Before I say anything a word of caution: Do Not stay in cabin 14. Especially if you value your loved ones like kids, pets, and family. It's the worst of all the cabins. We have been to them all. (Also, this park feels abandoned. If you have been here have you noticed that? It has so much potential to be better.) I love the park but it's largely abandoned by uncaring staff. Here are the reasons why you shouldn't stay in cabin 14: 1. Giant ant colony next to the front door. Nature is cool but there has got to be a way to move it. Ranger said they can't do anything about it which I understand, but I'd rather would have know beforehand. 2. The front door and back door have giant cracks, are duct taped to "seal" giant cracks, and the door doesn't even fit in the frame so somebody attempted to seal the bottom of the door with more duct tape lol. 3. The complete lack of cleanliness is horrifying. I'm all for roughing it completely but my family wanted to glamp since we have a toddler and it's over 100 degrees. We paid good money to stay in this cabin. The whole floor was caked in muck. Looks like they probably rarely mop. But they expect you to sweep. I don't mind sweeping at all because I want to leave it better for the next fellow campers. But the park gives no shits and hopes you'll deep clean for them; which we did by buying a mop and cleaning supplies at the local family dollar (better than the park's supply store). The bathroom was the worst. No amount of 409 could clean up all the layers of muck and neglect. Worse than any shower I've ever been. Major health hazard. Bring cleaning supplies. Its required. 4. Calcium and rust build up everywhere around any water source. Pipes must have bursted and rusted over time and now the water is yellow, sometimes smells like harsh gun powder. Super hard water so your skin will be try. 5. Layers of caked dust everywhere. The staff does not clean these rooms daily so be prepared for air quality being nasty. 6. Rangers and staff drive around on green gas powered little dirt buggies, and white trucks with logo from 8 pm - 5 pm. You can get away with whatever before and after. They all have a chip on their shoulder and huge egos so be prepared for a show of their "power". 7. You won't be able to make calls so if you have to report things broken in the cabin youll have to drive back to the office and wait in line. Speaking of which... 8. The office is the worst. It's like DMV had a baby with border crossing offices. But the baby ran away to start it's own empire. The river is amazing and worth it. If you play music don't be a tool and blast it like you are at a concert unless it's for a real reason, and not to assert your taste in music. Bring everything and don't forget anything. The park stores exploit you if you want basic things like a towel ($22.00), fire wood ($30.00), shoes ($100.00+ dollars), etc... read more

Came here twice this year and spent a fun thanksgiving there this year. The park gets full so be sure to make your reservations. With the many activities to do just be prepared. We went hiking and made a camp fire and enjoyed the great outdoors. read more

This place is breathtaking.... beautiful... beautiful... big trees great river... we just love mother nature. Now for the service completely ...disorganized ...seriously. Got here at 7 AM with reservations didn't get our shack until 11:30 Completely disorganized read more

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Is beautiful, but the service is extremely bad. They do not have an over night arrival plan. Their plan is they close the gate at 12 and thats it. Left me and my family sitting outside in the heat full of mosquitoes. Spoke with the park host over the gate key pad and pleaded with him and told him one of my kids has asthma. It was pointless, it is the last time I Reserve. My family, my 3 brother's families always would come here. The guy was a jerk, sounded like he was enjoying it too. read more

Beautiful park, year-round. Awesome hiking, biking, and camping opportunities. I love it here! read more

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The beauty. The history. The Frio! It was all impressive!! The checking in part was the most excruciating. The waiting, the amount of people, the slowness, the heat!! Don't forget to take a number as soon as you arrive. You need to be there when they call your number or you will be skipped!!!! We spent 4 days in the park at a shelter in "Oakmont" The 4 stars is only because the bathrooms are not ventilated enough & so we referred to it as a "poop sauna" If you're into walking about for a better restroom, then you can head up to the pavilion where the gorgeous gift shop is. The frio is cold, but felt amazing on triple digit days! Don't forget your sunblock! read more

