A state filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation could reveal new details about the opening timeline of the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area‘s highly anticipated expansion in the Texas Hill Country.

The filing, registered on Tuesday, January 27, shows Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) plans to begin construction on a $4 million “initial public use” project located at the North Rock Trailhead in Llano County, where the department in January 2025 purchased over 3,073 acres of land adjacent to the existing parkland near Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. The land acquisition doubled the park’s size, according to TPWD.

The project includes plans for basic infrastructure, like road repairs, a public restroom, storage and a 40-car parking lot.

Construction is scheduled to begin May 1, and work will wrap up by November 1, 2026. However, all construction timelines are subject to change without notice.

To date, TPWD has not announced an opening date for the expanded portions of the park, leaving eager hikers, trail enthusiasts and campers wondering when they’d get to enjoy expanded access to the great outdoors.

In the meantime, TPWD has focused on public outreach, launching a community survey to gather feedback before sharing a Public Use Plan, to be discussed at public meeting scheduled for this summer, according to the state’s website.

TPWD expects to open the North area to public day use activities by the end of July 2026, according to Stephanie Garcia, a press officer for the agency. Visitors will have the option to enjoy hiking, fishing, bird watching, and picnicking. Enchanted Rock began allowing public hunts and ranger led hikes in April of 2025 on the newly acquired property. Construction work under the TDLR filing will allow the park to offer expanded self-guided access later this summer.

Per the department’s own policies, newly purchased park lands must be open for limited public use within 18 months of acquisition and full public use within 48 months, which means the expanded park areas could open for limited visits as early as July 2026, and full public access could be as far away as January 2029.

This article originally published at New details reveal timeline for major changes at popular Texas state park.