Abilene State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened in 1934. It covers about 530 acres southwest of Abilene. It’s a beautiful park with wooded campsites, hiking trails, geocaching, and fishing at Buffalo Wallow. The park also features a family recreation area with volleyball courts, soccer fields, a baseball diamond, and a large swimming pool area. One interesting note about this park is that it offers yurts for lodging.
Lake Abilene is a separate unit from the main area of the park, and it provides opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating.
December 31, 2025 – January 2, 2026
Stop number two on the Hog Town Camping Return Tour!
Happy New Year, everyone!
For my third visit to the park, I was blessed upon arrival with some beautiful, if not unseasonal, weather. Once more, I would be staying in Site 48 because you know what they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I quickly unloaded and set up camp, all the while enjoying the amazing weather. Once I finished, I walked down to the park store to grab a few items, and then I explored the campground a bit.
Of note, when I’d camped at Possum Kingdom two months previously, that park had been busy, but it seemed I literally had this area of Abilene State Park to myself. Not one campsite was occupied!
As the evening wound down, I made some smoked sausage and had a brew. As I ate, I heard a wild turkey call not far away, and when I looked, there were about a dozen deer and two turkeys right outside of my camp. Needless to say, the deer left when they saw me, but the turkeys didn’t. In fact, they hung around my campsite the entire time I was there.
Pretty soon, it was getting dark and about to be fire time. Unfortunately, the park was under a fire ban, but they did allow propane-based fires, so I came prepared with a propane fire pit. Adapt and overcome!
I finished the night with a visit from a guest, where we saw the new year dawn as we sat around the fire.
Day two was just as beautiful as day one, although it did get a little cloudy for a while.
I started with a cup of coffee and made breakfast. As I cooked, my turkey friends stopped by for a visit, which was cool, and then I ate and did my Bible study.
I had to run into town for more propane and a few other supplies, and when I returned, I had lunch and set out on a hike. No geocaching this time, as I’d found them all on previous visits, so it was just your standard hike along the Elm Creek and Bird Trails.
That evening, I relaxed at camp, told some stories around the fire, and went to bed a good bit earlier than the previous night.
It was time to go the next day, and I had a hard time wanting to do so, but I begrudgingly started packing and loaded the car for the ride home.
What an amazing trip!
Campsite Review
Site 48, Cedar Grove Area
Electric: No
Water: Yes
Picnic Table: Yes (Aluminum on concrete pad)
Dedicated Tent Pad: No
Lantern Pole: Yes
BBQ Grill: No
Fire Pit: Yes (Square with grate)
Shade Cover: Well Shaded
Thoughts: There’s not much more to say about this campsite beyond what I said in my previous review. It’s almost a perfect campsite with plenty of shade, all of the amenities (except electric), and super private. There is still a lot of traffic. The bathroom is still a bit of a walk, but not too bad. The only difference this time was that I noticed one of the trees in the campsite had been removed since my last visit, and that was a bummer because not only did it have character, but it also made for a better spot to attach my gear line. Still a great campsite though!
Rating: ⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂ (5 Out of 5 Tents)
Note: For my previous visits to Abilene State Park, see the Before Hog Town Camping Page.
