Texas Hill Country Bike Tour, Lizard Head Cycling Guides
   
107 Aurum St, Box 855, Ophir, CO 81426 970.728.5891 info@LizardHeadCyclingGuides.com

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour

Please click here to jump to the Overview section with all tour details including pricing.

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Highlights

“Dancin’ on the pedals in the Texas Hill Country”

Our Texas Hill Country bike tour offers a good ol’ time deep in the heart of Texas. Enjoy exceptional cycling on a web of country lanes through rolling terrain where you see more Texas Longhorns than vehicles. Our Hill Country trip has become both a guest and guide favorite with quiet roads, live music and surprisingly charming Texas towns. This is one of our best tours for intermediate to advanced cyclists!

Our Texas Hill Country bike tour will show you another side to the state you probably never thought existed; lush fields bursting with vibrant bluebonnets, evocative cypress forests and old world small town wineries. This journey around one of the Lone Star State’s most beautiful regions both surprises and delights.  Lizard Head Cycling Hill Country tour is a true tour of the Hill Country region. Rather than staying only near Fredericksburg we visit four different small towns, climbs over ridges to varying river systems and in general explores all that Hill Country offers.

Before your trip, you’ll arrive in San Antonio, where a vibrant music scene and cycling culture reigns. On the road, treat yourself to an authentic Texas BBQ at the Salt Lick  and enjoy live music and two-step dancing at the state’s oldest dance hall all outside in the warm air.

NOTE: If summer rains deliver, each fall there is a 2nd wildflower bloom in October.

Please click here to jump to the Overview section with all tour details including pricing.

Texas Hill Country Sign

Welcome to Texas Hill Country!

Texas Bluebonnets

Bikes and bluebonnets

Luckenback, Texas

Along the Willow City Loop

Enjoying the outdoor music in Luckenbach

Enjoying the outdoor music in Luckenbach

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Noteworthy Links

New York Times: 36 Hours in San Antonio

New York Times: 36 Hours in Texas Hill Country

The Majestic Theater is the best venue for concerts & shows in San Antonio.

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Testimonials

Read what previous guests on our Texas Hill Country Bike tour have been saying…

My wife Suzanne and I had a spectacular time. The riding and scenery were nice. But honestly I think it was Matt and Paige who made it great. I think every single person on the trip would give them rave reviews for kindness, leadership, organization, and skill. The itinerary was great too, as were the hotels and restaurants. Cheers! – Jeff B.

I want you to know that it was a fabulous trip. I am not an experienced biker, and felt totally safe and with all needs cared for by Rick and Matt. They encouraged me, and helped me in so many ways. The trip was extremely well organized, the accommodations and food wonderful, and I hope to take another Lizard Head trip because of the great experience I had. – Rita

I just wanted to drop a note to say that my four-day trip through Texas Hill Country was terrific – thanks in large part to Rick Miller and Matt Wright. I’ve visited over 50 countries and encountered many, many guides. So, I say with confidence that these guys are in the Premier League. They showed unflagging vigilance and aplomb, anticipating things I needed before I knew I needed them. They displayed the rapport of a couple of longtime cattle drivers – continually circling back to make sure they didn’t lose any stray calves, like me. From bike maintenance to fajita preparation, they did it all. – George

First I love the saying that you put on here from Edward Abbey and desert solitaire that truly tells the story of our Texas Hill Country ride with Lizard Head. I first want to thank you for encouraging me to bring my single speed for the entire trip, it was an incredible experience and it gave me so much more confidence and leg strength to ride above and beyond to infinity. I want to also take the time to first thank Roy and Scott for all their incredible hard work, they are amazing talent to cook up meals and provide imaginative and delicious snacks and to inform us of other rides you provide and always being in a positive good mood encouraging us every morning praising us every evening – without a doubt they were wonderful and worth more than a chest full of gold. As far as the itinerary and the trip path that you provided, it was truly a spectacular and wonderful week of bike riding (as) there was so much to see and never a dull moment. We thoroughly enjoyed the LBJ ranch and airplane and bookstore. We also thoroughly enjoyed Luckenbach where everybody is somebody and I single-handedly made a large donation to their gift shop including t-shirt stickers coffee mug neck cursive earrings for my wife and I’m sure there was a couple other things that I just can’t remember that I bought. You really did a great job outlaying the pass the roads and the itinerary. I think this particular bike trip really is one for people that want to test their ability as it’s not just a flat line bike trip. In closing we really had a 10 out of a 10 experience. I’m already planning my next trip I can’t thank you enough for encouraging us and I really appreciate Scott and Roy as guides and the hard work they did, thank you. Thank you all again so very much. Sincerely – Bob

