Willow City Loop Reviews

The Bluebonnets were fair this year. We stopped whenever we could to get out and stretch. Road through Sandy was pleasant.

The Willow City Loop is a few miles north of Fredericksburg, TX. The road meanders through the Hill Country, through private ranch land. The pace is slow and otherworldly as one drives through meandering cattle surrounded by woods, wildflowers, mountains past rocky streams. Views open over a valley. This place is glorious. I've traveled the world, but this is the best right at home--in Texas, no less. It's as good as going to Ireland and Wales. Then eat German food for lunch in Fredericksburg and then LBJ ranch en route to Austen. Glorious day

After taking the fantastic drive past Enchanted Rock, we made the turn back toward Fredericksburg and took a slow left onto the Loop. Respecting that we were on private property, we drove slowly on the narrow roads, and soon spotted a fox, then a mother deer and her doe. Winding through the ranches, inter cut by streams and cement bridges, we saw many more deer and many cows laying or grazing along side the road or directly on it. The ground was hardscrabble with thousands of cacti, which discouraged us from stopping to get out, along with the Private Property signs, but there was much to see in the way of valleys and tree covered hills that made it tempting to hike and explore. The drive took us about an hour and a half to come out near the restored community school and the saloon, then back to TX 16. Very much worth the quick decision to go, as it was a great reminder of life the way it was and still remains.

There's absolutely nothing like cruising along the Willow City Loop on a quiet Monday morning on Electric Bikes! The flowers were gorgeous, the butterflies were flying, and we even spotted a wild turkey crossing the road! We bought our bikes from Rocket Electrics, and can honestly say that it was more relaxing than riding the loop on motorcycles (which we did 2 years ago). The bikes enabled us to see and hear so many more magical things, and yet the quiet electric motors made the hills a breeze. Loved it!

Free to do and you may get some nice wildlife sightings. We sadly only saw roadrunners and of course deer. But a really nice safe drive. Road was much better than I anticipated and they are making improvements at the moment too. No places to stop en route for refreshments so be prepared.

A beautiful ride on a private road through the hill country. It was easy to stop and look around at the scenery and blue bonnets.
When the road ended on route 16 by going south a few miles, we could go through the country and end up in enchanted rock

I have made the trip down the Willow City Loop many times and in several seasons. Like many things it is at its best when the wildflowers are in bloom, but it is lovely even in winter or dead of summer. We usually go from the North to the South, but - we have done it both ways. On the trip you follow the Willow Creek although most of the time - you cannot really see it except when it crosses the road - or a tributory does. The road goes through the canyons and valleys and goes from the bottom up to the top of the ridge. So you start out with vista views and end up with vista views at the other end. The land on the route is all private so no picnicking really, but it is lovely for an hour ride and shows you much of the various things that people come to the Hill country to see. Have lunch or coffee in Lllano and then drive down the "loop" and back to Fredericksburg.

My wife and I drove from Fort Worth to Fredericksburg via the Willow City Loop in September. We are coming out of season so there were not any spring flowers blooming nor while driving did we really did not see any super-spectacular geography. So for us the “loop” was really no different than the 20 miles of driving we did before and after we drove the “loop”. I would not go out of my way to come here and I would not come again even if I lived here, unless the wildflowers were in bloom.

The Knot in the Loop Saloon has the best hamburgers on the planet! The environment is pure country and the walls are covered with all things western and Native American. Naturally, cold beer and soft drinks are available.

A nice drive and a great way to see the hill country up close from you car. We were here in November, so the wild flowers were long gone. I imagine in the Spring this drive is beautiful. We saw lots of deer and some pretty vistas.

NOTE: Google maps has the Willow City Loop road marked wrong. You want the road to FM 1323 which turns right in Eckert. This comes before what you see on Google maps labels as "Willow City Loop". That road is a private residence entrance.

We were with a friend who wanted to see the wildflowers so we went back to the Willow City Loop. The wildflowers are beautiful this year. We went up Hwy 16 to the road to Enchanted Rock first and took pictures there. The flowers are actually better there than on the Loop and there are of plenty of places to park. This also allowed us to enter the Loop on the north end. This way we were going opposite most of the traffic which kept us from being stuck in the long line of slow traffic. You are not suppose to park here and take pictures but a lot of people were ignoring those rules.

No matter the time of year, this gorgeous drive is always a wonder. Spring is incredible here! Flowers, vistas, and a winding little road through it all. GORGEOUS hill country, at its best.

A great drive throughout a combination of Texas and Tuscany... lovely views beautifull sceneries and little streams of water

We went early March. Did not see many wildflowers - a few bluebonnets. Our fave drive was from Willow City to Llano. The views were great, plus scenery interesting.

The scenery is great year round but the best time for this drive is when the wildflowers are blooming. It is just a short drive north of Fredericksburg. The loop drive took us about 30 minutes.

On a whim we took a drive to Fredericksburg...and so glad we did! Enjoy the pics and be sure to drive the Willow City Loop!

Bluebonnets were incredible on April 6. This is a beautiful drive a few miles outside of town. There were some huge fields. Some even growing in the sandy riverbed. There are also huge fields of white prickly poppies.

It's not Willow City Loop's fault but due to the current draught conditions, this area is non-existent in 2022. Pray for rain and a better next year!!

We have driven here a few times and seen gorgeous wildflowers! But drivers aren't supposed to get out of their cars to take pictures, some ranch owners have warned visitors on Facebook about this. Sad...... God's creation is still beautiful and abundance and I'm still thankful that we can enjoy them from our cars.

That drive down the Willow City Loop was the most amazing winter display I've ever seen in Texas! This road is just fun any time of year.

We happened to be in Fredericksburg, Texas, in January 2020 right when hunting had closed all the state parks. This led us to flounder around a bit to look for other things to do and we stumbled upon the Willow City Loop. It is 13 miles of state-maintained road crossing private land that you can drive down but you are not allowed to stop or park at any point on pain of a fine. That was rather off-putting, but I understand that when the wildflowers are in bloom there are zillions of cars moving through this area. Even in January however with not a wildflower in sight, the scenery is very pretty and well worth the drive. We also saw some antelope loafing around in a field which was very attractive. I would recommend this drive as worth doing. We were practically the only ones on the road but we were driving down the road on a Tuesday at lunch time. I expect on the weekends even in the winter there would be more traffic.

We had a beautiful drive today! The loop is a beautiful, scenic drive with a large amount of bluebonnets. We went early so it wasn't too busy. I can see how it could get congested easily as other reviewers described.
All that said, the wildflowers on Hwy. 16 between Mason and Fredericksburg had better wild flowers than the Willow Loop.

Once you leave Willow City, TX you will begin to be Amazed, by not only the Blue Bonnets and other Wild Flowers, but also the The TeXas Hill Country Ranch Scenery

There are lots of Blue Bonnets and TeXas Hill Country Ranch Scenery just off Hwy 16 at Eckert, TX on Farm Road 1323 to Willow City, if all you have time for is a slight detour, but the Loop Drive is well worth the Trip !

Even if you tell yourself that this is Absolutely the Last Stop for yet another of many Pictures, it will take a while to make the Loop back to Hwy 16

Note: There are No Public restrooms, so go before you leave either Llano or Fredericksburg and don't drink anything !

You will Enjoy an unforgettable Trip

If you enjoy seeing the hill country, you will really like this scenic drive. I have found the best time to go is during the week. The weekends can be really crowded.

The drive we took was the Willow City Loop road. It was narrow, rough and crossed private land. It was a very beautiful drive. We saw lots of wildflowers, wild turkeys and a roadrunner. This road may not be the loop referred to by this catagory as there is another set of roads that loop from Fredericksburg to Willow City and back.

Folks were parked. Kids scrambling on the rocks. Swimming. It's still *early* in the season. Eventually, the owners are gonna put a gate up to keep inconsiderate tourists out.

Although I'm sure it's much prettier in the spring, we enjoyed our leisurely drive through a variety of landscapes. Hills, valleys, creeks, even a farm with safari animals (zebras, ostrich, and Ankole-watusi cattle) Very enjoyable

In Bluebonnet and wildflower springtime, this is one of the most beautiful stretch of highway I have ever been on. Looking forward to more trips around the loop.

Deer, critters, cliffs, running creeks, wild flowers, rolling meadows, bluffs, soring big birds, and a fence wearing cowboy boots. We love riding the Loop.

Great ride on a motorcycle with awesome scenery, plenty of wildlife and a sense of escape. Enjoyed it.

Drove this little loop a few days ago. I've heard it can get pretty crowded, but this particular day it was pretty peaceful. The scenery is very pretty with some winding hills, nice ranches, livestock, and flora throughout. This is not something to expect any sort of WOW factor. But is was very relaxing.
Word of advice: Once you get back to Hwy 16 on the north end, watch for traffic as it can be pretty fast and sneak up on you. We barely avoided getting hit from behind).

I drove through the Willow City Loop last week to avoid the heavy traffic during April weekends, and although it wasn't at the peak of blooming season it was still very beautiful and pleasant.

I've taken visitors on the loop to see wildflowers in good years and it can be breathtaking. Make sure you have someone else in the car with a fast shutter on the camera because there are signs every so often warning you not to stop. This is a drive through attraction only. If you want to stop and get a photo of the grandchild in the bluebonnets you'll have to go elsewhere.

Although reviews suggested this Loop was a route for bluebonnets sightings, we didn’t see any. The best places were on Hwy 21 between Caldwell and Bryan, and on Hwy 6 between Millican and Navasota.

This loop took a lot of time, and didn't improve upon the view I had on my way into town. I just wouldn't waste the time.

We have seen a lot of Bluebonnets along roads and in fields but nothing like the natural settings in a rugged portion of the Texas Hill Country. There is a "Willow City Loop" that starts in a very small town of Willow City which is off of Texas Hwy !6, about a dozen miles north of Fredericksburg Texas. The blacktop type road winds through fantastic views in natural rugged countryside that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Now, if lucky, add the couple week Buebonnet Season and the trip must be what HEAVEN will be like. Any other description will not do it justice.

This was a 10 out of 5 stars. It far exceeded our hopes for the wildflower tour. Mile after mile of flowers - plenty of places to pull over and take photos. It is a do not miss during the season.

Caught the blue bonnets in bloom and saw a lot of fun small ranches with gorgeous views. truly a lovely drive, best of our entire trip. Must see the ranch with boots on the fence posts!

