Garner State Park is a picturesque 1419.8 acres state park located along the Frio River in the Concan community north of Uvalde County, Texas. This State Park has miles of trails, campsites, cabins, spectacular natural sites, and Frio River waters where visitors can indulge in different recreational activities. Garner State Park is a birds and wildlife paradise too.
History Of Garner State Park
In the 1920s the picturesque land where Garner State Park is was a camping ground owned by the Magers Family who immigrated from Germany and after settling there they opened it to campers in the 1920s. Later the land was acquired by local citizens who mobilized the Civilian Conservation Corps to build Garner State Park. After its construction was complete the citizens donated it to the state. On June 1, 1941, the state park was opened and named after John Nance Garner who settled in Uvalde in 1890 and became the 32nd United States Vice President from 1933 to 1941.
Geology Of Garner State Park
The scenic Green State Park's topography is characterized by jagged limestone cliffs, high mesas (flat-topped hills or mountains), and deep canyons. There are also crystal clear streams that flow around the State Park.
What to do while visiting the Garner State Park
Aquatic Recreational Activities at Frio River
On the 10 water acres of Frio River at Garner State Park, visitors can swim, float using inner tubes, fish canoe, kayak, and ride a paddleboat on the crystal clear, spring-fed waters. For each activity, there are different rental costs for equipment used. The state park advises visitors to adhere to the precautions below:
- Swim in designated sections
- Children to wear life jackets and be supervised closely
- Watch for harmful algae blooms
- Don't swim alone have company
- Swimmers need to be experienced
- Look out for changing river conditions
See Wildlife
The Frio Canyon has a habitat teeming with plenty of wildlife. Visitors to Garner State Park see raccoons, fox squirrels, Axis and white-tailed deers, and other wildlife species. Birders see the Rio Grande turkeys, eastern bluebirds, mourning doves, black and turkey vultures, and other migratory bird species. Other bird species at Garner State Park are the endangered golden-cheeked warbler that nests on Oak woodlands and the mixed Ashe juniper trees of Central Texas, and the once-endangered Black-Capped Vireo that nests on low growth shrub habitat from April to July.
Explore the Nature Trails
There are 16 miles of picturesque nature trails at Garner State Park. Visitors explore these trails by hiking or biking while they enjoy the natural and scenic views and see the wildlife at the state park. These trails range from easy, moderate, and challenging to explore. Below are the best trails to explore at Garner State Park.
- Old Entrance Road: This paved 0.8-mile trail is easy to explore, and takes about 20 minutes to explore and is open to bikers and hikers. On this trail, during spring visitors can see the endangered golden-cheeked warbler bird.
- Donovan Trail: This 0.7 miles long trail is moderately difficult to explore and takes about 30 minutes to hike. On this trail, visitors see the Garner State Park's habitat and stunning limestone cliff geological formations of the famous Texas Hill Country.
- Bridges Trail: This 0.7 miles trail is challenging and takes around 45 minutes to explore since the steep terrain has loose rocks. After completing it visitors get great views of the Old Baldy Hill with its sparse vegetation from the Painted Rock Overlook and the shade of the giant Ashe juniper tree.
- Blinn River Trail: This 0.5 miles long trail is along the Frio River and is easy to explore in 20 minutes and has wildlife to see. Before walking on this trail visitors need to check with park staff since it can be unsafe when eroded.\
- Old Baldy Trail: The reward for hiking this challenging, steep, and rocky 0.5 miles trail for 45 minutes is getting a bird's eye view of the rugged and jagged limestone walled Frio River Canyon.
- Foshee Trail: This is a moderate 1.7 miles trail and takes about an hour to explore. Most trails at Garner State Park intersect at this trail and allow hikers to access the park's backcountry. Foshee Trail also cuts across the Garner State Park's mountains guaranteeing great views of them.
Other trails to explore at Garner State Park include Crystal Cave, Ashe Juniper, Old Horse, and Frio Canyon trails. While exploring these trails visitors are prohibited from feeding the wildlife, trashing, or starting unauthorized campfires.
Miniature Golfing
Parents with young children can have fun together golfing on a miniature 18 hole golf Putt-Putt course where participants can play two rounds of golf. The golf course is located at the Park's Pavilion shaded by a canopy of trees. It also has the Stinkin Sweet Candy Shop with over 300 different candy types. Drinks are available at the shop too. There are golf clubs of different sizes suited for little golfers three years and under. The miniature golf course opens from 10 a.m. to 10:15 p.m.
- First Round Cost $5
- Second Round $2
- Under 5 years $2
Camp Sites and Cabins
Garner State Park has multiple campsites and cabins in different locations that can accommodate at least 4 people and up to 12 people per site. Charges for campsites per night range from $15 to $35 and cabins costs range from $130 to $400 a night. Cabins are booked with a minimum 2-night reservation. Cabin or camping site costs depend on amenities included in them and their sizes too.
Summer Dance
Every summer evening since the 1940s to date at the park's concession building, the young and young and heart gather for a jukebox dance. Participants are advised to arrive early since parking gets full quickly and gates can close by 8:30 p.m.
Garner State Park Entrance Fee
- 13 years and over $8 (Daily)
- Under 12 years free
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