My husband and I took our tandem on the Texas Hill Country tour the first week of April. It was amazing from start to finish. We were very lucky with the weather, the wildflowers and the guides. David and Roy were knowledgeable, intuitive, patient, and pretty darn good cooks. I had never been on a ride that was that well supported and I really liked it. Having Roy fix the chain we busted was pretty terrific. Having David pick us up on the side of the road to get us to Fredericksburg in time to meet up with our son was beyond thoughtful. Thank you for accommodating a tandem. I will definitely recommend Lizard Head to our friends who cycle. – Mary

It was a great trip. All accommodations and meals were top notch. David and Roy were wonderful hosts and guides. – Allen

[Lizard Head Guides] Peter and Anna are lovely people. They did a wonderful job and went way out of the way to be accommodating. – Debbie

What a great ride, and such a nice break from Winter. Texas was not at all what I expected, very beautiful, lots of hills, and not much wind. Great weather, lovely hotels, tasty food, and the company of fellow cyclists, all added up to a wonderful adventure! – Marj O.

Wonderful Texas Hill Country trip and Anna and Peter were excellent guides, as good as any I have ever had. Wildflowers were spectacular! – Ed

[The Texas Hill Country Bike Tour] guides were PHENOMENAL in every way. They prepared delicious and nutritious meals for us, were very clear in providing directions and plans for the day, and anticipated our needs before we did. They were top notch in every way – extremely patient, good-natured, and so very competent. – Pace

Back home this afternoon and looking forward to my own bed! Both the Big Bend MTB trip and Texas Hill Country trip were equally good and I’m glad I was able to ride back to back. Big Bend is a great MTB trip, the best of the three I’ve done with you. It’s a nice blend of jeep roads and the single track trails are excellent. In fact I’d say the single track is well underrated. The downside is getting there. Hill Country is a solid week of excellent road biking on solitary roads with great places to stay.
Anna and Peter are excellent guides, they are keepers. They kept the trip moving on time each morning and offered solid support on the road. I was particularly impressed with their attention to detail on the daily rides. The turn by turn sheets were very complete and accurate. They also spend a good amount of time in the morning and again after lunch on the route. I’ve been on a lot of trips were the guides barely bothered. They also kept things on time at night regarding dinners. I really appreciate keeping things on time and they did a great job. – Karl

I had a completely fabulous time on this trip… For me, the trip was a perfect balance of athletic challenges, beautiful and soul-restoring natural scenery… delightful bantering with other fun (and ageless!) cyclists, comfort food, plush accommodations filled with character, live music, beer, and dancing!! What more could a girl want? – Kristen

We had a wonderful trip. Kind of at the peak of our biking endurance, but did just fine with well timed rides in the van. We absolutely loved our guides, Peter and Anna. They couldn’t have been more competent, friendly, hard working, and fun. And they make a very cute couple to boot. All in all a terrific experience. – Warren

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Dates

Potential tour dates are listed below and not all tour dates will run. Lock in your preferred tour date early as unopened tour dates will be closed. Please see the Spring/Autumn Tour Calendar and the Summer Tour Calendar for confirmed departures. Any unopened date can be a Custom Week (9 riders required). Please contact us via email or call 970.728.5891

To easily register for a particular tour, please click the Book Now! link after the tour date listed below. This will select the tour name and the appropriate date on the registration form.

2024 Tour Dates

In the early spring few people are in riding shape. As such, our early spring tours are generally considered training camps and you will be ready for the tour when it is over! 🙂 Fellow riders will have few miles in their legs, so do not let the overall tour mileage worry you. Take it one day at a time and you will finish stronger and happier then before.

