Garner State Park
On the Cool, Clear Frio River
Families enjoy swimming, dancing and hiking
Fun traditions and beautiful scenery bring people back to Garner State Park time after time. Besides easy access to the Frio, the park offers many miles of hiking trails and camping options.
Things to Do
Garner State Park is a great place to visit for a swim or hike, or to enjoy a relaxing weekend. With 2.9 miles of Frio River winding through 1,774 acres of scenic Hill Country terrain, the park offers lots to see and do!
Swim in the Frio River or float its waters on an inner tube, operate a paddle boat, and hike 16 miles of scenic trails. You can also camp, study nature, picnic, canoe, fish, play miniature golf, geocache and ride bikes. And, of course, you can dance.
If you plan to swim or float at the park, read through our swimming safety tips before you come.
Overnight visitors can stay in screened shelters, cabins or campsites. Large groups can rent the screened shelter or group campsite. The park’s concessionaire sells meals and snacks during the busy season, and rents the pavilion in the off season.
Learn more about the park’s features at the visitor center. You can also shop for souvenirs.
Please beware of feral hogs in the park while visiting. Do not leave any food unattended. The hogs will get into coolers and ice chests.
Summer Dance: Since the 1940s, young folks (and the young at heart) have been gathering at the park’s concession building on summer evenings for a jukebox dance. They still do so today. Arrive early, as parking lots get full and gates can close as early as 8:30 p.m.
The concession building and dance pavilion, as well as other park facilities, were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. To learn more about the CCC, visit our History page.
Equipment Rentals
Visitors can rent paddle boats, kayaks and inner tubes, as well as tables, barbecue pits, heaters and fans. The park’s concessionaire operates a putt-putt golf course during busy seasons. For more information, visit Garner State Park Concessions.
Get Involved
Volunteers play a vital role at Garner State Park. You can serve as a park host, maintain trails, help restore habitat, lead educational programs, or tackle other park tasks. We need your help! Look for volunteer jobs online.
Join or donate to the Friends of Garner State Park.
Ranger Programs
Learn about the park’s CCC history, traditions and nature from a ranger. Rangers lead nature hikes. They offer programs on geocaching and geology, as well as programs for kids. Check the Events page for upcoming events, or contact the park to arrange special programs for your group.
Area Attractions
Visit the Briscoe-Garner Museum to learn about two famous Texas politicians. Fort Inge, once a frontier fort and Texas Ranger camp, now hosts occasional star parties. In summer, join a Frio Bat Flight tour to see the nightly exodus of one of the largest Mexican free-tailed bat colonies in the world. Visit the Uvalde Visitors Center and the Frio Canyon Chamber of Commerce for more information.
Other TPWD parks nearby include Hill Country, Lost Maples and Devil’s Sinkhole state natural areas, and Kickapoo Cavern State Park.
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