Opened in 1940, Buescher State Park lies in a scenic area just north of Smithville in Bastrop County. El Camino Real de los Tejas (Texas' Royal Highway) once ran near the park and generally followed present-day Texas State Highway 21 and Old San Antonio Road connecting San Antonio de Bexar with Spanish missions in East Texas. This parkland was part of Austin's colonial grant, and the original park improvements were made by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A scenic park road connects Buescher State Park with Bastrop State Park , and travels through a part of the lost pines, a remnant of what is thought to have once been an extensive pine-oak forest covering much of Central Texas during the time Ice Age glaciers reigned to the north.

Activities include non-motorized boating, fishing in a stocked lake, nature study, hiking, geo-caching, interpretive tours, and biking. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, or get in the car and go for a leisurely scenic drive along Park Road 1C between Buescher and Bastrop state parks.