5 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Garner State Park

Would your ideal vacation spot be a perfect natural retreat filled with hiking, canoeing, tubing, geocaching, and even dancing? For many, the answer is yes, and each year many outdoor enthusiasts choose Garner State Park as their ideal summer destination. Packed with numerous nature-based activities, loaded with the wonders of Mother Nature, and highlighting the beauty of the Frio River, this state park could also be your prime location for summer outdoor adventures. New to this amazing state park in Uvalde County? Here are 5 cool facts to know about Garner State Park.

1. Rent

This beautiful state park is located in Concan, Texas, at the southwestern tip of what is known as the Edwards Plateau in the Balcones Canyonlands. It was created during the Cretaceous due to the activity of the faults. Deep cliffs and plateaus define this picturesque land of canyons and surround clear rivers and streams perfect for fishing, boating, and tubing. The location, although visited by many year after year, remains virtually unchanged by human activity. Natural changes that occur due to weathering, flooding, or plant growth can constantly redefine the landscape without human intervention.

2. Wildlife

Since the naturalness of this park is preserved as much as possible, much of the wildlife lives and thrives there. Visitors to the park will frequently see this wildlife around them. Squirrels, raccoons, and white-tailed deer are the most common, but more exotic animals exist as well. Look for Rio Grande turkeys and mourning doves from a wide selection of birds. If you are a bird watcher, then a treat awaits you. The gold-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo, both endangered species, nest in the park from spring to summer.

3. The Frio River

Emerging from springs such as the West Frio River, it quickly joins 2 other tributaries and flows southeast for 200 miles before emptying into the Nueces River. The name Frio means cold in Spanish and this name perfectly describes the cool fresh waters that draw swimmers and campers along its shores. This river is recognized in the song “All my exes live in Texas” by George Strait, who grew up in Frio County.

4. Geocaching

Combine the joys of hiking and exploring with a scavenger hunt and you’ve got geocaching. Hundreds of geocaches are hidden throughout the park and can be found using a GPS device or an application on a smartphone with GPS capabilities. The GPS device tells you how far away a geocache is and you should go out and find it. They can be hidden in trees, under rocks, or even placed behind signs and landmarks. Often times, a geocache will house a log book so you can write your name and claim victory over that treasure forever.

5. Dancing

In the 1940s, on summer nights, people would gather in the park’s concession building and host a dance. This tradition has survived to this day and the park hosts dances every night. They are very popular and require an early arrival as they fill up quickly.

As you can see, this national park is a wonderful vacation destination full of wildlife and natural beauty.