Garner State Park
HCR #70 Box 599
Concan TX 78838
830/232-6132
History: Garner State Park is 1419.8 acres (10 water acres of the Frio River) of recreational facilities in northern Uvalde County. Garner State Park is found in the northern part of Uvalde County. Located thirty miles north of Uvalde and seven miles north of Concan, Garner State Park has ten acres of riverfront. The park, was acquired in 1934-36 and was named for John Nance Garner (Cactus Jack) of Uvalde, who served as Vice-president of the United States from 1933-41. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made the park's original improvements.
Activities: Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock here each year to enjoy its matchless vacation facilities. They swim in the clear waters of the Frio River, scoot its rapids on inner tubes, rent pedal boats, and hike its fascinating nature trails. On long summer evenings, young folks (and the young at heart) meet at the concession building for jukebox dancing every night during the summer season. Nearby is a miniature golf course, which is lighted for nighttime playing. Meals and snacks are served in the concession building, though many families prefer to take advantage of the many camping sites and do their own cooking. A limited number of cabins are available for rent. The park offers camping, hiking, nature study, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, swimming in the Frio River (unsupervised), seasonal miniature golf, paddle boat and kayak rentals (mid-March through Labor Day weekend), bike riding (surfaced).
- Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months
- More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page.
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers
are welcome at Garner State Park. There are many different volunteer opportunities
for interested individuals.
Organized volunteer groups include Friends
of Garner State Park.
More
information on volunteer opportunities at all State Parks.
Area Attractions: Located nearby are Hill Country State Natural Area, Lost Maples State Natural Area, Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area, and Kickapoo Cavern State Park. Also nearby are John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner Museum in Uvalde; the ruins of historic Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria del Cañon, founded in 1749; Camp Sabinal (a U.S. Cavalry post and later Texas Ranger camp) established 1856; and Fort Inge, established 1849. For more information on activities in this area, visit the Texas Hill Country River Region web page at www.thcrr.com
- Campsites, Other Facilities & Fee Information
- Map
of Facilities
(PDF 227.8 KB) - Map
of Trails (PDF 658 KB)
Check
Availability/Make Reservations for Garner S.P.
You can also make e-mail reservations, fax
reservations or phone reservations
Natural Features: The park has an abundance of White-tailed and Axis deer, Rio Grande Turkey, Morning Dove, Eastern Bluebirds, Golden-cheeked Warblers, Black Rocks Squirrels, Fox Squirrels, Raccoons, and many other animal species.
There is also an abundance of trees such as Mesquite, Texas Red Bud, Bald Cypress, Western Ash Juniper, Spanish Oak, Lacey Oak, Texas Madrone, Cedar Elm, and Pecan, as well as Mountain Laurel and Agarita shrubs.
More information on the wildlife mentioned here:
Geology: Deep canyons, crystal-clear streams, high mesas, and carved limestone cliffs are the brush strokes in the geologic painting of this intriguing terrain. Many backcountry paved roads wind through canyons along streams here, offering the traveler a different pace from the freeway rush.
The rock formations in this area are early Cretaceous in age, deposited over millions of years in warm, shallow seas that once covered Texas. The Glen Rose formation, a collection of limestone, shale, marl, and siltstone beds, was deposited along the shifting margins of the sea where dinosaurs roamed in great numbers, leaving their footprints in the sands. The Cretaceous Sea then spread over Texas, depositing the Edwards Formation (limestone), over the Glen Rose beds. This sequence of strata, Glen Rose below, Edwards above, is found throughout this area.
Elevation: The hill tops in
the park average near 1800 feet.
Weather: July average high is 97; January
average low is 37. May and October are the wettest months.
Schedule: Open: 7 days a week year-round. Busy Season: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Note: The park sometimes reaches maximum day use parking capacity and due to this will occasionally close. This usually happens on weekends during the summer and some holidays (sometimes as early as 11:00 a.m.) The park reopens when sufficient parking is available. The summer nightly dance also reaches maximum parking capacity and access to the dance is frequently closed throughout the summer (sometimes as early as 8:30 p.m.). Have alternate plans if you arrive and the park is closed. These closures do not effect customers with reservations. Check the Calendar for events and access restrictions scheduled within the next 3 months
Directions: The park is located in Uvalde County, 31 miles north of the town of Uvalde, 9 miles south of Leakey, or 8 miles north of Concan on the Frio River. From US Highway 83, turn east on FM 1050 for .2 miles to Park Road 29 to the new entrance.
Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744