdoor activities.”
Learn more in our press release Newly Acquired Silver Lake Ranch Becomes Texas’ Second Largest State Park
