Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera County, Texas, preserves 5,369 acres of rugged Texas Hill Country terrain where conservation takes priority over development and recreation. The landscape includes limestone hills, mesas, creek bottomlands, bedrock exposures, and West Verde Creek within the Balcones Fault Zone. People lived here for thousands of years before the land became part of a ranch after European settlement, and Louise Merrick’s donations between 1976 and 1982 established the preserve. Opened to the public in 1984 and expanded in 1986, it is known for diverse plant communities, hundreds of plant species, more than 160 bird species, and low-impact recreation on primitive trails and campsites.