I had visited Garner a couple of times but it wasn't until my recent visit last week that I finally understood why it is one of the most popular parks in Texas. We stayed in one of the cabins (can be rented 5 months in advance) which was great because it had a fireplace for the cool nights and its own bathroom, unlike most state parks where you have to use the common bathrooms/showers when renting a cabin. Besides the usual hiking and swimming that most state parks have, Garner also has kayaks, stand up paddle boards and pedal boats for rent, putt putt and the Stinking Sweet Candy Shop! There is also a visitors center that had souvenirs, detail of the history of the park and free cookies! The gift shop has some neat items, and the general store was well stocked. The cabins, shops, and activities are in the Old Garner section, this according to their maps and staff. I only mention this because a couple of reviewers referred to this area as New Garner. New Garner has camping sites......and thats about it. great views of the Frio River and surrounding area from the top of Old Baldy and a couple of caves for exploring. Unfortunately their food truck, the Garner Grill was closed. We had a blast and I look forward to coming back in warm weather for some of the water activities. The only reason I'm not giving a five star review is because the shower curtain in the cabin's bathroom had mold on it and I wish they would have staff enforce campers keeping their music level at an appropriate level. Now, I love music but I just think it is rude to play your selections at a level that your neighbors have to be subjected to it. I've noticed some negative reviews for things such as getting tickets for drinking in the park and having to leave the park to buy linens since the cabins don't provide them. Of all the Texas State Parks I have visited, drinking has not been allowed at any of them although I'm sure many disregard it. When making a cabin reservation online, the website mentions that no linens are provided so really, every adult needs to take some responsibility to be informed. read more

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Garner State Park is one of the busiest state parks in Texas. The day passes can be purchased about 30 days in advance and camping up to 5 months in advance. You'll want to book early. Bathrooms and showers are clean. It is a beautiful park right on the Frio River with lots of spots to rent tubes to float the Frio in the summer. The Crystal Cave isn't too spectacular as it is just a small cave with one room. I'd recommend hiking up to Old Baldy instead! read more

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There's so much to do at this SP. Great trails! For lodging there are tent and RV campsites and cabins are available to rent. There's a boat house with paddle boats to rent (check when it's open), a place to fish, and lots of areas to enjoy a picnic. This SP also has a store. Recommend trekking poles to go up and down Old Baldy. read more

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Definitely my favorite state park in Texas. We went spring break week mid march and thought it might be unbearably cold. Fortunately during the day it was sunny and dry and cold at night. It is a drive but well worth it. The spring fed river is always flowing and really controlled and gentle. Always the same temperature and super crystal clear. Fishing is allowed but not much in the shallows to catch, try out the area on the downstream side of the park where there are a few slow moving and deeper areas near the trees. Biking paths are good but the entire area is relatively open and picturesque. The key is to avoid the crowds in an out of the park and stay there for the night. The way to do that is reserve a camping spot or cabin months in advance. Put it on the calendar. Dont wait! read more

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Beautiful park! So happy we decided to come here! My 4 year old enjoyed the hikes we did old mt baldy and crystal cave. read more

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Love this park good hiking with some challenging spots and some Easy trails, good biking trails and lots to Do and see. Colors beautiful in the fall. River is amazing great for kayaking and canoeing. Summer is super packed but can float the Frio and that's always fun. read more

Garner State Park - Parks Near Me - Concan, Texas

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When I saw beautiful pictures of fall foliage, I decided to go to the park. I stayed in San Antonio, I drove to the park. It took one and a half hours, I found the park. I was told at the gate, " Why don't you stay overnight?" Actually, I met a lot of campers. I just wanted to stay for two or three hours to take pictures. I drove around the park, but I couldn't find a big hill. Finally, I found the hill. I took a lot of pictures of the fall foliage! Thank you! read more

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I'm going to leave it at four stars because the park is really pretty, but having just been there when it's packed it's definitely not nearly as fun then, at least if you think of camping as nature and peace and quiet. As I said in my last review it's a good place to stay if you're going to Lost Maples, and I was there again this Saturday, 11/14. It was much more crowded than last year, the Pecan Grove area only had 2 spots open when we arrived after dinner at around 9PM, and it was fairly noisy. Fortunately it did quiet down before midnight, but still it was not my idea of a camping trip... I'd put it at 2-3 stars for the crowd. read more

The scenery ranks 4 or 5 stars. The park service is a 2. My 20 minute wait for my reserved check-in was quick according to another camper who had previously waited 2+ hours. The check-in was comparable to waiting at the DMV. At 2 AM I called the park's after-hours law enforcement number to report a site of drunk, loud campers. I called 4 times with no answer. read more