Note: Please select “Texas Hill Country 4-Day” on the registration form if you are registering for the 4-Day version of this tour. Eclipse tours are 6-Day only tours.

  • March 10 to 15, 2024 (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO!
  • March 24 to 29, 2024SOLD OUT
  • March 31 to April 5, 2024 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED 3 riders needed to make GO
  • April 6 to 11, 2024 6-Day Lodging Based Total Solar Eclipse Tour (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO! If we get 5 additional sign-ups, we can add a private luxury house. Call to be added to this wait-list.
  • April 6 to 11, 2024 6-Day Camping Based Total Solar Eclipse TourSOLD OUT
  • April 14 to 19, 2024 (Book Now!) – TOUR OPENED 4 riders needed to make GO

Tour Status Notes: NO STATUS = Date Set, no riders have signed up. TOUR OPENED = Tour Opened, rider minimums not met. TOUR A GO! = Tour is Go, rider minimums met. SOLD OUT = Tour Full, rider maximums met.

Why Should you Sign-Up Now and OPEN a Tour Date?
This is the proverbial chicken and the egg conundrum! We need our cyclists to first commit to the date that works for them so that we can commit to that date.

For starters, when you OPEN a date you get to pick your preferred departure date, and there is no penalty if the tour does not run. Once you pick your tour date, Lizard Head closes nearby dates and funnels all additional riders to your chosen date until the tour meets its 6 rider minimum.

BONUS: As an added bonus, we can also hold a spot for you on another tour date of your choosing. There is no fee to switch to another tour date.

In conclusion, if you want a tour to run, we need you to sign up and not wait for others to do the same! Waiting for others may mean that a tour date takes longer or does not confirm. Just Do It! Once a few riders jump into the proverbial waters, others will follow!

Special Tour Date for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse!

A major TOTAL solar eclipse for the continental USA will occur on Monday April 8, 2024. This will be the last full eclipse for two decades. A total solar eclipse is where all of the sun is covered by the moon and what you will experience are night time conditions for about 4-5 minutes as the sunlight is obscured by the moon. You will notice that the birds stop singing, the insects quiet, the even the wind is said to slow down… as all of nature takes pauses during this  experience. This will occur around 1:30 pm local time on Day 3 of this special Texas Hill Country Bike Tour.

The next total solar eclipse over the continental USA is not until August 12, 2045, so you definitely want to experience this one by signing up now!

HIGHLIGHTS: On this special Eclipse tour we will be lodged based at the Tilman Resort for the tour’s first 4 nights. The Tilman Resort is located along the Rio Blanco, has a hot tube and Pickle Ball courts. While at the resort we will have live music come play for us on two of the nights.

For the eclipse, Lizard Head Cycling is offering both a Lodging Based and a Camping Based Total Solar Eclipse Tour which includes one-night of lodging.

Lodging Based Total Solar Eclipse Tour Cost: $3,765 per person shared occupancy, or $4,295 per person single occupancy. Includes 5-nights lodging, all meals, and there will be live music on two of the nights! There are no group discounts for this tour, but Reptile Rewards still apply. Please see our Tour Discounts Policy.

Camping Based Total Solar Eclipse Tour Cost: $2,515 per person. Includes 4-nights camping + 1-night lodging, camping equipment (tent, ground pad, cot, and sleeping bag), all meals, and our own personal band on at least one of the nights! The 4-nights camping is at the Tillman Resort next to the Blanco River where there is a hot tub, corn hole, and pickleball. The 1-night lodging is at the Gruene Mansion Inn. There are no group discounts for this tour.

Only the 6-Day tour is offered on this date. This is a Saturday to Thursday tour in order to best experience the timing for this rare astronomical event. Please make sure to click the “Book Now!” link shown below to register for this tour.