My husband and I were first time travellers to Texas from Maryland and we were going to be spending the morning at Enchanted Rock State Park. Whenever we travel, I look for other things to do in the area around where we are staying and saw Willow City Loop. I knew the time we were visiting(mid April) was the height of Texas Bluebonnet and wildflower season so knew this 13 mile loop would be beautiful this time of year. Although we had some cloud cover, the drive was spectacular. In some areas the flowersit looked like a carpet of white under the trees. Other areas had blue, white and red flowers that reminded me of our flag. At another spot, we came across a cow outside the fence and she didn't seem happy, but distressed. She let out a distress call and this huge longhorn steer from the other side of the road and thankfully inside the fence, came bolting down the hill toward the fence. Both the cow and the steer were pawing at the ground on either side of the fence. It was a sight to see for sure. We got some cool pics from inside our car then moved on. Note: this 13 mile loop does go through private ranch land and there are cows that are loose.
Another highlight besides the gorgeous flowers and the wildlife, was the boot fence. For about a quarter mile of fence line on the loop trail, people have placed cowboy boots upside down on the fence posts. It is an interesting and unique sight.
We loved our time on the Willow City Loop, a must see especially during wildflower season.

This is worth the trip outside of town as the flowers were the largest display for miles I had seen in the entire hill country weekend. Stunning laid back slow drive in the country can't be beat!

Pretty side detour when the wildflowers are out! Private property along the way, but it's easy to get pictures!

We rode the loop while the bluebonnets were in bloom. There was traffic but it was still a good ride. The views are awesome, there is a valley there that looked like it was covered with a carpet of blue bonnets. Don't be in a hurry going through the loop, the scenery is too impressive and there may be a slow moving vehicle just over the rise you are on.

An interesting rural drive close to Fredericksburg. Early March was too early for wild flowers. There are other scenic drives in the area that are equally or more dramatic.

Someone recommended we take the willows city loop since we had some time to kill.It was an interesting little trip but not as beautiful as the pictures look at this time of the year. It did kill some time and we enjoyed the ride. I’m sure in the summer months it’s beautiful. When we go back to Fredericksburg if it’s warm weather will do it again.

We stop at Fredericksburg’s visitor center before we went to the loop. The gentleman in the center told us the flowers weren’t come until the middle of the April. But we still decided to visit the loop even been told that. And the gentleman was true, there were only few flowers in the loop, so no any traffic, the view on the top of the loop is great, we took lots photo there. But if you come just for the flowers, wait until the second weekend of the April.

I was a little disappointed with this attraction, but maybe it was the time of year that affected it. Did not see any of the pictured flowers, but that can be due to the current dry season. Saw a lot of deer, which was the highlight of it. The loop was a little too long for me, well over 30 minutes long.

When the winter rains have been plentiful, this loop country road is spectacular with our Hill Country wildflowers. The terrain is so rugged you will think you are in Northern New Mexico or Colorado. Recommend to avoid weekends during the blooming season, late March to May 1 as many vehicles will be very slowly driving along to take in the scenery with many stopping to take pics. Problem is the tiny blacktop (??) is really only one and a half lanes wide and terrain so hilly and curvy that passing is impossible. When the little clear streams are running in a moist spring, the scenery is awesome. Suggest a Monday or Tuesday to do this Loop. PS a great hamburger joint is at the south entrance to the Loop off of Hwy 16.

Go when the bluebonnets are blooming. This is a private area so there is no stopping but you can drive slowly and take in the views.

You should not miss this drive in the spring. The wild flowers, especially the bluebonnets, are really something to see, especially if we've had a colder and wetter winter. The drive itself is nice any time to see all the wildflowers the Texas Hill Country has to offer.

We made the drive yesterday. Even in misty rain, it was beautiful. The bluebonnets are starting to peak and bloom. Seriously one of the most beautiful drives ever.

Beautiful and very lovely drive. Great family outing see many gorgeous landscapes and cattle. Good for a Sunday Afternoon drive.

The Willow City Loop is beautiful without the flowers and it changes depending on the year, and each day during the season as the bluebonnets come and then fade and other varieties come... the typography of the land is rolling and untamed in many areas remaining as natural as when if civilization never arrived, pavement gives way at times to rock and water as you splash through glorious creeks and the road winds its way through ranches and up and down. At some points you see for miles down the valleys or up the rock cliffs with giant trees below and then there are the flowers... sometimes covering the flower of the valley as far as the eye can see or the hill or down an old road or along the banks of the creek or popping out of the rocky hills along the way... my favorite is when you come across the creek and look up and see a whole palette of color with a variety of blooms... you can shop til you drop in town in the spring or come and see to glorious art of nature spread across the wonder that is the Texas Hill Country.

The Willow City Loop is one of the go-to spots for seeing Texas Bluebonnets. Be warned that most of the drive is through private property, and that there is loose livestock in certain spots. There is very little space to park, and even then there are a few signs not to park, and more signs not to trespass. That being said, the bluebonnets are simply gorgeous and vistas of the Hill Country awe-inspiring. Definitely a spring in Texas must-do!

If you like being off the beaten path this is it. We took this drive on March 21st because we wanted to check out all the Texas bluebonnets in bloom. Unfortunately we must have been too early because there wasn't a one. That being said, the road was amazing filled with white tail deer everywhere. This is not a traveled road, we were on it for 16 miles and never saw another car, which was awesome! If you appreciate the simple things in life this is for you. Highly recommend.

the willow city loop is a wonderful experience. you drive through the loop and enjoy the countryside and all the flowers. then go to Willow City and have a drink.

You should know...
This is a 20+ mile drive over narrow roads with cattle guards and quite a bit of traffic, especially on weekends in April. But it is lovely, whatever the season. When the bluebonnets are in bloom, it is amazing. Today, I saw a huge black Angus bull, and a male turkey with his tail unfurled in addition to fields of flowers. I have driven this road many times, and I will drive it again - every year if possible!

You need to do this bike ride if you have never done it. It is scenic with low car traffic. Be sure to bring enough water.

We drove the Willow City Loop today (March 29) and the bluebonnets and wildflowers were in full bloom. So amazing to see the flowers along the roadsides and in the fields and winding down to the creeks. So many picture moments. We went early so there was no traffic and it helped that the day was cloudy and a Tuesday. When we saw no trespassing signs we obeyed but also were able to get pictures from the road and along the road side. I did not see any signs prohibiting us from stopping and with little traffic we were able to get some unbelievable pictures. This is the highlight of our bluebonnet hunting trip and we highly recommend the lovely drive through the countryside even if the bluebonnets are not in bloom.

This drive is a beautiful as it gets. You'll see lots of flowers, hills, meadows, creeks and more. We went early morning so missed the crowds.

We rode the motorcycles through and it was the prettiest we have ever seen it. We missed the bluebonnets but the rest of the wildflowers where breathtaking. We saw deer, turkey, turtles and lots of butterflies.

We had lots of rain this spring, so the bluebonnets were exceptional. Caution, drive slow as you drive through pasture land where there are loose cattle. Also, don't let kids wander through the flowers as there are rattlesnakes. Enjoy the beauty from within your car.

It was definitely worth the time to venture off the highway and drive the Willow City Loop. The views and scenery are amazing and peaceful. The slow drive is relaxing and there is plenty of stunning scenery. The bluebonnets and other wildflowers were in full bloom the end of April. I would highly recommend this scenic drive any time of year. Be careful if it’s been raining hard as there are several water crossings.

Wow, absolutely beautiful! The Loop was about 13 miles long and 15ish minutes out of town. Very peaceful and neat to see. Can't wait to come back in the spring when the flowers are blooming!

Driving the hill country for our anniversary (year 9 is willow or pottery) so we chose to venture to Willow City. There is nothing to do but the old school is very cute and well maintained!

The bluebonnets and other flowers are abundant and beautiful right now! Be sure to allow plenty of time to drive slowly and drink in the magnificence of the hills, rocks and flowers!

I love this local legend for viewing the most lovely wildflowers in the state of TX. What I don't like is the multitude of no trespassing/ posted and other unfriendly notices. And yes I understand why they do this to try to keep ignorant tourists off private property but they take this over the top. It is a public road with a state right of way and they act as if they own the land right up to and including the paved road/ state right of way. I like to sit by the road and paint the scenes and I have been harassed several times by local residents threatening to call the police. I researched this issue and consulted with local law enforcement and discovered as long as you are not off the roadway into the landscape it id not illegal to park or to sit close to the roadway and paint or take pics.

Wonderful drive just to enjoy the scenery. Can see lots of wildlife - deer, turkeys, roadrunners. Even saw a pair of Cara Cara (look them up). Beautiful flowers. Just a nice drive, especially with a convertible :).

The wildflowers this year are absolutely amazing. We went Easter weekend and there were very few people on the loop. Be prepared for a lot of people with very few places to park.

If you have young kids or impatient people, most weekends are not for you.

Look out for the "boot fence". You'll know what I mean when you see it.

Highly recommended especially if you have out of state visitors!

I realize we are out of season, but for a peaceful, unhurried, quiet drive with very little traffic, and the ability to see bucolic landscape and some Vistas, this was really a nice little Drive. I wouldn't want to do it if there were a lot of people - cuz that would just ruin it.

Very pretty scenic little drive. A real Texan experience, Turkey Buzzards, the road got blocked by cattle and you think you could be in the old west.

Even though bluebonnet season had peaked and gone, the other wildflowers were plentiful and blanketed the hills and valleys with yellows and oranges and it was very green from all the recent rains. The prickly pear cactus were blooming big yellow blooms. We saw many deer and it was a delightful, peaceful drive over hills and down into canyons. Don't expect to drive fast through this loop, it is open range and cows graze beside the road.

After reading the rave reviews about this drive, we drove out to do the loop, thinking we would be dazzled. We drove through on a Thursday afternoon and there were just a few others on the road. The bluebonnets were in bloom, though not at their peak. Being used to lush greenery with hill and mountain views for most of our lives, I guess we just didn't get it. Yes, it was hilly, there were creeks and flowers and cattle were crossing the road, but we only had a day and a half to visit Fredericksburg. We would have chosen something else to use the 2 hours we spent doing the loop.