Garner State Park - Parks Near Me - Concan, Texas

I went with some friends to the old baldy trail. The view was beautiful but be warned it is steep, so be careful on the way down. Old baldy trail is quiet, which is nice. This is a great place to camp, we had a great time and it was refreshing to see the stars at night. read more

This park was probably good for families, but not for people who want a more... rustic (?) experience. Maybe it was our mistake for coming here and not doing more research, but we knew we were in trouble when there was a line out the door to check in at 9pm, and they gave us a map including a souvenir/candy store, a restaurant, and a place we could do laundry. We got all the way to our campsite, saw the basketball court mere feet behind where we would be sleeping (with some kids playing ball, even though it was 10:00 at this point), heard the raucous shouting and crying of small children, and turned around and left without even getting out of the car. I just feel like camping is supposed to be more secluded than this. If you have dozens of people around you and a restaurant to eat at, what really is the point? It's okay for people with families who want to be around other families, but anyone who goes camping to escape the loudness of a city center should go elsewhere. read more

To summarize my experience with Garner State Park, it was a major disappointment, especially after reading about how "amazing" and "beautiful" it is. Daily entrance fees are considerably more expensive compared to other Texas State Parks and, unfortunately, the experience was the complete opposite for the price. My friends and I were greeted with disgusting restrooms, black plastic bags for shower curtains, clogged toilets, and caution-taped urinals. None of which were even attempted to be repaired by anyone during our stay. We paid for 3 nights on a campsite, with 5 guests (~$300 total) and ended up leaving a day early without even bothering for a refund. The scenery was decent, but definitely not worth it when considering the horrible condition of the amenities. Deciding to leave a night early may have been the best decision we made during this camping trip. read more

Garner State Park - Caution-taped urinals. - Parks Near Me - Concan, Texas

Great park and beautiful scenery. Very peaceful and quiet. You will definitely get to see animals; deer, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, birds. And, at night, the stars. Hiking trails, swimming, birding, fishing, dancing are just a few of the activities you can enjoy read more

Gorgeous park! The only problem we had is bees around us during the day. At campsite and at the river area. read more

Garner State Park - Gorgeous park! The only problem we had is the bees around us during the day - Parks Near Me - Concan, Texas

Garner State park is beautiful. I had to book 4 months out in order to get a weekend in April. So it helps to be a planner. The check in ranger was very nice and she gave me money back for the fees I paid since I was eligible for the Texas State Park Pass. Woohoo. For 5 people, 2 nights with 1 vehicle, that was more than enough to qualify for the park pass. We stayed in Persimmon Hill which is tent only. It was near the bathrooms and on the side of the river. the bathrooms have 2 showers and 3 bathrooms. it gets very humid in there. sometimes there's a line for the shower. the camp site was nice, not too close to our neighbors (210) ample space for our mega tent and car. Too bad for the fire ban but it's understandable. we walked down to the river which was pretty dry but still relaxing. It's next to an overpass so you occasionally see cars driving by. We saw one of the most pinkest sunsets, it was gorgeous. There's a park store on site closer to the trials and dam but we also were close enough to the convenience store/gas station. $5 for a 20 lb bag of ice. We hiked Bridges to Foshee to Old Baldy trail. We got lost because it was confusing. You'll want to climb up towards Crystal Caves to continue on Bridges. Then a little later there's another sign that says Bridges. It was about 2 hours and we also did the Old ____ overlook which is .5 in and then .5 back. It's an ok view. Old Baldy Peak is nice. Then you climb down to the parking lot and end up right next to the parking lot for the river. If we knew better, we would've parked in this area because we needed to walk back to the souvenir store where we parked our car, which was closer to the entrance to bridges trail. But it's a 10 minute walk, passed the general store on the way. Dip your feet in the cooling water, rent the kayak, SUPs, paddle boats. It's a really nice place to enjoy after a long hike. it was hot that day! 3 hours from Austin, we stopped at Bandera on our way home to visit a cool Native American jewelry store and 11th Street Bar. Also Cowgirl Coffee is very relaxing with a second story patio to enjoy your fancy coffee. read more