  • April 6 to 11, 2024 Lodging Based Total Solar Eclipse Tour (Book Now!) – TOUR A GO! 1 room available. If we get 5 additional sign-ups, we can add a private luxury house. Call to be added to this wait-list.
  • April 6 to 11, 2024 Camping Based Total Solar Eclipse TourSOLD OUT

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Overview

Reptile Rewards

Tour Length: 6-Days Cycling/5-Nights Lodging, or 4-Days Cycling/3-Nights Lodging

6-Day Tour Starting & Ending Town: San Antonio, Texas. If driving or flying: the tour meets the morning of Day 1 at the meeting hotel listed in your confirmation document and ends back in San Antonio on Day 6.

4-Day Tour Starting & Ending Town: Blanco, Texas. If driving: guests leave their car in Blanco, Texas the morning of Day 1 and return to their car at the end of Day 4. If flying: the tour meets the morning of Day 1 in San Antonio, Texas at the meeting hotel listed in your confirmation document. At the conclusion of the tour on Day 4, guests need to arrange for a shuttle from Blanco back to San Antonio. Hill Country Express is a service we have used in the past.

Total Miles: 225 up to 350 over 6 days of riding, or 215 over 4 days of riding. (Can I keep up on this tour?)

Average Daily Mileage: 60 (daily mileage options are available).

Ability Levels: Intermediate (2/3) , Intermediate (2/3) to Advanced (3/4)
The Texas Hill Country tour easily accommodates all levels of ability.

Families with Teenage Riders? The Hill Country is one of our best tours for families. We have taken numerous families on this tour and they integrate well with other riders. The roads are very quiet and safe and the towns offer a variety of activities. There are also easily accessible mileage options for a variety of abilities.

Group Size: 6 to 15 riders

6-Day Tour Cost: $3,350 per person with shared accommodations. Add $490 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (5-Nights).

4-Day Tour Cost: $2,235 per person with shared accommodations. Add $285 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (3-Nights).

Tour Discounts: Please see our Reptile Rewards & Tour Discounts page to learn more about Reptile Rewards, Tour Discounts, and Group Discounts. Tour discounts are not stackable with any other discounts or promotions – only the highest valued discount is provided. Please note that for discounts to apply the tour minimum must be met.

6-Day Tour Includes: 6-Days guide service, 5-Nights lodging, meals include all breakfasts, 5 dinners (1 on-your-own), daily gourmet lunch en route, a Texas BBQ lunch at the world famous Salt Lick BBQ, entrance fees, energy food, liquid refreshments, in-tour shuttles, and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages, bike rental, and massage (if available) are additional.

4-Day Tour Includes: 4-Days Cycling, 3-Nights lodging, meals include 3 breakfasts, 2 dinners (1 on-your-own), daily gourmet lunch en route, entrance fees, energy food, liquid refreshments, in-tour shuttles, and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages, bike rental, and massage (if available) are additional.

Non-Riding Spouses & Partners on Tour: If a non-riding spouse or partner would like to join you on tour and they have their own transportation, they can stay in your room for the cost of the tour's single room supplement. Please note that non-riders cannot check into hotels prior to guide arrival as the guides need to manage the check-in process. Checking in a large group can be challenging and take longer than normal, so non-riders need to hang back and be patient. Non-riding spouses and partners are welcome to join the Lizard Head meal plan which includes breakfasts and dinners for $75 per day. Note: Lunches are not included for non-riders driving their own vehicles due to the inherent variability of both lunch timing and locations. It is best for non-riders to plan to explore each day.

4-Day Tour Optional Night #4: If a 4-Day guest wishes to add a 4th night of lodging and leave the following morning after enjoying the BBQ and band on the banks of the Blanco, then add $195 for double occupancy or $325 for single occupancy to the tour cost. Includes an additional night of lodging, dinner and breakfast.

6-Day Tour Lodging for 5-Nights: (subject to change)

*If guests are staying in San Antonio post tour (Friday night) on the 6-Day version, they need to secure their own accommodations in San Antonio for Friday night.

4-Day Tour Lodging for 3-Nights: (subject to change)

Meeting Hotel and Ending Hotel reservations and costs are NOT included unless specified otherwise. Guests are on-their-own to make reservations at the Meeting Hotel or Ending Hotel, or other nearby hotels.