This is a very nice scenic drive through the Hill Country. I suggest going during the week. The weekend can get very congested on such a small road. Also, there are some areas that say "no trespassing". We personally didn't have an issue with this. To my understanding some of the ranchers have had issues with fence hoppers get injured on their property. As long as you stay outside the fence your good! The views are worth the drive in the end. This was peak bloom time. Which can vary by year. So check seasonally to see when you should plan your trip if you really want to view a full bloom. I would suggest to head to Enchanted Rock after here to get a 2 in 1 trip.

We drove this route on Saturday late morning and were so happy not to have to deal with traffic. We were able to stop several times for pictures and highly recommend this wonderful drive.

This was by far one of the highlights of our visit. i am very glad that we made the trip on our last day in town. It was very well worth it, took over 600 pictures.

We drove the Willow City loop April 16th, midweek, really worth doing. The blue bonnets were starting to go over but plenty of other flowers showing their best. We visited late afternoon, sun was low, the light was nice and the road also really quiet, we only saw one other car. We started at the Southern end, it gets better as it goes with the best section in the last third of the route at the top end. There’s pull-overs where people have stopped frequently for photo stops but avoid tramping into the fields and spoiling it. Also enjoyed the drive back to Fredericksberg on Texas Highway 16, similarly spectacular verges.

Great drive through the hills. Winding roads through the hills and along the creek. Beautiful vistas and views of the hills and valleys. We were lucky enough to be there for the wildflowers. Well worth the trip.

This drive was the best of everything in my hill country tour: wildflowers, vistas, and cattle. Best of all, because it is a private backroad, you can go slow enough to take pictures and drink everything in. If you are in the area don’t miss it.

The views are amazing! We drove this on a dreary afternoon. The bluebonnets and other wild flowers were still spectacular!

A good place to ride the bike around. The flowers are grand & kind of a view of the past. Don't forget the camera. Wasn't very busy

This is a great scenic drive, especially during Wildflower season. Some great Hill Country Vistas and lots of pretty wildflowers. Can get backed up a little during peak season on weekends, but definitely worth the drive and detour if near Fredricksburg.

The blue bonnets were in full bloom, the temperature was perfect.... Not enough great things to say about this beautiful drive

Made the drive on 23MAR16 and the blue bonnets were beautiful. Would highly recommend this drive to see outstanding natural views that rival any we have ever seen. This is a beautiful part of Texas, and this road gives you a great look into backroad Texas. At the end of the loop, be careful to take a left on route 16 to go back to Fredericksburg ... our online directions said turn right, and we ended up in Llano!

We enjoyed the loop and we were able to get out and take pics on the side of the road. After loop we went back to Harry’s located smack in the middle of Willow City (only 4 or 5 buildings in the town- haha) and had a cold beer and an awesome Rueben from the food truck.The place is kid and pet friendly as well. Highly recommend!

Great fields of wildflowers -- one area has a creek running through it - and then you wind up the hill and have fantastic views looking down. Narrow roads and lots of cars on the weekends, but an absolute must during bluebonnet season in the Hill Country.

Even though we live in Fredericksburg, the Willow City Loop reminds us why we really enjoy being in the Texas Hill Country.

This is always a great wild flower trip. Also, great hill country vistas. It is just a short drive from Fredericksburg.

The Willow City Loop is a 13 mile long drive thru the windy roads outside of Fredericksburg. Its a lovely relaxing drive. We have enjoyed it while sunny, rainy, sunrise and sunset. Its always a majestic experience. Oh...and be ready to great some cows on the road!

We drove the Willow City Loop August 1, and loved the trip. The road is paved, and there is always a surprise around the next corner. We saw more deer than we could count, at one place my husband spotted 4 beautiful bucks. We did see a couple of beautiful overlooks, and the views were gorgeous. Of course at this time of year there were not any flowers, but the wildlife and the scenery made the trip perfect for us....and the boots on the posts are always a sight to see!!

I think we must have missed the prime time to come in earlier
Spring based on other reviews. Either that or our world travel leaves us unimpressed with this particular landscape. Wouldn't recommend the time investment at this point, not that there weren't some pretty areas.

Highly recommend the WCL to anyone who has not driven it. The wildflowers weren't extreme this year, but they were beautiful just the same. The rambling creeks, the scenic vistas and the flowers make this a must-do for any visitor to the hill country. Word to the wise: Drive it on a weekday. It can get crowded on the weekends.

No bluebonnets. Boring, ugly drive. I don't know why this loop has had good reviews? Maybe we came at the wrong time of the year. I agree with another reviewer, there is not much in Fredericksburg unless you are into wine tasting. Only thing interesting is the limestone they used for the small Sunday houses back in the day.

We were too late to see the bluebonnets but WHY does no one mention the glorious reds and yellows of the Indian Blankets and Coreopis? There were several fields of Indian Blankets that were huge.

Good place to stop and see Wildflowers March through April. The boots on the fence posts are from a Texas Cowboy tradition of putting a boot on the post every time you broke a horse. Nowadays the boots are put up by passing bicyclists,
There are not many spots to pull ocer along the loop and it is private property on either side. Be carefull.

If you are looking for wildflowers, especially Blue Bonnets, this is a must do. We drove in a loop from Fredericksburg to Johnson City, to Burnet, Llano and back. We saved this drive for last. Without a doubt, the Willow City Loop was the highlight of the drive. In fact we saw more flowers on this than on any other paper of the rest of our drive. We started from the north. Willow City Loop road connects with Hwy 16 about 9 miles north of Fredericksburg. There is a lot of traffic on the loop, so be sure and give yourself at least an hour or more,

We have visited Fredericksburg many times in the past, but this was our first tour of the loop.
My gosh! Beautiful, huge, bluebonnets. Took lots of pictures.
Will be back for an encore.

After purchasing a tract of land in the Willow City Loop (totally unaware of the significance of the area), we decided to drive the Loop and check out our neighbors. We had never heard of the Willow City Loop and didn't know it was one of the most sought after areas of the Hill Country because of it's dramatic and stunning views! Wow, this place is so gorgeous it's no wonder people travel from all over to see it. Just keep in mind it's private property and you shouldn't stop or get out of your car along the way... just enjoy the drive and the views. You're in for a treat.

This loop never gets old. I love it every time I drive it. Never seizes to amaze me the rugged beauty and loads of wildlife we see every time we dive through. So special.

Great scenic loop even without the wildflowers - today we say 30 something deer including one buck with a large rack of antlers. Also saw a fox and a few hawks.

If you enjoy Texas wildflowers and Hill Country scenery this drive is a must. It's especially beautiful in the Spring when the bluebonnets come out. Some years are better than others, as far as, flower display, but even in a less "flowery" year, it's still a pretty drive. Lots of photo opportunities. You will definitely run in to other folks on the Loop taking photos and stopping to look at the creeks and hills. This is a favorite part of the drive for me, as I find people to be friendly and usually willing to help you with photos if you want to take a group picture. I surely think that Heaven may look a lot like the Willow City Loop in Springtime.

the willow city loop is about 11 miles north of fredericksburg and no matter what time of year you go there beautiful flowers cover the landscape as far as you can see. this is a great drive in the texas hill country

Great, peaceful drive but too early for bonnets. Boot topped fence line is a great sight. No traffic in the middle of the day but that’s probably because there were no, very few flowers.

I have mixed thoughts about this drive. It was beautiful, and you could drive through without rushing. The Visitor Information lady in Fredericksburg told us how to get there and let us know that it was a "drive through" only. As we entered the "circle, there were signs stating clearly that no parking was allowed on or off the roads. However, a number of people disregarded the signs. Those parking made it a little more difficult to drive past because the road is narrow. The property was privately owned, and there were cattle roaming in some areas without fencing. There were streams and hills that added to the beauty. But the drive on Hwy 16 to get there was even more beautiful. The Bluebonnets and Indian Paint Brushes were the main wildflowers and were in full bloom. So if you want to see an abundance of flowers, Hwy 16 is the drive not to miss.

During blue bonnet season, there is no more beautiful place in Texas. The drive is breath-taking. Field after field of Texas' favorite flower make up the willow city Loop. A long-horn or deer standing among the flowers is not uncommon. It is a photographers dream location

My wife and I have spent the last week roaming the main roads and back roads of the Hill Country. The Willow City Loop is the best area to see the Texas bluebonnets and other wildflowers in my opinion. There is a wide variety of photo opportunities and settings. We went on a Friday. We went in the morning. If it fits into your trip, go on a weekday and go early. Be polite. This is all private property as I understand it. Be respectful. But take your time and pull over and enjoy it. I would recommend taking the southern entrance off highway 16 as this seems to be how the flow of traffic goes. We also had some great conversations with others enjoying it also. Having never been here before we were told that this year they are exceptionally beautiful. We are very glad to have had this experience.

It has been 3-5 years since our last visit. Then there were few fences and long horn cattle. Now there are fences along both sides of the road and no long horns. The scenery is still good, but the city folk have moved in, spoiling the drive from yeastier year.

I visited the Willow City Loop during two separate visits to the Hill Country during bluebonnet season. One was to show my Oklahoma friend how beautiful the bluebonnets can be in such a rustic and scenic setting. The next week was to take an elderly friend on a little road trip to see the flowers and spend some time in Fredericksburg. Both visits to the Loop were just amazing. The flowers were at peak and the weather was perfect and it's just a beautiful drive and many places to pull over and walk around to get many perfect pictures.

This is a great ride on a motorcycle, the road travels through private property with signs stating to please stay in vehicles so there's no opportunity to take pictures. Will do again in the spring.

We saw more bluebonnets here on this roadway than anywhere else we went including the Wildseed Farms. Usually a Loop is a quick highway around a city. This is nothing like most loops. This is an older road and you likely average a speed of 10-15 mph on most of it as you go slow to see all of the sites and blooms. Bluebonnets are most everywhere. You go high up in the hills and down in the valley also on this road. I had only heard about this loop on the last day of my Fredericksburg visit and decided to go and it ended up being our favorite place to visit on our whole week long Fredericksburg visit. It was absolutely beautiful.

Kick back and enjoy the jukebox, atmosphere, and cold beer! You never know who you will run into in the Knot- we love to make friends with who ever we happen to meet there. It is definitely a one of a kind bar- no frills- and the beer is always cold, cold, cold.

It is worth the drive and directions are easy to follow. You get off the main highways and lots of opportunities to stop for pictures without cars speeding by.

