Forget about “Chicken Soup for Your Soul”! How about some Willow City Loop for Your Soul! 

The TEXAS Bluebonnet is the “Official Flower of the Lone Star State”! When the Hill Country in and around Fredericksburg, Texas, is blessed with abundant, soaking rains in the Autumn and Winter months, the WILDFLOWERS come out in force for a #1 TEXAS ROADSIDE ATTRACTION!

Just outside of Fredericksburg heading toward Llano, Texas, the terrain changes from pastoral, gently rolling hills to a dramatic, rugged landscape of deep canyons, sky reaching jagged cliffs, meandering streams and phenomenal panoramic views. All year round you’ll be amazed by this spectacular countryside, BUT during a good Wildflower Season (March – May), you’ll discover “take-your-breath-away” inspirational natural beauty. A favorite location for a slow, lingering country drive is the “famous” Willow City Loop! This is THE iconic Texas Hill Country scenic drive! The narrow two-lane Ranch Road winds for 13 miles through some of the oldest and most unique geology in central Texas. Deep Canyons carved by Coal Creek are picturesque and the meadows at the bottom offer up splashes of blue, yellow, orange, and white depending on the seaon and which wildflowers are blooming down below. The views from the highest hill tops are absolutely stunning. During a good spring wildflower season the hills and low lying creek bottoms are ablaze with the colors of a multitude of wildflower varieties… Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, Phlox, Coreopsis, Mexican Poppies, Sunflowers, Firewheels, yellow and white Daisies, Winecups, Horsemint, and Verbena! Mesquite, pecan, and live oak trees thrive, and there is an abundance of wildlife… the most beautiful Texas Hill Country you will ever experience!

NOTE! The Willow City Loop IS an absolutely BEAUTIFUL drive! Word of this amazingly diverse and gorgeous landscape has spread, and the “Loop” has become very popular with visitors. Although, I personally have not driven the Loop on the weekends, several visitors to this site have complained that the weekends are just absolutely awful… “bumper to bumper traffic” cancels out picture perfect! So, just be aware and, if possible, plan to drive the “Loop” on a weekday when there is less traffic! I am including a few alternate drives that aren’t so crowded for weekend Wildflower viewing!

Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take,
But By the Moments that take our breath away!

Scenic Drive – The Willow City Loop near Fredericksburg, Texas!

Take 16N (Llano Street) out of Fredericksburg. Proceed 13.3 miles, turn right on RR1323 – continue 2.79 miles to Willow City, turn left onto Willow City Loop. This is a PRIVATE ranch road that winds for 13 miles through rugged, awe inspiring Texas Hill Country and reconnects with 16. Turn right back to Fredericksburg.

Although Willow City Loop is maintained by the county, ALL land along the Loop is privately owned. Please, be respectful of landowners along the Loop and do not block their driveways, or drive, walk or sit in their meadows or on the WILDFLOWERS, as this can damage, even kill the plants.

4 scenic drives that will “take your breath away”

Below are four of my very favorite Scenic Drives around Fredericksburg, Texas! They are all BEAUTIFUL! Enjoy!

1. Take 965 (Milam Street) out of Fredericksburg, just past Enchanted Rock. 965 connects with 16. Take a left to Llano. Just before 71 turn left on 2323 and follow it back to 87. Take a left back to Fredericksburg.
2. Take 87 from Fredericksburg to Mason swing around the courthouse square and return to Fredericksburg! This is a beautiful drive… some of the BEST wildflowers anywhere!
3. Take 87 from Fredericksburg toward Mason, turn right on 152. In Castell veer right and follow 152 along the river back to !6. Turn right back to Fredericksburg.
4. Take 87 to 648 (Hilltop Cafe is on the corner), turn left and continue into Doss, Texas. In Doss take a right on to 783 and continue to 87 take a right back to Fredericksburg.