Road Bike Rentals

NOTE: The make, model, and specifications of rental bikes may differ from what is described below. Please contact us if you have any specific needs for a rental bike or have any questions about rental bikes.

Lizard Head Cycling Guides is proud to rent Scott Bikes. The Scott Addict 10 Disc was designed from the ground up with those longer days in mind. With geometry that is less focused on racing and more on enduring, the Addict 10 will be your go to when you’re looking to put the miles in.

The Scott Addict 10 Disc features: Carbon Frame and Fork, Shimano Ultegra 2x11 Drivetrain, 34x32 Compact Gearing, 30mm Tires, and Hydraulic Disc Brakes. Approx. Weight: 16.89 lbs / 7.66 kg (without pedals)

Learn more about our Rental Bikes and Equipment

Road E-Bike Rentals: Click Here for more information on our Road E-Bike Rentals including pricing. Please note that E-Bikes are not available for certain tours including those that involve camping. Please contact us for more information before registering for a tour. NOTE: E-Bikes are great, but our tours are designed to be ridden without motorized assistance. We offer "bumps" along the road so that everyone can stay together.

Tandems and Recumbents: Lizard Head Cycling Guides happily accommodates both tandem and recumbent bikes on our tours.

If you have any further questions, please read more on our Rental Bikes FAQ page. You can also email us at info@lizardheadcyclingguides.com or call us at 970.728.5891

Meals On Tour

Lizard Head Cycling Guides provides most meals on all tours (unless otherwise noted) including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guides will prepare a daily lunch en route for nearly every tour, both road and off-road, as well as provide nutritious snacks at periodic aid stations during the day.

Most of our road tours utilize local restaurants for all meals and occasionally guides may prepare a dinner or two during a tour. Due to the nature of being "off the grid", most of our off-road tours feature guide prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. FUN NOTE: When guides prepare a meal in camp and the guests sit around and watch, this is called "Guide TV". :)

We also pride ourselves on being able to cater to specific dietary requests and needs, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works best for you during your tour. Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan, or a someone who loves it all – we will keep you well fed during the tour!

Lunches: Lizard Head Cycling Guides prepares healthy lunches to keep you going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses and, of course, plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies.

Dinners: On our road tours, Lizard Head Cycling sources our favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients and guests choose whatever they desire to eat off the menu including: appetizer, salad, entrée, and of course, dessert... yum! :) Also, while on tour if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days sleep is the most important post-ride element.

Visit the Texas White House

Visit the Texas White House

Ability Level: Can I Ride this Tour?

The details: This tour is a cyclist’s dream. With lightly traveled back-country roads, Texas-sized hospitality and delicious regional cuisine, this 6-day spin through the Texas Hill Country is one of the best kept secrets in the country. It delivers an exceptional start or end to the bike-touring season.

Lizard Head Cycling has worked with locals to devise a route on single and two-lane roads with little traffic.  The routes wind through rolling limestone hills, past wineries and through quiet river valleys under the shade of giant cypress trees. The destination towns have a rich history of independent German and Irish immigrants who fought off Comanche and Apache Indians to settle there.  There is a little taste of Europe in Hill Country with a Texas flair.

Don’t miss out on the music when you arrive! San Antonio is the heart and soul of a vibrant country, blues and rock scene. The venues and performances are legendary and electric. While on tour cyclists enjoy up to six live performances and dancing legendary Texas dance halls in Luckenbach and Gruene.  So treat yourself to some of the best live music you’ll enjoy anywhere.

The weather: Fall and spring bring ideal cycling weather to the Texas Hill Country.  The highs range in the 70’s and 80’s. The evenings are pleasant and provide ample opportunity to outside dining.

Why choose this tour? The Texas Hill Country Bike Tour is designed for intermediate to advanced cyclists. Lizard Head Cycling Guides has developed an exceptional route through the Hill Country with the help of our local Texan clients.  Our tour includes excellent lodging, a live band on night 4 and many other small surprises. Both cyclists new to multi-day tours and advanced riders who pedal over 5,000 miles annually will enjoy this tour. The tour offers a challenge similar to rides such as Cycle Oregon, Ride the Rockies, or RAGBRAI.