This is a nice drive off the main roads, which we love. Unfortunately, we hit it at a season when there were not many bluebonnets or other wild flowers. Still enjoyed the loop - never saw a boot fence before!

enjoy a great Hill Country Experience....go during bluebonnet season for an even better day. Fun Drive.

This is a 10-mile absolutely stunning spring Bluebonnet photography opportunity. Wildflowers are bountiful, beautiful colors, ready for your camera.

Off-beat scenic place... a hidden treasure... a true Texas establishment... folks there are all friendly... the beer is ice-cold... the surrounding country-side is scenic... a most diverse group of patrons that seem as friends you have known forever...even met a couple of riders from England who had this place on their must-do list.

The drive was lovely. I live in north Texas, but the Willow City Loop looks like what everyone thinks Texas should look like.

I had only heard about Willow City Loop this year. We drove the loop the weekend of April 8th. Oh my goodness, what a lovely area. Pictures in every direction, gorgeous sites at every turn. Highly recommended.

Don't miss this gorgeous trail when the Texas Bluebonnets are in bloom. It's a breathtaking sight, especially the first time. The Texas Hill Country at it's very best.

Went on the drive around 2 pm in June and while it didn't have the gorgeous wildflowers of spring it was still stunning. We saw plenty of gorgeous scenic views and loads of animals. If you didn't see any animals then you are driving too fast. Just sit back and relax while you take in all the wonderful sites.

We drove this scenic drive in the summer, but it would be especially beautiful in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming. Very nice drive.

We wanted to see Wildflowers so we went on the Willow City Loop. We went on 4/22/2019. It must have been at the end of the season as we did see some but they were not spectacular. We had driven on HIghway 16 and from San Saba to Willow City, the flowers were spectacular along the highway. We started on the loop at Willow City. Our Navigation system did not show the Willow City Loop so we just followed it. We really did not know if the loop went back to Hwy 16 or where it would come out. Probably our fault for not researching. It would have been nice to have some type of sign that indicated where it came out or something. We had friends that drove the loop 2 or 3 weeks earlier and they said it was beautiful

The drive is a peaceful getaway from the city where there is more of a likelihood of seeing wildlife than people. The road meanders for miles and the views are breathtaking.

There is a north entrance and one from the town. Entering from the north the elevation gradually increases. Just before reaching Willow City there are some places to stop and take scenic pictures of the countryside. A nice 1/2 - 1 hour trip and easily accessible from Fredericksburg or Llano.

The bluebonnet were early this year in San Antonio and we missed them on this trip. Luckily the Willow City Loop did not disappoint. They had some and were really the only ones we could find in the entire area. Thank you to the farmers who allowed us on their land to view this Texas wonder!

Driving from Austin to Fredericksburg decided to drive this loop. And we absolutely loved it. I’m sure seeing the wildflowers in the spring is lovely, but this drive under the big blue sky in the winter was amazing, too! So peaceful…and we could smell the cypress trees.

Early April is great for the wildflowers although access is very limited. Look for the boots on the fence!

Last year we were in Fredricksburg, Tx. the second week in April and I must say this was an awesome experience. The wildflowers were beautiful. We returned this year 2 weeks earlier and although their were flowers, they were just starting to bloom. We were disappointed to say the least but still had a great trip.

We enjoyed our drive through this area admiring the wildflowers. A caution that it can be crowded & other drivers are often pulled over to get lots of photos. But the beauty of the flowers was wonderful.

Wow!! I have lived in Texas my entire life and have never seen such a beautiful drive during bluebonnet season. This is a must when in Fredericksburg when the flowers are blooming! Give yourself plenty of time because you will want to take a ton of pictures.

We did a fair share of driving around to do wild-flower spotting. The WC loop was very enjoyable and relaxing part of the process. Traffic was low, so it was drive at your own pace.

for the year 2022, there was no flowers, not even one, I made the drive last week and I didn't find any flowers. The boots were still there with no flowers in view.

This Loop is a must see if you visit this area in the spring. The flowers are so beautiful and so abundant! Lots of ohhs and ahhs on this loop!

I was afraid the wildflowers might have been beyond their peak, but yesterday's rain must have blended well with today's sunshine. Such a sea of colors..red, organ, blue, yellow, white .. a little purple not just on the Loop but surrounding highways to and from Fredericksburg.

I have driven this for the last 3 years and always enjoy. Bluebonnets were great, not as many as last yea. I took several other road trips to take some friends to see the beautiful flowere out there. I would totally recommend this drive. I would recommend to drive out during the weekdays if possible. Weekends are somewhat crowded.

This drive is "Pure Texas"!The views are incredible and breathtaking.The drive can take up to 1 1/2 hours but is well worth it.Don't take this route on a weekend or a holiday and especially not,if you are in a hurry.The weather was overcast when we went but it was still beautiful.I will definitely go back in the spring!!Take your time,roll down the windows and breathe in the Texas Hill Country!

The "Loop" is about 10 miles north of Fredericksburg. It is about 8-10 miles long and is paved. There are numerous wet weather crossings on the road so if there has been a heavy rain the road may not be passable. Great chance o see everything from whitetail deer to wild turkeys to road runners.

This was my second visit to see the wildflowers. A camera is essential as well as a reliable vehicle. You don't need 4 wheel drive but a high clearance is recommended

We missed the loop the first time we wanted to drive it, but when we came again, we found it to be an amazing 13 mile drive where white poppies, blue bonnets, and red flowers bloomed profusely along the side of the roadway as well as in open fields! We enjoyed the drive very much and could stop from time to time for a brief picture when there was a pull off. Drivers would pull their cars over, and other could also stop or just go around the stopped cars. One of the nicest scenes we saw was a young woman in a red dress standing for her husband to take a picture of her in a field of white poppies surrounding her!! It was a gorgeous picture, and WE also took a couple of her!! Couldn't resist! While there were tons of areas of these white poppies, we also saw our fill of the beautiful blue bonnets. Probably the best area to see them on our entire trip!

The no trespassing signs all along the drive are a little disturbing. No flowers to see in July. Boots on fence were the best part. You could not stop and take pictures because of all the “camera enforcement” for no trespassing. Why advertise it’s a tourist sight when you can’t even stop to snap pictures?

Cool drive, but more cactus for us than flowers unfortunately. Went over Memorial Day weekend. Still, a nice day for a drive with the top down and glad we did it.

We drove this on our way out of town and saw some dear, many bluebonnets and some great views. It was worth the time and gas.

After nearly 16 years of weekending in Fredericksburg, we finally made time to try the loop on our way back home. Well worth every minute. We went through on a Monday & traffic was nil. Scenery was amazing - you feel like you aren't in Texas anymore. Beautiful cliffs & streams, stunning vistas. If you have time, definitely give this a try. Would be beautiful any time of year!

I have visited the tavern here for years and it is always friendly and the beer is always cold. Pickers abound and sit under the oaks and play a few songs in a ultra relaxed setting. Kids can chase around and people can just spend a calm afternoon in the shade.
Nice place. Wild flowers abound in the springtime. Miles of bluebonnets.

Was recommended. Liked but no need to go again. Would say do go once. Wasn't sure what to expect so happy went at least that one time.

We have heard about the Willow City Loop for years. Now retired, finally had time to locate and drive while staying in Fredericksburg. We thoroughly enjoyed our hour or so drive on this narrow, almost one lane, loop with just beautiful scenery. Some bluebonnets left, Indian Paint and purple sage still around. Loose cattle are near the road and traversing the cattle guards along the way is fun. Several working ranches are on the loop. Must be very crowded in the spring. In late April when we went, only about five cars on the road, most pleasant. Note, move slowly during the drive. Very enjoyable, we will be back.

What a beautiful drive to see the wildflowers and terrain. The roads are good and there are plenty of places to pull over to take pictures or just walk around and enjoy.

We heard everywhere that the Willow City Loop was disappointing this year for wildflowers.However, there were enough white poppies to keep us happy even if the bluebonnets were scarce. The boot fence was entertaining and the general area scenic.

In the spring time, if the wildflowers are in bloom, this drive is a bucket list item. It is hard to conceive of such beauty

We took a drive on 4/23 hoping to see the flowers but there were only tiny patches. While it would have been nice to see fields of flowers in the loop, we did see some on the side of the road as we drove back to Fredericksburg. It was still a nice drive to see a different part of the country that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Admittedly, we were a few weeks late making this trip for the first time as the bluebonnets, while still beautiful. were past their peak. Nevertheless it was a wonderful little side trip. Several stops along the road offered breathtaking views. Surely do wish I could afford land here. What a homesite much of this would make! Dream on, fool!!
Maybe next year we can make the loop a few weeks earlier.
Recommended

This is a perfect springtime drive to see wildflowers and cows and mesquite trees and creeks at their most beautiful

I have photographed Willow Loop for several years. Even without the wildflowers, it is a very scenic road. The amount of wildflowers is dependant on the amount of rainfall in the previous months. There will always be wildflowers. When the wildflowers are in abundance, the word goes out quickly, and the people come en masse. They get in your picture or won't allow you the space to get yours. The road is a one-lane country road. There are so many people there that you can't easily find parking. This happens on the weekend. If possible, go during the week. The crowds are less of a problem then. The wildflowers and other scenery are well worth the trouble.

Amazing!!! I hope I get to go to this place every spring. Wildflowers, natural springs, the "boot fence". Awesome scenery. I am in love with this place!

Yes, but all these reviews are from last year. We tried to go this year, a few days ago, and it's all private property with gates saying "Private Property/ No Trespassing." What happened? This used to be a beautiful scenic drive open to the public. Have they sold off all the public land? We saw almost no wildflowers. Huge disappointment.

This is a slow but very pretty drive through the countryside, lots of wildlife and wild flowers. Saw lots of cattle, deer, rabbits, etc. but no snakes, but of course you don't get out of the car and got walking through the brush either. We did see lots of cactus but one cactus looked exactly like Mickey Mouse, pretty cool if you have a little time in the area.

We were given mixed reviews from people, but decided to do it anyway. We would recommend it. It's close and free. There's one ranch that has cowboy boots on every pole. We were looking for bluebonnets but missed the peak. The loop is pretty and relaxing. I would do it again.