My mom and I came to Garner State Park with the mission to hike Old Baldy and explore afterward. I'd read previously that the hike could be confusing and was poorly marked, and we fell victim to that both on the way up and way down. At parts of the trail there will be five different directions you could choose to go and none of them are stamped with the trail logo, so it becomes an exhausting trial and error. People were visibly frustrated and turning around and giving up. We hiked it in twice the time that it should have taken because it was so confusing and we stopped frequently for breaks--that uphill trek was no joke. Very difficult compared to the east trail in lost maples state park. By the time you near the top of Old Baldy, there are spots to rest and take pictures that are admittedly more scenic than the actual summit is. Still, there were lots of places at the top to get pictures and trees to sit underneath and have lunch. The entire park has cell signal, so we were able to facetime family and show them our hiking accomplishment! The way down was hell though, and we went the wrong way and ended up having to scale some difficult cliffsides to get back to our car. I ended the day with very bruised feet because of how strenuous the hike was, and I don't think I would ever do it again. I took a star off my review of the park for that experience, but I still REALLY loved this park and want to return. The water and views are absolutely gorgeous, and it would be fun to do more hikes that aren't as treacherous. I can see why this is a great spot for families, and already I'm envisioning the fun we could have by bringing an RV and staying for more than half a day. Overall I had a great day, but the hike had moments of frustration and exhaustion. read more

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Cabin Specific Review :: My family moved to Texas 17 years ago and heard tales of the experience to stay in a cabin at a Texas State Park. Before COVID-19, we could never reserve a cabin. The reservation system allowed for reservations 365 days in advance. We could never quite make a reservation that far in advance and all cabin reservations were taken around us. With COVID-19, reservations for cabins were cancelled. Later cabin reservations opened for 90 days in advance. This was when we took advantage of the opportunity. We had to make a 2 night minimum reservation. We went at the end of December ending the night before New Years. My wife and I went ourselves, we were looking forward to making a fire in a cabin in a cold south Texas night. I grew up making fires to warm up my childhood home. So I brought an axe, work gloves and bought some wood at the park store. On the porch I chopped some kindling out of the wood portions purchased earlier. While doing this I heard a fire alarm from a neighboring cabin. Over the course of our stay. We heard 5 fire alarms from our neighbors. I tripped our alarm twice. Upon check out, my wife mentioned the smoky cabin and having to open windows and doors to help the smoke escape. The park ranger, with reservation, said that everyone who stays in the cabins complains about the smoke that doesn't make it into the chimney. So they know of this well established issue, but don't inform anyone. You can keep the smoke from coming in the cabin if you make a small fire and leave the burning portions to the extreme back of the fireplace. Bringing anything to the middle or front will cause smoke to come into the cabin. The cabin has heating / AC without the use of the fireplace. Remember these fireplaces and brick/stone works were constructed in the 1930's by the CCC. Improvements have been made over time to the rest of the cabin structure, but not the chimney. If you want a cozy cabin experience, don't expect a fire, but use the central heating instead. A cold south Texas night in a cabin is a rare experience since most of our south nights are hot during the rest of the year. I give three stars because my wife and I had a great time, EXCEPT for the fire. read more

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Love this place! Tons of hikes from easy to really challenging. The frio river is clear as glass and always cold. Tons of RV, tent, screened shelters to choose from. They have minature golf as well. You can rent paddle boards, tubes, kayaks, peddle boats, etc. They have a gift shop, cafe and convenience store inside the park. Nearest big store like Wal-Mart or H-E-B is 30 minutes away in Ulvalde, Tx. There are 3 gas stations within 15 minutes of the park. Tons of places to go tubing like Josh's and Andy's near. read more

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This place is fun and huge! So much to see and a great away with life. It's a place where you can actually see the stars at if it is a clear night. The park staff and rangers routinely patrol the camp areas. That in my book made my family feel safe. They assisted my in-laws with their pad site due to fire ants. After they came to help them out the fire ants seemed to no longer to exist. Upon arriving to the park you must check in. If you're going to be an overnight camper I highly recommend to make reservations ahead of time especially if it's the holidays or long weekend in general. Best time to come would be probably during the week if you can. When you check in make sure to take photos of your license plates on your vehicle and camper trailers. Only over nighters need to take a number. People just coming to visit for the day get precedence. The bath room facilities were close walking distance from the camp sites. The river was clean and normal chill for a river. But the water felt great. We didn't get a chance to go hiking. Hopefully next time. Enjoy your stay here. read more