Do the Bump! Daily mileage options allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy this tour. One of our favorite options is to give cyclists a “bump” via the support vehicle, or a 10 to 20 mile lift down the road representing an hour of pedal time.

After the bump the rider is “off the front” and riding at his or her own pace without feeling they are being left behind the group. They’ll then have time to linger and take in the spectacular scenery. All cyclists come together in time for lunch. Afterwards, cyclists can take another bump and/or continue riding.

Seamless Mileage Options Lizard Head Cycling Guides designs multiple mileage options for each tours – something we’re well known for in our business. Daily shuttle options allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy our tours through mileage customization.

Slow or Fast?

Many cyclists who sign up for our tours have worried themselves silly about not being able to keep up. But then they’re surprised to find that all the worrying was about nothing. They do just fine!

Slow and Fast only exist as relative terms to other people.  Speed does not matter as long as you are moving on the bike.

Like we say to even the most reluctant cyclist: “You will be ready for a tour with Lizard Head Cycling when you are finished with a Lizard Head tour”.

If you have questions about your ability to ride this tour, please contact our office (info@LizardHeadCyclingGuides.com or 970.728.5891).

See How the Shuttle works below Day 7’s description in Tour Beta.

Please also see this blog post for more information.

Overall Route Map

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Itinerary*

*PLEASE NOTE: Tour itineraries are subject to change and modification based on the group, available accommodations, road construction, road closures, and other unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, landslides and/or other acts of nature. Also, the distances and elevation profiles shown below may not reflect the actual distances and elevations while on tour as these are provided here to give an idea as to the anticipated mileage and terrain. Please view this itinerary, the distances, and elevation profiles as a general outline as to what to expect while on this tour.

4-Day Texas Hill Country: The 4-Day version of our Texas Hill Country Bike Tour follows the first four days of the 6-Day itinerary as shown below. If you only have time for a short bike tour, this is the tour for you as we take you into the heart of Texas Hill Country for the best of the best riding experience.

Day 0: Arrival in San Antonio

You’re in Texas, so you need to start BIG! Could there possibly be a better way to start off a week long bike tour of Texas Hill Country than by spending an evening in downtown San Antonio? The San Antonio River Walk offers entertainment to suit all tastes – from music, to boat tours, to restaurants, to shopping – the River Walk has it all and more! Have fun, but don’t stay out too late because our cycling adventure begins early the following morning from the meeting hotel.

Day 1: Old Blanco County Courthouse to Boerne
Standard: 40 Miles with up to 1,910 feet of climbing
E.F.I.: 49 miles with up to 2,365 feet of climbing

After travel and a possible busy night one may still be feeling the “buzz” from San Antonio. So today’s bike ride will have a casual start.

This first day’s route follows a lonely road from Blanco, Texas to Boerne. The 600-foot climb of Crabapple Hill serves as the major ascent on day 1. After a guide prepared lunch in Kendalia, there will be an optional E.F.I. side excursion to the Cave Without A Name adding 9 miles to the standard distance.

Both the standard and E.F.I. routes end in Boerne, Texas where we stay at the Ye Kendall Inn, one of the few remaining 19th century limestone resort hotels in Texas. It’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After settling in, you’ll enjoy a relaxing dinner while unwinding from the day’s ride. After dinner, stroll down the streets of this quaint Texas town.

Standard, 40 miles – Elevation Profile: +2000 ft / -1920 ft

E.F.I., 49 miles – Elevation Profile: +2465 ft / -2390 ft

Day 2: Boerne to Fredericksburg via Luckenbach
69 miles with up to 3,145 feet of climbing
Optional: 50-mile route 

Day 2 takes cyclists across the heart of Texas Hill Country with a stop in Luckenbach, Texas, a modern ghost town with strong western roots, a rich music history and a population of 3. The route offers a few short climbs at the start, then a longer one to Bat Cave State Park for lunch.