We were visiting recently around Fredericksburg and Luckenbach, TX in general and needed to kill a few hours. Online I found a list of things to do in the area which included a scenic 13 mile drive described as one of the most picturesque scenes in TX. That description sealed the deal and we were off. Arriving in Willow City, a small out of the way sign announced the Loop. It was at a “T” in the road and almost immediately upon leaving the main highway we were presented with a larger sign posted at the edge of the right-of-way that effectively made it clear that this road winds though a continuous stretch of private property which is posted continually throughout the route. It furthermore discourages any stopping, parking, loitering, exploring, etc., ETC! The sign made it seem akin to a private road.

As we cautiously ventured down the road, we occasionally encountered a few houses, several trailers, some cattle including Longhorns on and off the road, and several instances of deer. There was one bank of bluffs, one unusual mountaintop, and several vistas. We saw no one except for some utility workers working on a power line. We saw no other cars. We did see umpteen low water, single lane bridges & regular cattle-guards across the road. What we didn’t see was anything particularly spectacular or sufficient to warrant the online description that led us to this place.

Yes, it was a continuous string of simple pretty views and when added together they made for an enjoyable journey but nothing with a “WOW” factor. I would have described it as remote, rural, peaceful drive over a lonely narrow road that left you with a soothing experience. The opposite of the feeling that I get when I am sitting on the freeway in bumper to bumper traffic…a state that I joking refer to as a speeding parking lot.

Later talking to the locals we found out that when the Bluebonnets and wild flowers are in season the loop goes from being peaceful & remote to being the equivalent of sitting still on the Interstate due to a wreck somewhere ahead. Of course, that leaves me with a dilemma-…a tremendous desire to experience that loop with the “WOW” factor added, conflicting with my desire to avoid speeding parking lots. An internal battle that I suspect will result in my someday voluntarily experiencing “The Willow City Loop” in season!

So for the time being without the Bluebonnets & wildflowers, I am going to rate the Willow City Loop a “4” and look forward to re-evaluating in the future with the “Wow” factor added.

Notes:
-turn left upon exiting the loop to travel to Fredericksburg. If you turn right you might want to read my review of Joe’s Bar and Grill in Llano, TX.

-do not confuse the Willow City Driving Loop with the Loop Trial for hiking ( at the Enchanted Rock State Park if I am remembering correctly

Did the Willow Loop this afternoon (March 28, 2019) and I was blown away with the huge display of flowers everywhere in the lower level of the loop. This is the best display I have seen in 10 years of doing the loop including large displays of bluebonnets on the rocky river gravel bars.

If you photograph find a good pull off and walk to explore along the the road side for fine macro shots and hidden intimate landscapes with moody lighting. Early or late look for great light and saturated color.

In a few weeks the mix of other wildflowers will add more e color to the pallet.

My favorite backroad in Texas! The road just begs to be driven slowly, to take in the beautiful creeks, rock formations, and wildflower patches. There are some surprises along the road, which I won't spoil... but keep your eyes open!

This is about 13-16 mile drive close to Fredericksburg. Definitely worth the time. Great to do in the spring. I did not see the speed limit posted but everybody was going very slow, so you may want to allow at least 30 minutes, but more like 45-60 to take it in. We were told that all the land on both sides of the road are private properties, so it is not allowed to stop anywhere or to park cars anywhere on the loop. However, we saw too many people to ignore this and be quite inconsiderate (e.g. stopping in the middle of the road without flashers on or parking their car and walking on private properties despite "no trespassing signs). Drive slowly, there is quite a bit of "loose" livestock.

Four couples on motorcycles - we took the Willow City Loop for some change of scenery. Very peaceful, scenic ride through open ranges. We did have to stop at one point for a herd of stubborn cattle but that made the ride all the more interesting. Definitely recommend this route during the spring when the flowers are in bloom.

Went to Willow City Loop yesterday and was very disappointed. I must've missed the peak this year. Went about 4 years ago and it was absolutely beautiful! Fields and fields of flowers everyone. Had never seen anything like that before. Best area yesterday we found was RR 2323 near Llano .

This drive is very popular with bikers around the country. This is one of the most beautiful in Texas and worthwhile if you're headed to south Fredericksburg or north to Lampasas. You drive through the rugged and hilly terrain of Hill Country and envision that the cowboys rode their horses through here. Gorgeous cliffs and scenery throughout. If you're able to go during wildflower season in the Spring this drive is even more spectacular.

The Willow City Loop is eye candy for Hill Country nature viewing-- granite, red sand, cliffs, valleys, creeks, springs, mesquite trees, and wildlife. We saw deer, cattle, and a wild turkey. It was not wildflower season but the drive was chock full of black eyed susans. It's the country so you have an occasional passerby-- don't forget to wave.

We drove the Willow City Loop as part of our BlueBonnet Road Trip the day before Easter. It was well worth our time (1.5 hours). There were amazing views of natural areas and some great photo opportunities. Please be careful driving; as folks get a little distracted while looking at all the beauty of nature. Bluebonnets are currently in full bloom and other wildflowers are showing as well. The hills, valleys, and rock cliffs are even more breathtaking with the addition of the touch of color.

This is a must do! Romantic, no crowds, relaxing and absolutely beautiful. Cows grazing right next to the road and rolling landscapes.

This would be a great road to drive even if the wildflowers were not in bloom. We were able to stop and take photos. Lots of bluebonnets.

I would suggest a weekday because the weekends will probably be busy.

The road is good with several narrow bridges.

Beautiful flowers, up close and personal with the bowvine, and very neat to be able to cross through all of the private property and cattle guards. Highly recommend. Not so long that the teenager got bored.

The best time to enjoy the willow loop is in the spring when all the wildflowers are in bloom. We drove the loop in June...it was a pretty drive, but was not abundant in wildflowers.

Took a drive around the Willow City loop on March 16 to check out if wildflowers are blooming yet...overall not a lot of flowers yet. Some bluebonnets right along side of the road, but no fields full of blooms yet. Very few other flowers besides bluebonnets. Hopefully should be much better in a couple of weeks.

We go here every year to see the wildflowers. A nice day trip from Abilene. The road is narrow and if you go early in the day there is not as much traffic.

Some of the prettiest scenery and views in the hill country. In wildflower season, you can smell the perfume of the flowers just riding by. Kudos to whomever created the "boot" fence - a lengthy section of fence with posts topped by cowboy boots.

April and May are the best times to take this drive to see the wildflowers. May be traffic on the weekends but take your time and enjoy the views.

Beautiful drive! The Bluebonnets and other wildflowers were so pretty lining the road and into the fields and trees. I highly recommend everyone to take the time and enjoy driving around the Texas Hill Country in the springtime!

We took this loop on recommendation from another camper. The views are breathtaking. We saw gorgeous blue bonnets and the wild flowers.

Always on our itinerary when visiting the Hill Country. This year the bluebonnets and indian blankets were very good.

Several stops to see flowers and take pictures. Kind of a secret. Found by husbands motorcycle group.

Saw little to no bluebonnets yesterday on the Loop. Can’t understand how these people saw them in the other review

Even though wildflower season is the prettiest time for this drive, it's also the most crowded. If you go off-season, you can enjoy the rolling hills, majestic oaks, livestock grazing, wide open skies, and uncrowded roads in this beautiful part of the Hill Country. We recommend it any time of year.

We drove on the Loop at about 7 pm. Few wild flowers. Just a lot of trees and a couple of nice views that you really can't stop and look at or photograph.

Unexpected adventure! Beautiful scenery and took lots of beautiful pictures. Loved the beautiful bluebonnets and cows. Very peaceful relaxing drive.

We read about this trip and just had to check it out. It was amazing. We saw parts of Texas we'd never seen. Lots of rolling hills, ranches, cattle, rocks, deer, rock formations. It was amazing. If you visit this area, please be sure to take this loop drive.

Made the drive while staying in Fredericksburg. Was as expected and saw plenty of bluebonnets and other wild flowers. Went the first week of April. About a 40-50 mile round trip from Fredericksburg. Take your camera. One of a number of trips through the Texas Hill Country to take to see the springtime wildflowers when theyr'e out (mid-March thru mid-April). Note this is a drive on a public road and takes you past lots of private property. Be sure and respect that. There is plenty to see from the road, just do it safely and respect the privace of the land owners.

Loved this drive! We hit it right at the start of bluebonnet season. This was a nice, beautiful, relaxed drive through beautiful scenery. Plenty of opportunity to pull over and get out of the car for a closer look. We also drove the Bluebonnet Hwy between Llano and Castell, and also Route !6, but the Willow City Loop was my favorite.

I didn't do the whole loop because it was a Friday afternoon and the weekenders were out. Lots of motorcyclists and cars, and the traffic was getting heavy when I turned around and left. It's a dirt road that loops around for several miles. The bluebonnets were just beginning to bloom, and it was pretty, but I had seen so many bluebonnets that it wasn't worth putting up with the traffic.

This was a wonderful way to spend an hour or so. The scenery is so pretty, and the wildflowers were in bloom when we drove it last spring--simply delightful. I wholeheartedly recommend this activity :)

My wife and I come almost every year during bluebonnet season. I must say, I enjoy the overall scenic drive and vistas, more than the bluebonnets. Livestock too.

We enjoyed our touring the Willow City Loop to view the spring wildflowers very much! Bluebonnets, Indian Paint Brush, it's all there!

We were there in the spring and sure enough there were Bluebonnets everywhere you turned. It is not on main road and is a perfect place to stop and take photos. You will drive pass some private lands.

No flowers! Not worth it! Do not go ! We took the 13 mile Willow City Loop Drive & no FLOWERS! There are “ No trespassing” signs posted all along the drive, it seemed we were trespassing! Unsure why this even recommended!

We drove this 13 mile loop on a Tuesday when traffic was not nearly as heavy as I'd read it can get. No stopping allowed as it is private property but that didn't stop some from doing this.

The Fredericksburg Tourism Center was not promoting this as a drive to view the Bluebonnets and did not include it on the routes they'd highlighted on maps they distributed.

I would not attempt the drive when crowded. We came across an exasperated property owner. I hate to have to deal with the crowds all the time if I lived on the loop.

An amazing drive through the wildflowers. Best when the bluebonnets are in bloom. Check out the boot fence! The drive was busy during the week - can't imagine how it is on the weekends.