Love this park and everything about it EXCEPT the people at the front desk!! Don't even bother registering online and paying ahead of time because none of that matters when you check in. The entire process had to be redone at the desk. The lady at the front desk must've rolled her eyes at me about three times and had a very bad attitude!!! Wish the entire check in process didn't involve any of the rude attendants from the front. read more

My first expierence at Garner was a bummer as I was sick the entire time. We decided we had to redeem Garner and we were not disappointed. We floated, swam, fished, hiked, and we loved this park. The water is clear and refreshing. We found a little path down to the water behind our campsites and it was perfect place for the pups to swim. Well taken care of and a great place to camp! read more

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Beautiful State Park!!! A must see in Texas. Alinthe Frio River. Hiking, camping, swimming.....even putt putt golfing & an ice cream store & food truck!!! Fun family memories!! Be sure to reserve your spot during Covid times.... read more

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The rating is for the complete lack of communication by and within the park and park management. The park itself is lovely, but it is in desperate need of signage,people who know what they are doing, and better organization, especially for day-users. We came to Garner specifically to float the Rio Frio for the day with absolutely no interest in overnight camping. There is a sign that explicitly has an assigned lane for "Day Use Only", yet when we got to the booth to pay our $7 day-use per person fee we were told to go inside to pay it...once inside there was a serpentine line that was reminiscent of a poorly run DMV branch complete w/number schiller. The "on number" sign was at 19, the number we pulled was 34...this made no sense and seemed ridiculous to me, why did we have to stand in line to pay a damn entrance fee? So I started asking everyone in line if they were there for the day or overnight camping because it made sense that people w/camping res would need a check in vs those of us that just wanted to come for the day. So I went back out to the booth and confronted the booth lady and she said "no, you don't take a number, u just walk in and say "Day Use" and cut the line". Again, makes zero sense, and how is anyone supposed to know that?? I go in and there is an elderly park ranger who told me I needed to go get my license plate # before I could check in. I told him 3x that I was there for day use and asked why my plate# was needed iwas just there for the day and I was not leaving my vehicle overnight? I finally lost it and said I didn't drive 3+hrs to wait for over an hr just to pay a fee to float the godforsaking river!? Finally it dawned on him and he's like "oh, if u are just here for the day, you just cut the line and go to the first open desk" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! He then says "we had to ward off a few fights because people who were in line were upset that the day users were "cutting""...gee, ya think? Finally a desk opens (they had five slots, but only two open...again, makes no sense with a line of about 20 people) and I finally pay the stupid fee and ask the lady about the tubes and shuttle. She then tells me that the store is run by a concessionaire and they have no info. I get that the store is not owned or run by the park, but considering it is within it, you would think they would at least have an open line of communication w/the store!? The concessionaire is hard to find on the map, but even harder to find IRL because there is no sign off the park road to differentiate it from the Pavilion (which also has a store). We finally find the store and the lady tells us the shuttle is not running because the guy that ran it had left for the day since there wasn't any customers...it was 1:30pm. I had called the store the day before to verify the tube shuttle would be running since I knew it was the end of the season and the guy I spoke to said it would be. I about popped a gasket! Thankfully, the lady in the store was nice enough to rent my friends their tubes (thankfully I had brought my own) and even nicer because I was on the verge of frustrated tears to give us a ride in the back of her truck to the put-in. If she had not been so nice our entire trip would have been ruined due to terrible lack of info and miscommunication. The river was running extremely low and extremely slow, though. Again, this was not communicated via the info link to water levels on the state park website. We would have not come to float had we known our butts would be bruised on rocks for most of the float and what should take 2.5hrs would take near 4hrs because the water was almost stagnant. But, we made the best of it. Since we were floating solo, we asked where we needed to get out and she told us the Dam and that from there it would be about a 5min walk back to the store. After 3.5+hrs on the river and shaving off about 30mins because we had to hand paddle most of the way, my friends and I were done. We came to another slow float area where there were a bunch of people in the river and on the shore, so we asked if this was the Dam take-out. Nobody seemed to know what we were talking about, but we didn't seem to see many people past this point, so we just assumed it was where we needed to get out. Once we exited the river into the parking lot that was surrounded by little cabins we looked for signage to guide us to either an exit or the store. There was absolutely none to be found. The only sign visible was "One Way". After wandering aimlessly toward what we had hoped was the store, but turned out to be the Pavilion, we were exhausted carrying our tubes and had given up. We would just live the rest of our days in bathing suits and watersocks in this hellhole of a park. Thankfully after asking a guy where the store was, he saw our despair and was so kind to give us a ride to it. Needless to say: never again, Garner State Park. Never. A.Gain. read more

