We just got back from Garner! Before we left I made the mistake of calling the park to ask about taking my 'yak. The ranger I talked to said 'not to bother -- the Frio was WAY down and I'd just be disappointed.'
Well, I just use the 'yak in the Park & there was PLENTY of water for that! I was disappointed that I DIDN'T bring it!
The water wasn't flowing over the Dam -- just trickling. So maybe it was down by 6" or so?? ANd the FLOW was slow.
There were still jumpers from the tree (there were no steps when we got there. We heard 'someone' got hurt jumping off the tree and sued the park and they removed the boards. Whatever. The steps were back before we left....)
The rope swings were still being used. By 2, 3 or more people at a time. That was entertainment!! To see how many people they could pile on before they all let go with a SPLASH!!
DS just decided we wanted to camp @ Garner for ALL our vacations next summer. So I promised him 2 weeks, and maybe @ Spring Break.
I walked thru the 2 loops of W/E @ OG and made a list of campsites with no, partial, or full shade -- especially from the West in the Afternoon. The first night we had reservations in Live Oak (NG) but we were able to have our choice of sites in OG the next morning @ 9AM. I was #24 in line and the Ranger had at least TEN sites vacant for me to choose from. (Hint: next time I do this I will go @ 8AM & get a number. Then go back to the pop up for coffee. I will show up again @ 9 when they start calling the numbers. They do NOT start before 9AM, on the dot!)
One night DS, 12, danced with SEVEN girls. My boy is growing up. He never came back to the camper before they closed the dance down @ 11.
We were very sad to leave today. But we always have another trip to look forward to!!
I really enjoy camping at Garner, but it's been too hot for us to go.Hopefully it'll cool off soon and be below 100. The major thing I do not like about the old garner w/e sites are the restrooms...they are usually not clean due to their proximity to the river--they get a lot of day use/abuse.
soo mind sharing that list with us?
These are just the Oakmont W/E (30 amp) sites. I walked around in the afternoon to see which driveways had the most shade. I have a pop up so I HAVE to park on the driveway -- tent people wouldn't be limited to that & there's usually SOME tree(s) on every site.
I ranked the sites on shade, proximity to Rocky Beach, and close to restroom/shower.
These are my no shade/minimal (morning) shade sites, to be used as a last resort ONLY: 30, 32,34, 38, 40, 43, 45, 46, 47, 51, 53, 61.
These are the mostly Afternoon shade only sites in my ranking order: 26, 27, 28, 31, 33, 36, 63, 60, 59, 58, 55, 39, 41, 42.
This was done Aug. 1st so I assume it would apply for most of the summer. The first year we stayed in Rio Frio #474, because I didn't know about asking for OG sites once you got there.
The next 2 years we had sites 31 and 38 (unBEARABLY hot!). This year we had 36 and it was pretty good.
Hope this helps someone else!
Why didn't you try to change your site at 8am ?? You were already checked in from the day before and I believe you could have done this prior to 9. Late arrivals and people wanting to change sites can go in early. You will still have to get in line with the 8 am folks, just not the new arrivals waiting for 9 o'clock check in.
Nope, when I arrived Sat. afternoon and wanted OG, I was told nothing was available for Sat. and Sunday's sites would not be freed up until 9AM when people did not extend their stay. The site I had in NG I wanted to switch to OG. If I had just wanted to extend my stay in the NG campsite, I could have done that @ 8. At least that was my understanding -- and I asked 2 different times & also when I showed up @ 8:40 AM Sun. I went inside & asked again about switching & the Ranger told me to take a number & wait.
That's why I said I would go get a number @ 8 (when the office opened) and go back @ 9 when they started calling numbers. Some people I heard had been waiting since 6:30....!!
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