Drive North on the 16 from Fredericksburg, either take the exit for Willow City or the Willow City Loop just a little further on 16. Either way you will end up on a pleasant country road with twists and turns with picturesque views and roaming deer and cattle. Try to complete before sundown where there is a heightened risk of hitting straying deer. takes around 1.5 hours and he road loops back to the 16 then turn South and you will arrive back in Fredericksburg

Last year we visited Texas Hill Country in the Spring and missed bluebonnet season by a couple of weeks. We returned this year and were rewarded for our persistence. The thirteen mile Willow City Loop was a photographers dream drive and we have the photographs to prove it. Based on what we saw, this season will be done in about two weeks or less. Plan your visit for next spring but check conditions first. Peak should be around first and second weeks of April.

The gorgeous Texas wildflower are in full bloom as I have not seen them in many years! Take your children and friends, and drive in your car, truck or motorcycle ... however you can get there. You must go!!!

The loop is looking especially good this year! Lots of healthy flowers!!!
Best in years!
Highly recommended!

A friend mentioned this drive to me. When we learned of a two hour wait to enter the Enchanted Rock park, we decided to journey a little further on out and take the Willow City Loop instead. Beautiful scenery and sites consisting of falls, wildlife, and beautiful mountains (hills actually, but mountains sound better). I think the loop was around 15 miles. We literally were the only vehicle on the loop for our entire trip. Not sure I would make a special trip just for the Loop, but is was nice as a replacement adventure.

we were to early in the season to see the bluebonnets but the drive was breathtaking. Hill country deluxe views windmills, hills, fields, animals

Peaceful drive, first week in May and still full of wildflowers. Take care when you pull over so as not to disturb flowers, animals and block ranch access. Highly recommend for a leisurely scenic drive.

Nice meandering road with lots of scenery. Especially loved the goats and exotic deer herds. Tons of wild flowers. Nice rock outcrops with prickly pear cactus. Glad we took this route.

Few drives outside any little town are close to what this is when the wildflowers are in bloom. It is very easy to know when the blooms will be a their peak--do not miss it! This is as special a drive as you can do almost anywhere--the hills are wonderful and the colors amazing.

If the flowers are not in bloom, it is just another nice way to get around a city.

▪️Recommend? Yes
▪️Location: About 13 miles north of Fredericksburg. Good signage....easy to find.
▪️Flowers out: Yes during our April visit.
▪️Traffic: Not crowded early afternoon.
▪️Loop road quality: Narrow, but easily drivable in a car.

You might not believe you are in Texas except that Texas as a little of everything. Surprise yourself and take a drive.

I wouldn't want to do this loop on bike on a Spring weekend when the road is crowded with gawkers in cars, but mid-week it was delightful. The riding was good; we stopped often to photograph the flowers, which were truly astounding. If the wildflowers aren't in bloom, this loop is probably far less of an attraction.

I visited in February before the bluebonnets were out - we did see three! We had the place to ourselves with very few cars passing by. The road is a private country road. I was surprised to see to much trash thrown around. I did my best to pick some of it up, as I'm sure the residents get tired of seeing their property abused. The views were beautiful. Would do it again in a heartbeat!

We went to see the wildflowers but were a little late. There were still many blooming but the blue bonnets were way past prime. This was in early May. Would be better in April.

We have driven about 1500 miles in the Texas Hill Country from Llano down to Bandera, Texas in the last few months. Hands down, the Willow City Loop is by far the best drive we have taken in our Hill Country drives. It has some spectacular views and beautiful wildflowers still in bloom all along the road. This is a must do when in the Fredericksburg, Texas area.

Living close by in Wimberley, this is just over an hour away. Fortunately Texas received rain both in the fall of 2014 and the Spring of 2015. The bluebonnets were beautiful but I am not sure they will ever recover from the terrible drought we have been suffering. That being said, this was probably one of the best showings we have had in years. Hopefully El Nino will continue to grace us with some much needed rain and next year will be even better. Stop at the end and have a beer at Harry's on the Loop. Harry retired and left (the old ornery coot who used to BBQ out back), but the new folks seem to be nice but don't expect to get fed anymore. But a cold one is nice after a 1-2 hour leisurely tour of the bluebonnets. Go usually the 2nd week in April and NEVER on the weekends!

Beautiful ride in the country and plenty of wild flowers and wild life to view. We saw Deer, Hawks, Cows, Goats and even Wild Boars.

The ride was pretty and scenic even when there weren't any blooming flowers. Make sure that you have a printed map or something, we lost service on the way up and a little during the drive. Once you get to the loop, it's an easy, common sense ride.

This loop takes about one hour and features some of the most beautiful displays of Texas wildflowers around!!!!

There are two routes that are easily confused from what I can tell. Google maps lists Willow City Loop as the Ranch road that dead ends. It’s the further north spot. Just below that is the Willow City that is 1323 to 1631 back to 290. I think they are both gorgeous but very different. We saw tons of deer on the 1323 route. We saw lots of yellow and red and some violet flowers all over still, but no blur bonnets in late May.

It's a nice Texas Hill Country road that if conditions are right is great for wildflowers in the springtime. Unfortunately 2022 has had a fairly dry winter and early spring and the cold lingered so on the day I drove it there were no flowers. But I did see some nice old farm gear and there is the Boot Fence where each fence post along the road has an old boot on it. The road is well paved which is nice and yes, there are many no trespassing signs because a lot of people ignore property markers and when the flowers are good they trample them all down.

It was really authentic and in full bloom thos week.

We made nearly a 1000 mile drive from GA and it did not disappoint. Warm weather and enough rain exploded the wildflowers. Loved it!

Made the tour yesterday, spectacular geology and views. The wildflowers just beginning to show . Probably a couple of weeks away from peak blooms. Don't be in a hurry.

We drove the loop on a weekday (March 28) and the landscape is spectacular this year! Many people were out on this sunny day to enjoy nature's beauty. The bluebonnets are huge and the breeze was just right so that I caught a whiff of their scent.

As we drove north on Route 16, and then drove onto the loop, we were admittedly underwhelmed. It was nice, but we didn't see the reason for all the fuss.

And then we came to the top of the ridge for a breathtaking view of the canyon. And I mean breathtaking. Absolutely wonderful.

The wildflowers were spectacular at times, and non-existent at others. But there are moments of transcendence on this drive.

I would recommend continuing north on Route 16 up to Llano. It's along the highway that the wildflowers are really amazing.

Willow City Loop is a great trip through the Hill Country even
when the wildflowers are not in bloom. At times it looks like
Colorado with very tall mountains and rocky cliffs. An easy drive
from Fredericksburg, it is well marked and an incredible scenic
tour. Plan to go in the morning and take your time on the loop.
Expect to see longhorn cattle, deer and streams of water cascading down the rocks. Don't stop on the sides of the road because the land around it is privately owned. This is one of the most important tours of the Hill Country. Don't miss it. Plan on a drive of about 45 minutes.

A beautiful drive through some gorgeous and unexpectedly rocky stark landscape of Texas. Although we missed the showy display of Blue Bonnets, the other wildflowers were gorgeous! Indian paintbrush and flowering cactus were abundant.

We made the drive midday on a Thursday and only saw one other vehicle on the loop, so we were able to drive slowly and enjoy the panoramic vistas.

There is no place to stop or even pull over, so keep that in mind and bring any refreshments needed with you.

This was an absolute highlight of our visit to the hill country

We had a great time driving the loop! It was gorgeous. You actually get high up enough to look down at all the beautiful hill country. We went in the summer and loved it, but I'd like to go again in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming. We were using Google Maps and we did get lost at least once and wonder several times if we were on private property, but thankfully we made it back okay (:

Words cannot express how incredible this drive is this year - after 24yrs in Texas I finally drove the loop and OMG - such an adundace of bluebonnets, white poppies, Indian paintbrush. I even came across a herd of bison! I recommend going during the week when there aren't so many cars. I also was lucky to have the perfect weather day. Texas at its finest

we come here every spring, but this year is one of the best Yet! Be sure to stop at the stream! Fields of blue bonnets and white flowers.

This is a beautiful drive at any time of year. We had been there during bluebonnet season several years ago and were enchanted. This time there were still some wildflowers but also beautiful vistas. We say a fox cross the road and numerous baby horses and cows.

Were told by the Welcome Center to take this loop in Willow City. Very scenic and some unique views including a fence along one ranch with cowboy boots on top of the wooden fence posts. Slow going drive to take in the views. Recommend.

It's about 13 miles or so, and is touted in the spring for lots of photo ops of wildflowers. We missed it. The drive is interesting for being off the highway, narrow road, with nice back country views. But if your motive is to see fields of various wildflowers, you need to be careful to hit it at the right time. We did the drive the second week of April and apparently missed it.

We were looking for some 2 lane roads and stumbled upon this gem! The stretch from Hwy 16 to Willow City was fantastic and we drove it in October! Definitely worth the detour!

My wife and I drove this loop two days ago. It proved to be about 12.4 miles. It is all on private property. They specify no stopping or parking. It is very isolated and cell reception is often unavailable. Though pretty in many ways, it would have been better a little earlier in the Spring at the height of the blooming season for wild flowers. Driving it takes some time, as the "road" isn't great and the average driving speed must be slow. I guess 20-25 MPH. At one point there is a fence with old cowboy boots on each post.

If you have never gone during the Bluebonnet Season you must go. 1st go to Coopers (highly recommended) then head south on HWY16 towards Fredrickburg watch for signs turn left, at the fork go left towards Burnet and US281. It's a nice drive but it can get a little over crowded during pike wild flower season. Remember that the property on each side of the road is private property..

Honestly, I didn't care much for the hill country / red , desolate, ashy , dead view. Maybe I should have waited till later in the spring to atleast catch a glimpse of more greenery, I visited 3/19. All along the loop there are private property signs posted with threats of prosecution for trespassing so you can't even be out exploring the area on foot . FYI, there's also nothing noteworthy that I found in Fredericksburg if you're thinking of stopping there.

This is a must do every spring time in Texas, especially if you have friends in from out of town. The willow city loop drive/lunch in Fredericksburg/ beer in Luckenbach combo is always a treat.
I would definitely suggest doing this midweek to avoid traffic on the roadway, as this is a very narrow winding road to begin with.
Really a great way to see the Texas bluebonnets in all their glory!

The Willow City Loop is a few miles north of Fredericksburg, TX. The road meanders through the Hill Country, through private ranch land. The pace is slow and otherworldly as one drives through meandering cattle surrounded by woods, wildflowers, mountains past rocky streams. Views open over a valley. This place is glorious. I've traveled the world, but this is the best right at home--in Texas, no less. It's as good as going to Ireland and Wales. Then eat German food for lunch in Fredericksburg and then LBJ ranch en route to Austen. Glorious day

We took an evening ride on Willow city loop. We were bummed that we missed the wildflowers but saw lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery.

