Camping out at some of Texas' greatest state parks
Some of us have great memories of summer vacation camping trips to Garner State Park in the western Hill Country. Located on the cold-water, cypress tree-lined Frio River, it’s a place of beauty. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), the CCC boys invited local girls to dance on their newly constructed stone dance pavilion. That started a great tradition that five generations of young people have enjoyed. The park still hosts the oldest outdoor dance in Texas with juke box music. Many married couples today met their “man” or “woman” on that old stone dance floor.
Our family made several trips to Garner when I was a boy. Most of those camping trips were made when I was too young to dance but I loved watching the dancing on those summer evenings. My wife, Beth, also camped at Garner when she was a teenager. I wish I could say I met her there but that didn’t really happen. It would have been a real boost to this story.
But the famous warm, summer evening dances are not the only draw to Garner Park. The cold water of the Frio makes it great for swimming and tubing. I have done some fishing there but would not rate it very good. Just stay with the swimming.
If your family has never done any camping, a Texas parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) sponsored two-night camp out at Garner Park is scheduled for June 7-9. The TPWD personnel will provide tents, cots, foam sleeping pads, propane cooking stoves, frying pans, cooking pots and utensils. You provide sheets, blankets, food and personal items. You can have up to six people in your party.
TPWD personnel will teach workshops that include tent set-up demonstrations, leave no trace clean-up, kayaking, a guided nature-cave hike, fire building, Dutch oven and outdoor cooking demonstrations, sounds of the night presentation and geocaching (a modern day treasure hunt). A total camping novice could learn quickly with this kind of help.
And, yes, the park does have hot showers and flush toilets. It’s not totally a “roughing” experience.
To learn more about this soon coming Garner trip, or others this summer, call 512-389-8903 to speak to a “Texas Outdoor Family” customer service representative.
But this “Garner event” is not the only fish in the sea. Texas has some of the greatest state parks in the USA. Many of them are in our backyard. Here are a few suggestions for great local, state parks to visit.
GUADALUPE RIVER STATE PARK: This park is located on one of the most scenic stretches of the Guadalupe River. Limestone bluffs and cypress trees line the river. It’s a great park for swimming, fishing and hiking.
PEDERNALES FALLS STATE PARK: Located near Johnson City, this park features sloping limestone formations that the river flows over creating a series of “falls.” The park is a bird watchers Mecca. It is home to many species of birds, including the endangered golden-cheeked warblers.
LYNDON B. JOHNSON STATE PARK AND HISTORICAL SITE: This park, also located on the Pedernales River, is just across the river from the famous LBJ Ranch. President Johnson spent much of his presidency at this “Texas Whitehouse.” Spring wildflowers are also a big draw to this beautiful park.
INKS LAKE STATE PARK: Inks is one of the Highland Lakes built in the 1930s on the Colorado River. Other Highland Lakes include Buchannan, LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis and Lake Austin.
I have camped at Inks many times. It’s a great fishing lake and the fishing below the dam on Lake LBJ is famous for awesome white bass fishing. If you don’t fish, the swimming, boating, and canoe-kayaking on the lake is hard to beat.
SOUTH LLANO RIVER STATE PARK: If you love Hill Country rivers this awesome park, located on the western edge of the Edwards Plateau near Junction, is a gem. It abounds in white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkeys. A float-fishing trip up or down the river will always give you a great opportunity to catch Guadalupe bass.
School is almost out. Early June is a great time for a family campout.