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So this park is pathetic! The lady in the front was sending us back because the park had already reached out the "limit" and asked us if we had made a reservation. I see in the signs it mentions about buying a "permit" well.. they have to be more specific: is not a permit it's an actual reservation, i am so mad because I drove 5hours for nothing, not getting into the river, not camping just wanted to go walk and enjoy the scenery is that too much to ask?? apparently this this park is not prepared enough to hold up more people because "the state laws" and that's okay.. but no where did I see about reservations. And didn't see any sign mentioning about the limit capacity. Also.. the lady soo rude talking back.. y'all should put somebody more knowledgeable and prepared to answer questions. And be more specific.. HORRIBLE place don't waste your time, and money driving over here!. read more

Beautiful park with lots to do. Busier than I like, for sure. Hard to find a quiet spot to hike or hang out. But if you are wanting a family outing with the kids and lots to do, then this is your place. However, be warned that people live in an alter reality there if you are coming from the city. Was there during the worst surge of Covid in August 2021, when hospitals are OUT of ICU beds, and the most transmissible variant of Covid so far the Delta variant is running rampant - and you would think there was NO SUCH THING going on if you step into the park store or inside gift shop or anywhere in the park. NOBODY, and I mean, NOBODY - not elderly, not unvaccinated children, not pregnant women, NOBODY is wearing a mask and like 25 people all crowded together. So if you have unvaccinated children and other high risk people with you, you want to keep that in mind. I just really hope they are all okay from their fun weekend at Garner and did not get sick. But in the Visitor's center where you are required to go in and register and is run by the actual state park employees, thankfully they did social distancing and masks. read more

Came in this last sunday from San Antonio. We left around 6am, and made it there 15 min before they open. There was already a line of cars, but not too bad. As soon as they open, we waited for about 30-45 min to get in the park. We found a good spot by the river. Set up our chairs, bbq, and off we go to swim. It wasn't that crowded. I can swim without hitting anyone.. Cons: The bathroom.... Although it was clean, has toilet paper but no HANDSOAP??!!!! For real?!!! I think if were charge an entrance fee, a handsoap wouldn't be that much, right?! So bring your own soap then. Beside the restroom was a changing station. Very ghetto, some of the stalls don't even have any curtains. And dirty!!! Pros: The river itself was beautiful. The water was a bit cold for me but throughout the day, it was refreshing. There were also a lot of trees, so a canopy is really not that needed from our experience. Tip: Get there early at least 15min before they open (sunday-august). Bring your own hand soap. We will definitely be back next year!!! read more

Garner State Park - Beautiful! - Parks Near Me - Concan, Texas

If you looking for a fun state park to come, grill, hike and get wet, this is one of the best parks I been since I moved to Texas. We rented a pedal boat, $15/hr and it was a great work out and fun way to see what the river has to offer. There was a place for everyone from kids to adults to swim or swing from a tree. Had a blast hiking the mountain. Great experience, can't wait to come back and spend the night. read more

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We had a great time. The park is really really beautiful with so many trails and so much to do. The bathrooms could use an update. They did always have toilet paper, phew, the toilet seats actually got replaced while we were there, but the showers were a bit scary! The shower heard started making a crazy loud noise, and there was only a rusty chair to hold your things during the shower, no hooks. If there had been a better place to hold your things and hooks for towels and such, that would have made my experience so much better. Loved the beautiful river, and they do a great job maintaining the grounds. read more

Garner State Park - Camping for Spring Break!!!! Fishing!!! - Parks Near Me - Concan, Texas

We go here every June. Garner is a very nice state park. A day pass will run you 7 dollars a person. Great hiking trails. Head out early to Painted rock. It has a breath taking view. Pack a thermos because their is nothing like having your morning coffee overlooking the frio river and valley below. Two small caves to explore. Crystal cave has lots of dancing cave spiders, the ceiling is covered with them. White rock cave is tiny, not much to this one. After a few hours hiking floating in the frio river is a great way to cool off. Before leaving be sure to check out the gift shop and park store. Can't wait to go back! read more