The blue bonnets are the stars of this trip, but all the different flowers are EVERYWHERE. It is truly one of the most beautiful natural wonders I have seen anywhere in the World. This year's wet climate made is even better.

How wonderful the ranchers open their roads and share the beauty of Willow City Loop for all to enjoy. There are streams and beautiful views along with wildlife and of course wildflowers galore in April. Photo Ops abound

Bring your camera and remember to keep your trash with you!

A local told us about the loop, and when we were too late to hike Enchanted Rock, this was Plan B. The drive is a little rustic, we were in a luxury sedan but we could have probably enjoyed it more in a Jeep or pick-up as the road was uneasy. The views were nice, with wildflowers, livestock, hills, creeks and ranches along the drive. This probably isn't recommended during high rain periods as some of the creeks appear to cover the low bridges in a few sections. Area was exactly what I imagined the Hill Country to be like, so we were glad we took the self-guided tour. It's a beautiful part of the state, and if you're not at the wineries and breweries, you should spend a little time finding this natural beauty. It's close enough to town to fit into your plans.

There is Peace on Earth. Don't believe me..take the scenic drive on the loop and see for yourself. The wildflowers in their natural setting are breathtaking. The endless meadows filled with the Texas State Flower the Bluebonnet make for remarkable views and wonderful backdrops for photos as long as you are respectful to the property owners and don't tresspass.

This was a gorgeous scenic drive passing through ranches in the Hill Country. Spring blooms are at peak. Highly recommend!!! Swing by Wildseed Farms also (about 25 mi). Thankful for impeccable timing today.

Willow City Loop has to be experienced. There's no way to describe the beauty of the country, the view from the top of the loop, or the profusion of bluebonnets and wildflowers in season. We've driven the loop (not for folks with extreme fear of heights or narrow roads) many times and we can't wait to go back this year. If possible, go during the middle of the week rather than the weekend. The narrow ranch road can get crowded with people all trying to see the sights at the same time.

I wish I had come here for the wildflowers, bluebonnets, but I saw so many other things, it was wonderful. Lots of deer, other flowers, the Boots! You are on private property so please don't park in front of someone's driveway but we saw very few other visitors. Perhaps it's crazy during bluebonnet time.

A beautiful ride by car to see the spring blooms and wildlife. Some parts of the road are narrow so RV's are not a good option, very few pull over areas, but it seems that where they do exist are great spots to get out for photos. We went at 8 am and had no problem with traffic. Love love loved it.

If we get a raining Spring It’s the best time to come ! The bluebonnet should take you breath way !!!

We are from Tennessee, so we were on a mission to find some Texas bluebonnets. Despite that we were a smidgen early, we still found plenty of beautiful wildflowers (including bluebonnets) along this route. Plus, the general scenery was just beautiful and very different from the green mountains we're used to in East Tennessee. Even without the flowers, we would have enjoyed the drive, and this ended up being one of the favorite things we did all week in Texas (San Antonio to Dallas). I can see how this could get really crowded on a weekend during peak wildflower bloom, so a weekday morning is probably best.

12 or so miles of winding, narrow 2-lane traversing private land over hills and valleys of the central-Texas hill country. Gorgeous with wildflowers during our early-April visit.

Thanks to some rain, we still have lots of wildflowers making the Willow City Loop even more beautiful. There were even a fair number of bluebonnets, although it's way past bluebonnet season. But go for the other wildflowers and the views. Definitely worth the drive.

This drive takes some time but is very pretty. Lots of flowers and
wildlife. I think you could actually drive it from both directions and see something different.

Spectacular wildflowers ... I'm sure it depends on the time of year you go, but mid-April 2019 was beyond amazing. Even without the peak of flowers, the loop is wonderful ... great fences, quaint one-way bridges, deer and cattle in the open. One very long fence had cowboy boots atop each pole. A delightful country drive with plenty of places to stop and take photos, if you want, or to just enjoy the views.

We went on the loop twice, once starting at each end. We saw the wildflowers and several kinds of wildlife. Beautiful, peaCeful and got great photos. Love this loop!

Since moving from the base of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, it has been a challenge to become truly excited about any Texas scenery. That all changed when we sought out the somewhat difficult to find Willow City Loop--it was Colorado-level extraordinary! The wildflowers are abundant and just amazing. But that was not all--the terrain was almost mountainous, and gorgeous. It was totally analogous to many mountain roads we explored in Colorado. We were lucky enough to be there somewhat late in the day, and hardly saw another car. What we did see, though, aside from the wealth of spectacular wildflowers, were longhorns, deer, weird furry striped cows, and various other wildlife. It is a lovely road, winding around the valleys and hilltops, with wonderful scenery. It is best to locate it first on Google maps, then make certain you are actually on Willow City Loop, as a tiny sign says and points to.

Rain this year brought out the best in the bluebonnets and wildflowers. For photo enthusiasts this is a must see. Lots of dramatic scenery both macro and micro. Bring a picnic, enjoy the sights and smells of spring.

We went mid-April and the bluebonnets were spectacular! The drive was very scenic and there were places where the bluebonnets made a blue river. Lovely! It is open range and there were cows moseying down the road. Good for pictures!

We drove the loop on Mar 25 and the bluebonnets and paintbrushes had to be at about peak. The roadsides along Hwy 16 from Fredericksburg to Llano may have had bigger swaths of flowers, but they were just that - roadsides along a highway. This loop road takes you into more backcountry, with more hilly, craggy scenery and still lots of flowers along the road. One ranch even brings out the longhorns along the road for photo ops. I imagine it's really congested on peak weekends, but the number of cars on this Friday afternoon weren't bad.

A great ride for scenery. Very well-kept roads. There probably could be wash outs if there was a lot of rain but we didn't have that issue. The view is spectacular all along the loop. It is about 13 miles long. Traffic was non-existent as this was Christmas Day. I've heard it is a nightmare during the bluebonnet season, plan accordingly.

Texas beauty at its finest.

We drove the loop on 3/14/16. Several nice vistas of the hill country along this narrow 2 lane ranch road but not many places to pull off and take photos etc. The road is a little rough in a few spots and many cattle guards to cross. It is camera worthy with several creek crossings but we were looking for wild flowers and, though there are some, I think we may have been a couple of weeks early for the best show.

Traveled the first week of April hoping to see wildflowers, but there wasn't much to see. The first two weeks of April are supposed to be the peak season, but it may be a little early. There were very few flowers in bloom. I understand this drive is very congested on weekends. We stayed in Fredericksburg and made this tour early morning on a weekday. It is still a scenic drive. The road is considered private property, and there are just a few places to pull over and park.

This is a private ranch road off Texas 16, a 13 mile 'bypass' that was an utter delight for spring. A cowboy boot fence post started it off, the flowers were abundant, blue bonnets, red, yellow and white windflowers, cactus and the Wild Wild West. Animals everywhere and every color of flower and sky you could imagine along with mooing cows. We went on a Wednesday at dusk, perfect timing, no traffic and beautiful sights!

Experts are saying the bluebonnets and wildflowers are better in 2019, than they have been in years, and after driving the Willow City Loop... true. We drove the entire loop, and on a weekday, there was very little "traffic". We were careful to not pull up to private property, or run over flowers, but thankfully there are many places you can stop safely , to get out and take some pictures. Flowers were just stunning this year (late March) and I've never seen bluebonnets this heavy. ... Along the roadside of the Loop, and in the fields. Reports say the rest of March, into the first 2 weeks of April should yield good BB sightings. (but the roadside BBs are at peak now).

We came back from Enchanted Rock via Willow City. The scenery is outstanding and spectacular, even in the fall.

I will definitely do this again during bloom season...flowers as far as you can see alongside the road and out in the fields...

Enjoyed the drive but there were few wildflowers if that is the reason for your visit. The road is completely paved and would recommend it late in the evening to see wildlife.

Good route with beautiful wildflowers everywhere. Some killer climbs but we survived and are stronger for it

While on vacation we took this loop drive to view the wild flowers. It was a warm, bright sunny day; just perfect for a drive in the country. It was not crowded, on a Monday, and we took our time. There were bluebonnets on both sides of the road. There were not many good places to pull off and take pictures. There was a sign discouraging people from stopping. However, we slowed and stopped in the road several times for pictures. We did not see huge fields of flowers as we had expected, mostly on the shoulders of the road. It was a relaxing, colorful drive.

I traveled on a delightful drive along the Willow City Loop. This winding two-lane ranch road, nestled among the oldest and most unique geology in central Texas, promised a feast for the senses.

The Willow City Loop isn’t your grandiose Monument Valley or Grand Canyon; it’s a modest, unassuming stretch that meanders through private ranch properties. But don’t let its unpretentious nature fool you, this drive is a hidden gem, especially during the wildflower season. In April and May, the hills come alive with a vibrant tapestry of wildflowers: the well known Bluebonnets, but also Indian Paintbrush, Phlox, Coreopsis, etc..

And then, the unexpected: a herd of a longhorn grazed lazily by the roadside: this is Texas. Cattle, horses, and other wildlife roamed freely, sharing this enchanting space with us travelers.

Remember, though, that the Willow City Loop is a private ranch road. Respect the landowners who graciously allow us to witness this natural wonder. Don’t block driveways, trample meadows, or disturb the delicate wildflowers. Instead, roll down your windows, breathe in the fragrant air, and enjoy the beauty.
Completing it takes about an hour.

We escaped thunder and lightning in Waco by taking a scenic detour west on our way to San Antonio. We’d read about the wildflowers blooming around Fredericksburg, and looked to TripAdvisor for more information. We entered the loop from Hwy 16 on the north end (where most of the flowers were blooming)! Bluebonnets, Paintbrush, gaillardias, pretty white ones, little purple blooms...gorgeous! The southern end wasn’t as bloom filled, but there was a fun fence topped with cowboy boots on each post! We enjoyed overcast but dry weather...and the crowds were few due to the weather. It was absolutely lovely!

This is a drive through the Hill Country that you must take! Stunning scenery, animals, ranches, canyons, and wildlife. Be warned though, all property on either side of the road is private property and according to what I've read they do not take kindly to people stopping in their driveways or going on their property!