After Luckenbach, we continue our ride through the rolling Texas hills to end the day in Fredericksburg, Texas and to check into the Hoffman Haus, our accommodations for the next two evenings. Sit back after a day of cycling in their serene and secluded enclave. Stroll a block to downtown for a hearty Texas sized dinner, live music and post ride camaraderie. This town with it’s deep German heritage is sure to offer something to everyone.

NOTE: Massages are available at the Hoffman House Spa. Please contact the Hoffman House to schedule.

Elevation Profile: +3395 ft / -3140 ft

Day 3: Layover, Willow City Loop and Enchanted Rock
49 miles with up to 2,270 feet of climbing

Day 3 is a layover in Fredericksburg. In the morning, you’ll set off on this region’s signature ride, the Willow City Loop. This scenic route stops at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, an enormous dome of pink granite covering a full square mile and rising 425 feet above the surrounding countryside. Enjoy a lunch at the park. You’ll also have time to hike the 1-mile trail to the top.

On this day off from the road, explore this old West area. Visit one of the neighboring towns’ famous German biergartens and enjoy a Shiner Bock Lager. Visit The National Museum of the Pacific War, or explore the many stores that downtown has to offer. You’ll be on own to enjoy Fredericksburg’s many dining establishments this evening.

NOTE: Massages are available at the Hoffman House Spa. Please contact the Hoffman House to schedule.

Elevation Profile: +2470 ft / -2535 ft

Day 4: Fredericksburg to Blanco via LBJ Ranch
62 miles with up to 2,320 feet of climbing
Optional: 50-mile route 

On Wednesday we will take a meandering southeasterly route to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, homestead of the 36th U.S. President. A 4-mile paved interpretive bike tour of the working ranch serves as the park’s highlight. During his presidency, Johnson and his wife Ladybird paved nearly every ranching road in the county. As a result, cycling in Hill Country has taken off.

Spend lunch under one of Hill Country’s iconic riverside Live Oak trees. Day 4 ends with pedaling into the town of Blanco and the Tillman Resort.

In Blanco outside our cabins, we’ll enjoy a good-ol’ Texas barbecue alongside the Blanco river with a live band who has played for us for years! Bring your dancing boots, your smile and your appetite.

Elevation Profile: +2520 ft / -2900 ft

Day 5: Blanco to The Salt Lick BBQ
49 miles with up to 2,050 feet of climbing

Day 5 departs from Blanco and meanders along remote Texas Hill Country roads past farms, ranches and pastures and through the near ghost town of Driftwood. This is another great day of riding. But make sure to attack those rolling hills along the way to build up your appetite because we have a world class feast in store at the Texas  Salt Lick barbecue, a Hill Country legend! On this day we’ll arrive at the Salt Lick for an early dinner. So today you can eat as much as you want and not have to worry about getting back on the bike.

After our late afternoon dinner we shuttle to the small town of Gruene, Texas.

Gruene is home to one of the finest, if not the finest, live music venues in the world, Gruene Hall, the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas. Yes, the place looks as if it is about to fall down on your head, yet it’s nothing short of amazing. So after a day of “dancing on the pedals”, save a little for some dancing at this legendary place.

Before heading out to enjoy the music at the Gruene Hall guests check into their charming rooms for a rest and shower before meeting up at the trailer for an evening happy hour with pecan pie and more tasty nibbles prepared by the guides. Yes, there is plenty of great food on this day!

Elevation Profile: +2200 ft / -2505 ft

Day 6: River Road Out & Back
33 miles with up to 1,665 feet of climbing

On the final morning of the Texas Hill Country bike tour, we roll one more time into the heart of Hill Country for our final out and back ride along River Road, a cycling nirvana of 14 miles adjacent to the scenic Guadalupe River Road offering four wide river bridge crossings and beautiful river views along the entire route. Just after the turnaround point there is a short climb up a steep hill that provides a beautiful vista.

Back in Gruene after the ride, we shuttle back to San Antonio to end our tour. If one has the time, it is highly recommended that guests stay Friday night (post tour) in San Antonio to experience the town’s beautiful River Walk. Guests electing to stay in downtown San Antonio arrange for their own shuttle ($20) to the airport upon their departure from San Antonio.