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If you plan to visit just for the day (as opposed to getting a campsite): ARRIVE EARLY. Garner is the most popular state park in the state. During peak season, you may wait in line to get in, or worse, be turned away if the day-use area is at maximum occupancy. Be sure and take the kids to the Saturday night dance at the pavilion. It is a family-friendly tradition that goes back over 60 years. read more

Yes, this is indeed a BEAUTIFUL park. I shall definitely return here again! Only a 4-hour drive from Houston. Recommendations: Old Baldy trail, Bird trail, swimming/relaxing in Rio Frio Highlights: - The weather was perfect! Sunny, not too humid. - It took us 30 minutes to get to the Old baldy summit (with a few short breaks). It was very windy up top. Amazing views!! You can see the river. Just beautiful! - Hiked the Bridges trail. The only nice part of this trail for me was the scenic overlook of Old Baldy when you reach the top - Hiked the Bird trail. Sort of challenging but fun with all the loose rocks and steep terrain because I was wondering if I will fall - Spent up to an hour in the river. The water was clean and clear. We stayed in the shallow areas. Initially the water feels cold but once you immerse yourself, it feels very nice. There were lots of people in the water. Dislikes: - We hiked the Foshee trail. Very boring. Saw no one and nothing on the trail. - Walked the old entrance rd from the Foshee trail (steep if walking in the other direction) - Map is outdated. There were SEVERAL trails and areas that were NOT mentioned on the map - We had some difficulty locating the Bird trail (the map was poorly drawn) Spent a total of 7 hours here. Had a great time for someone who doesn't have much exposure to state or national parks within the US. There are kayaks, paddleboats, and locker rentals available by the river. Kayak and paddleboat rentals are $15/hour each. read more

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It's no wonder Garner State Park is loved by so many! Nice camp spaces, beautiful hiking and biking trails and wonderful swim and floating spots! Lots of things for kiddos to do here..paddle boats, kayaks, paddle boards, nightly dances for kiddos on the pavillion and putt putt golf ..not to mention the river that runs through Garner. read more

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Garner SP is an absolute gem! I visited during February, so I can't comment on how the park runs during peak season. This review is for camping and hiking. The campsites are great, there are quite a few with lots of trees for shade and hammocks. The restrooms are clean and well maintained. There's a dearth of soap at this park, so it's best to bring a little bottle to the restroom with you. Showers are decent:::the water is super hot. There are so many good hiking trails here ranging from easy to challenging. I highly recommend wearing hiking boots and bringing a walking stick for any of the moderate and challenging trails. There's a lot of slippery rocks and loose rocks on these trails, so it's best to be prepared. The moderate/challenging trails are quite steep as well. If you are thinking of hiking the Campos trail, be warned that it is very steep with no shade and lots of loose rocks and quite a bit of climbing involved. I wouldn't recommend it for a sunny day or any day over 80 degrees. That trail is rough (and for some reason not mentioned on the trail map). The hikes are well worth the effort though, with gorgeous views and natural wonders, namely the crystal cave and old baldy hikes. Old baldy is such a lovely little treasure! The crystal cave is large enough to climb inside and walk around in and does indeed sparkle from the crystals in the rock. It's a super cool little treat after the steep hike/climb. read more

Was looking for a serene, peaceful camping experience for my vacation and I hit the jackpot with Garner in the Fall. Like many reviewers suggest, it's a good idea to reserve a campsite a few weeks ahead of time. Due to the immense popularity of the park, I was thinking it would be crowded even during non-peak season, but I was happily surprised that it wasn't in the slightest. Our campsite was in the Shady Meadows area, a quiet, shaded part of New Garner at the foot of a very large hill. The scenery was gorgeous, and the campsite equipped with water, electricity and a fire pit for cooking. The bathrooms were clean, but bring your own hand soap. Also, the showers were private and most of the time, amply supplied with hot water. Spending your morning on the banks of the Frio River, sipping coffee amidst the crisp air and majestic Bald Cypress trees is an experience that can't be duplicated. The hike up Ol' Baldy was pretty challenging, so bring some good shoes and water. Also recommended, a camera, because the view at the top is nothing short of spectacular. The only drawback was not being able to actually swim in the Frio because it was November. Overall, I loved this park. Can't wait to come back and tackle the other hiking trails. read more

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