Drove this in the late afternoon. No traffic and beautiful views of blue bonnets and wild life. The cows and deer were always up for a photo!

Absolutely worth the drive to see the wildflowers. It is a 13 mile loop of absolutely the most beautiful country and wildflowers. We went in early April when the bluebonnets and wildflowers were blooming. It will take you at least a hour, especially if you stop to take pictures. Do not skip this part if you are doing the Bluebonnet Trail...this is where they are at!

First, the fabled 2019 blooms are indeed out in force! Please note, they are not scattered throughout the drive, in fact, for the first half of our drive we thought it was a mistake. But there are indeed some stunning areas of bluebonnets--in fact there are areas where the bluebonnets look like water running through a stream bed. Otherwise, there are some gorgeous hill country views on the loop--it is a really great example of a gorgeous area of the state. (Oh, and a fun row of fence posts topped by old cowboy boots!) If you are searching for blooms, highway 16 from Llano is beautiful this year!!

We had driven this scenic loop several years ago. It's still a beautiful journey through open range (you don't find open range very often these days - even in Texas). The topography is rolling to somewhat rough with lots of trees and some open pastures. This would be a relaxing drive all year - not just in wildflower season. But in the spring the wildflowers put on quite a show!

We had a little trouble finding this drive - headed out of Fredericksburg on no 16 - just happened to see the little blue sign saying Willow City Loop. We were lucky - after seeing minimal wildflowers on the other country roadsides (end of season), we were blessed with a cacophony of color - plenty of reds, yellows, whites and a good dose of blue and purple - and a couple of cows grazing in the tall grass. Hardly any cars with us at 430pm so no trouble getting along. Plenty of picturesque babbling brooks. A sunny day, and a car full of exhausted and blessed passengers - and no motion sickness. We all had a really lovely day, out in Fredericksburg and surrounds. This drive was a highlight for me - truly worth it!

Harry's is the Loop is a must stop place to have a beer. It's a great place for scooter trash to stop and anyone else looking for a old time watering hole. Good CHEAP beer and the owner will sit down and even have a beer with you.

I cannot imagine this is where the prettiest wildflowers in Texas are. The loop itself is pretty, but there simply aren't a lot of wide open spaces so I cannot imagine that the flowers are prettier here than in places like Ennis, TX where there are lots of open fields.

We had been there in July , there were no bluebonnets and nothing great to write about. There was only a small stretch of road where you are at an elavation & have great views , rest of it is mediocre at its best, The google maps also shows a deadend & had to turn back on the same road again. if you are not in the season of bluebonnets, I highly recommend to skip this and instead spend more time in enchanted rock has spectacular views.

This loop has a lot to offer in views for the distance. Winding roads, hills, valley views, the boot fence, flowers... I’m glad we made drive.

The Willow City Loop is an extravaganza of wildflowers. They roll out from the roadside into the meadows just like a magic carpet.

We drove 1,800+ miles to see Texas wildflowers as far as my eyes can see. So far, it is only in Willow City Loop that my dream has been realized on April 8, 2023!

Most state highways (16, 29, 281) farm to market (1631, 1320, 1323) and country roads have wildflowers along the sides but have no shoulders for vehicles to pull aside on.

Although all the ranches are fenced as they’re all private property, there were two enterprising teenagers, a good looking young lady and young man, who were selling t-shirts and stickers that said I did the Willow City Loop. The young lady was quite personable and offered us bottles of water.

I bought a shirt ($20) which I don’t normally do to express my admiration of their efforts, encourage them to continue their entrepreneurship and, hopefully, to inspire other youth to make something of themselves💪!

We took this drive (did the full loop/took about 45 minutes even with some short stops for photos) Saturday at 2 pm. We expected worse traffic. The full loop is worth doing. The fence with boots at one end of the loop is cute, the cliffs and mountains midway are lovely as are the creeks.

This is one of my favorite places to drive through in the spring. Such a beautiful experience. BUT...the bluebonnets are NOT there this year! So very disheartening. Wondering if the residents got tired of the traffic?

Listed as one of the 50 places to ride before you die. It's a beautiful, challenging bicycle ride. Avoid riding on the weekend during the spring due to traffic.

Locals suggested the drive for wildflowers. We were a little early in the year for the spectacular blooms, but we saw some pretty sights for sure! Great hour-long drive through back country hills and streams. Stay in your car, though because most of the land is privately owned.

We knew there wouldn't be any flowers, but decided to take it anyway. Such a beautiful drive through the hill country. Lots of wildlife, quaint houses on country roads. We really enjoyed it and it was a very pleasant drive. Allow at least an hour or more.

We drove to Willow City Loop on Monday, weather was nice, we drove to see some bluebonnets and wildflowers. We saw more beautiful wildflowers like paintbrush flowers than bluebonnets. We even saw cows and a small pond.

We drove up on 16 from San Saba and I’m so glad we stopped to drive the loop! We almost weren’t going to because we were a little behind, but a woman at a gas station on the way helped me convince my husband. We went at about 3 PM on a Friday. There were other cars on the loop, but it wasn’t too crowded that we couldn’t easily enjoy it. But I can see how it could get crowded. I’d love to go back at dawn or golden hour to get some more pics. Next time!

Go early in the morning, because traffic gets heavy later in the day. At times, it was bumper to bumper. The wildflowers were gorgeous though.

The blusebonnets when they bloom here is incredible. The valleys look as if they are filled with water they are so blue. I say we go by bicycle. Easter is the most popular time to experience the Willow City Loop. However while riding your bike be wary of those drive their vehicles.

So... we used GPS to find this location and it took us to a private road named Willow City Loop. I traveled 6 miles down this road and found no bluebonnets, or boot fence, or the hats. There were lots and lots of bluebonnets on the main road before we turned onto Willow City Loop. I did see lots of cattle and deer running on Willow City Loop. It was scenic but I turned around because I kept seeing private property signs about every 1/2 mile. I might have had the wrong location or maybe I didn’t go far enough. I lost cell reception about 2 miles down this road too.

We are atypical tourists who like to go off the beaten path to see where the real people live. We took the Willow City Loop in late March when the bluebonnets were just starting to bloom. It was lovely, and afforded many idyllic sights and near and far views of hill country and the native flora and fauna. Be aware that local traffic moves pretty fast on these narrow back roads and there are not always adequate places to pull off the road to snap photographs. Keep your eyes peeled for free-ranging livestock and wildlife, too. Well worth the price of admission: free but for the price of gas.

It's fun to spend the afternoon with old friends from high school having lunch together and driving on the outskirts of Fredricksburg looking at the glorious wild flowers (especially the state flower - bluebonnets).
If it's a good year for bluebonnets, this is a prime place to find them. The peak time is usually late March to April. This year was a very good year!
It's usually extremely crowded on week-ends when the bluebonnets are in bloom, so go on a week day if possible!

This has been the best year yet for us for bluebonnets! Soooo gorgeous! I love driving this whenever in town. Must do!!!!

I do not know why this is labeled an 'attraction'. There were a few blue bonnets to see and the boot fence, but nothing else except rocks and hills.

This drive was one of the best things we did on our trip to the hill country. The wildflowers were not in full bloom, but the animals and landscape were still wonderful. I would recommend this drive to anyone who wants to see what the hill country is all about.

Drove about 2' roundtrip but didn't get to the end of the loop. Such a magical place, felt like little fairies could come out at any time:) Texas cattle gaps, cool fences, little creeks, deep canyon, beautiful wildflowers with patches of gorgeous blue bonnets. Much more to to drive than the famous Texas Blue bonnets!

Love Fredericksburg, Texas....period
If you roadtrip like I do, don't miss this gem of a Texas town. Time it during bluebonnet blooms and you won't be disappointed

This is an absolutely lovely drive. The wildflowers were gorgeous - this is the Hill Country at its best!

This was our second time here. We counted 53 deer as we drove slowly through. It was raining, so we didn't stay as long as we would have liked. We also got some fine pictures of deer and birds.

If you time it right, this little 13 mile loop is just heaven - carpets of wildflowers in reds, whites, blues and yellows on all sides in the spring, alongside the quaint little ranches and creeks. It's absolutely lovely!!

The drive is a two lane ranch road and is technically private property - but you're allowed to drive it and there are a few, very small pull offs where you can briefly stop to grab some photos. But the vast majority is fenced off ranches. Still very much worth the drive in the spring - I've never seen so many magnificent flowers in one place in my life!

There are some lovely creeks and so much wildlife!! Tons of birds and I even saw a gorgeous fox and a HUGE armadillo!!

This loop used to be a hidden local gem but has recently blown up and my understanding is that the narrow road gets packed and absolutely crazy on weekends during wildflower season so be aware. I came midday on a weekday and only saw 2-3 cars the whole time - it was perfect!

The location is fairly remote - but there was an excellent BBQ cafe right at the entrance called Mikes On The Loop (see my review) - it's a perfect way to end the drive! And pretty much the only place to stop for bathrooms too lol!

If you are driving here for the beautiful wildflowers, remember the wildflowers are there only in the Spring. We were there on March 23, 2024 (2024 is a banner year). Also, if driving in from Fredericksburg, the wild flowers are not abundant until AFTER you pass the boots on the fence. Expect lots of traffic and don’t expect lots of areas to pull over and park (but there are some). From Fredericksburg, head north on State Road 16 (Llano Road) for 13 miles to Willow City, then east on RR 1323 for 3 miles, then left onto the “Willow City Loop”. I don’t understand the poor review written in March of 2024 - must have been written by someone expecting a Disneyland attraction.

The wildflowers - bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, white poppies, etc - absolutely gorgeous. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon- taking in God’s beautiful creation.

This is a very beautiful part of the Texas hill country, a narrow winding road through a canyon with bluebonnets everywhere.

It was a beautiful sunny day when we took this drive. It is very scenic. We even saw wild baby hogs. It was nice to drive slower when there was no traffic but we found the speed limit a bit fast for the turns in the road otherwise.

If it’s a good year for wildflowers, and you don’t mind the traffic, this is amazing ... 5+ stars. Otherwise, there are lots of much better drives in the area (sorry, I’m not telling you where they are). Best time to go is early morning or early evening when light is best and traffic is a little less crazy.

Please be sure to respect the fact that all property along the road is private

This is Texas at its best....beautiful, sweeping vistas, wildflowers, wildlife and, of course, cattle ranches.