Patty C.
Yelp
A large and established state park that has served several generations of Texans, Garner State Park stands out as a beacon of hill country beauty. Because of its gorgeousness, amenities, and close proximity to the city, it's also one of the busiest parks, especially during the summer.
The spring fed Frio River flows cold and clear all year round through the park and is the main draw. Its serene picturesque beauty makes it my personal favorite river in Texas. Swimming, tubing, and kayaking are all popular activities on the water. A rental service is on site and provides shuttling services for tubing in the summer time.
Hiking is another popular activity within the park. The three trails marked challenging are a joy to hike, and offer steep inclines and descents. I highly recommend hiking shoes and a walking stick or trekking poles for the challenging hikes. The climbs can be done without them, but you will regret not having them. Loose rocks are abundant, and nearly every step you take must be calculated during elevation changes. Hiking Old Baldy is a must. Bridges and Painted Trail were also great, especially for the summer due to the shade.
Camping is in high demand here. If you want to be close to easy water access to a pretty area and don't mind crowds, stay at the Old Garner section. I prefer the quieter New Garner areas further up river. Bring an electric fan if you camp in the summer. Mosquitoes weren't too bad, but there were other biting insects. Saw plenty of wildlife, especially birds and insects galore. Flowers were plentiful. I even encountered wild turkeys while driving through the park.
Amenities include the park store, visitors center, mini golf, an on site grill, rental service, and a candy store. Pretty much if you forgot to pack something, they will have it here, and if not here, there's a small convenience store right outside the park that sells a bit of everything.
My one negative is not necessarily the fault of the park. This new generation of visitors have little respect for the park and other visitors. The showers had used feminine products on the floor. One had a diaper in it. Long strands of hair were all over the shower. Trash is everywhere. One shower stall reeked of pee. It was pretty darn gross. The line to use the showers was also long at peak hours. Consider bringing your own pop up shower. Also, there is no soap at any of the bathrooms so be sure to bring your own. Visitors try to stack way too many people into one campsite and do not respect the quiet hours, which start at 10pm.
All and all, great park with everything you could need. I felt so rejuvenated after spending a few days camping here and connecting with nature despite the neighbors. Can't wait for a return visit!