Government Canyon State Natural Area

12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254, USA

Address:	12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254, USA
Phone:	+1 210-688-9055
Site:	tpwd.texas.gov
Rating:	4.6
Working:	7AM–10PM Closed Closed Closed 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM

Location

+−

Leaflet

Photos 100

Reviews 12

STEPHEN HOWE

What with there not being any mountains in San Antonio that I know of, I have been here a couple of times for hiking. It is pretty flat and featureless to start out. It gradually gets more rocky as you travel into the park. It is generally quite rocky terrain towards the back country. Mountain biking would be pretty challenging. I did a loop on foot about 10 miles long. There was a risk of tripping up on the loose rocks and it would hurt if you fell over what with it being rocky. I have not been in the summer. I imagine it would be hotter than hell. If your going in the summer take plenty of water. It is a semi-desert area after all.... I went to a better state park which is out near Bandera but to drive up to that one takes an hour or so. On the whole, Government Canyon was pretty boring really but probably a good option if you have just a couple of hours available for biking or hiking whilst you are in San Antonio.

Joshua Stout

This is one of my favorite hiking places to go to! I am an avid hiker, and have traveled to many different state parks and natural areas in Texas to go hiking. One of the things I love about San Antonio is that it is so centrally located, and can go to many awesome hiking spots within a couple of hours drive. If you want a great hike that is close to the city, this is the place to go! Theres many different trails and distances you can choose from, and one of my favorite views in the city is along the canyons on their Far Reaches trail. If you want something that gives a good hike and is close, this is definitely the place. It can tend to get pretty crowded now that it is so popular, so that would be the one downfall of this place in my opinion. Part of hiking is getting away from everything, but once again, for a quick, close location, this is a great hike.

A Private User

This relatively new park seems to be much better suited to mountain bikers than hikers (with the exception of a few of the steeper trails). Personally, Im a hiker so this review is from that perspective. I think mountain bikers would enjoy this park more than I did. A few of the trails were pretty nice, but in general the landscape was a bit redundant without any really interesting features. Because of its proximity to San Antonio, this is probably your best bet for a nice nature walk/bike ride during the week if you live in or near the city. If youre thinking a weekend trip though, Id skip this park. There is no camping and there are few rewards for the hiking. On the other hand, there are relatively few visitors even on the weekends such that I only came across a handful of people in my full day of hiking there. Solitude is a plus.

S.H. White

This is a hidden gem in San Antonio. A beautiful nature area with hundreds of miles of trails to explore. The park is done very well, with a beautiful Visitors Center area, camping sites, a nature-themed playground for children, and well maintained trails. Although it is typically only open Friday - Monday, the hours are long to allow for everyones schedule. Buy a State Park pass and entry is free, which is great for our family. Lets get out and enjoy our Public Lands! The more we visit, the more likely they will be able to extend the days it is open, hopefully one day it will be open 7 days a week!

Josh Vielma

Get your bike, helmet and elbow/knee pads and shred! Well, not really all the time, but GC does offer some great technical downhills, plenty of climbing (especially if you go counterclockwise up Far Reaches - its a fun burn!) and TONS of rocks. You have to be mindful of the mixed-use trails and a bell is helpful. Just take your time on Joe Johnson and be a good representative of the biking community is all Id really say. Still, absolutely love any chance to ride here! It does cost money though if you dont have a state parks pass..

Tyler Uhlenkott

Great hiking, nice camping areas and a great local state park. My only issue was dogs are ONLY allowed in the "front country" parts of the park. They were ADAMANT about dogs not being allowed in the "back country" trails. We even saw people with dogs on the dinosaur track trail get citations for their dogs. I dont understand why this rule is in place when mountain bikes and strollers are allowed. The park rangers even drove ATVS on the trail. I dont see what damage a dog on a leash would do that tires wouldnt...

Lynnsey Howard

Make sure you go early in the morning so you can walk the trails and enjoy the nature before you get too hot! Wear the most comfortable shoes you have as you walk 90% off the time on rocks! I went to see the awesome Dino tracks and only one was visible :( kinda was a bummer! I wish there were signs in the parking lot on where the trails were and more signs throughout the trails! I do not recommend this place for children or the elderly unless you are highly experienced!

Two White Buffalo

Good place to go within San Antonio to get out into the woods and commune with nature. Best to go at off times...the weekends here are miserable because of the amount of people. If youre seeking solitude wait for a storm to come or get there early or late. My best experiences here has been when it rains. Or getting there for a late evening hike. The trails are well maintained and marked. Just watch out for the inexperienced. I have seen people out here suffer from heat.

Tina Do

My boyfriend and I went here to go trailing/hiking. It was a great experience, the scenery was beautiful and it was really nice to get some fresh air. I absolutely love it! I highly recommend everyone to go here! (Remember to wear proper shoes -because I didnt and ended up having some blisters :( - and to check the weather forecast before going. -it ended up raining when we were heading back-) I cant wait to go there again! So much fun~ :)

Michael Well

Texas State Parks are not very good. Other states have much nicer facilities. The bathrooms are poor. The rules are strict; you must stay on the trail; your tent must be on the pad, ect. A large portion of trails are closed through the summer in order to protect an endangered spider. On top of all this there is a fee to just enter the park. This would be understandable if it were Yellowstone. South Texas sucks for camping.

Sandra de Leon

The scenery is wonderfully relaxing. Taking a stroll through the rugged trails is invigorating. Observing the flowers along the paths and listening to silence infused with bird calls or scurrying lizards feeds the soul! Perfect place do do this. Some trails are not friendly for children still on training wheels nor baby strollers. Parents should check it out first. There is a nice little playground for small children.

Emily LaFrance

This is one of my favorite places to hike near San Antonio. It has different levels of terrain for everyone, and interesting historical points to check out along your trek. It covers beautiful land with its very well-marked trails (which is important for me), and can be as long or as short as you want by picking and choosing which trails to take. Basically, its wonderful. Id hike here everyday if I could.