Elevation Profile: +1665 ft / -1665 ft

Texas Hill Country Bike Tour: Logistics & FAQs

Bike Shipping

Lizard Head Cycling recommends shipping with BikeFlights.com. Bikes can be shipped either to our partner bike shop in each meeting town for professional assembly or directly to the meeting hotel for self-assembly. Bike boxes can generally be left at the meeting hotel during the tour. Bikes shipped across the continental US should be shipped 8 days prior to your tour.

Meals on the Texas Hill Country Bike Tour
Most meal (aside from two) from lunch on the tour’s first day (Sunday) through lunch on final day are included. The exception is that guests are own their own for dinner on the layover day in Fredericksburg. In total 5 dinners, 6 breakfasts and 6 lunches are included.

Breakfasts and dinners are in restaurants where clients either order off the menu or choose from a buffet. Fresh lunches that include salads, local fruit, vegetables and meats are served in roadside parks by the Lizard Head Cycling Guides. Any dietary preferences or allergies should be noted on the registration form. Each of Lizard Head Cycling’s lunches contains gluten free options.

If on any given night a guest is tired or not feeling particularly social, they can choose to eat early and retire. Lizard Head Cycling enjoys hosting its guests for meals each evening, but understands some of us may just need to lie down after a day in the saddle. A meal should not feel like marathon after a big day on the bike.

Ride Difficulty
The Texas Hill Country Bike Tour is designed for intermediate to advanced cyclists with various levels of fitness. Each day there are additional mileage options for advanced riders. With the rolling terrain and only a few steep & long climbs, the Texas Hill Country Bike Tour is a good tour for early season conditioning.

NOTE: The many small hills on this tour can offer a sprint workout for cyclists looking to gain fitness. If one sprints up each hill they come across, the fitness gains can be remarkable.

Tour Support
A 15-passenger van and trailer that carries luggage, food and equipment supports Lizard Head Cycling’s Texas Hill Country bike tour. Cyclists keep a day bag that is accessible within the support vehicle.

The vehicle will sag and then pass riders to set up aid stations every 20 to 25 miles. This allows cyclists to linger at the back and then take a ten-mile, fifteen-mile or whatever mile “bump” forward to catch-up or get ahead of the group. Energy food, drink mixes, and fresh fruit are available throughout each stage.

The Daily Schedule
Cyclists ride their own pace. Lizard Head Cycling does its best to support riders in their varying desires and efforts. Cyclists can either use our tours to simply support their tour experience or to engage in a guided experience along the route.

Cue sheets with directions, profiles and locations of aid stations are given out for each stage.

General Tour & Cancellation Policies

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all of our tour and cancellation policies, which can be found by clicking here.

Travel Insurance

If you have not already, now would be a great time to consider adding travel insurance to your tour. You are welcome to use any travel insurance company you would like. We recommend Generali/Trip Mate.

Generally, if contracting COVID causes clients to cancel or interrupt their tour, trip insurance companies would treat it as any other illness as long as it is contracted after the insurance was purchased. Please check your individual plan documentation for details. Please note that quarantine is usually only covered if clients are actually sick with COVID. If a state requires quarantine upon arrival because of standardized state law, coverage is generally not covered. Again, check your individual plan documentation for details.

American Guests - use this link: http://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/get-a-quote.html?partner=LIZA0855

  • The Premium Plan is the only plan which offers Pre-Existing coverage so long as the plan is purchased prior to Final Payment.
  • The Premium Plan is the only plan that offers an optional Cancel For Any Reason - the policy must be purchased within 24 hours of initial trip deposit, the full trip cost must be insured, and if they cancel for Any Reason, it must be 48 hours prior to departure, and the reimbursement for an Any Reason claim is 60% of pre-paid, insured, non-refundable trip cost.
  • Customer Service can be reached at 1-800-874-2442 for coverage questions and policy modifications or to purchase by phone. Agency Code: LIZA0855

Canadian Guests - use this link: https://tripmate.catravelins.ca/?utm_source=lizardhead

 
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