campermom

People have been heading to Garner and the Frio river for decades. The water is so clear and clean, you can see the stripes on the Guadalupe Bass. The off-season is nice there. Apparently the crowds that summer brings are almost unbearable. We stayed there in October and again in January.

We have hiked Old Baldy, Bridges trail, seen crytsal cave and white rock cave, been to painted rock ( should be called graphitti rock ), and walked along Madrona trail and riverside. The campsite options in this park are limitless. We stayed in Oakmont both times. The site are not very secluded but that wasn't going to stop us from having fun. In fact, my son had fun playing with the neighbor kids on several occasions. The restrooms are great here. The ADA shower perfect to use with small kids, there is a short shower head and a tall one, both can be used at the same time, side by side.

We got some wonderful pictures and enjoyed the serenity along the river when no one was down there. It was so peaceful.

The wildlife in this park was incredible. The deer were everwhere, including behind our site. We saw skunks, armadillos, rabbits, roadrunners, and the 3 geese which invade the campgrounds in the morning waking everyone up. There are also goats which live up on old baldy. It seems they come down from time to time to graze in the tent only camping area in the pecan grove.

It's a popular place, make reservations well in advance. Off Season is great.

4everfrio

Campermom, your getting me jealous. My group is going down right after school lets out. I can't wait!!
Garner -- that's one word that can turn a bad day into a good day.
Just thinking about that cool clear water gets my heart a thumpin'.
Thanks for the post. It made my day!!

dwalsdorf

Campermon (and anyone else with info):

Thinking of hitting Garner in a few weeks. Never been there before. Taking several kids (6-6-7) for tents camping, and the fishing access there looks pretty nice. What are your thoughts on Old and New Garner splits? SP website shows a lot of the best sites (waterfront-ish) given to RVers...

This was posted by another here, and what are your thoughts on his observations? :

[quote]I'll tell you what little I know and hopefully someone more informed than I will chime in later. In October, I don't think it will make a lot of difference where you stay. During the summer, Old Garner is much more crowded with more activity. That's where the dance pavillion, park concessions, putt-putt golf course, etc. is located. Though I've never been during the summer, it is said that you must reserve spaces as much as 11 months in advance to get a spot. I don't know how crowded it will be in October. Depends on how cold it has gotten I guess. I was there the weekend before last and there were maybe a dozen other campers there. I had a screened shelter right by the river. I froze my you know what off at night, but that's another story.

New Garner appears a little more scenic and secluded to me, with the all the concessions, etc. being at Old Garner. This was my first time there and I must say I wasn't real impressed. I get the impression the park exists pretty much for the summer crowd and river tubing. The hiking trails are not that great (big, loose rocks on some which make walking on them difficult). For those that have been going for generations for the dances and tubing it's great, but for the nature lover, I think there are better parks. My opinion only of course, take it for what it's worth. It all depends on what you're looking for.[quote]

Thanks,

__________________
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell...it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

happybooker1

Just got back from 4 nights at Garner and it was wonderful! Our first trip there & we originally planned to stay 3 nights but my son begged for another night & they didn't have any problem granting our request.

We arrived on Tuesday & had booked through Reserve America. All they had left when I booked a month ago was in New Garner (Rio Frio area). We arrived around 4:30PM & had our choice of sites. We got #475 close to the bathrooms & completely shaded! There were PLENTY of vacant sites around us on Tuesday/Wed. By Thursday a few more had filled up. Thursday afternoon around 5PM I went to ask if we could have another night & got one. Friday nearly all the vacant spots were filled & by Sat. AM you couldn't stir 'em with a stick, as my Mom says! There was even a family waiting for 'our' spot as we pulled out around 10:30AM!

Old Garner is more of a 'party' site, with lots of teenagers, families all around, dogs, etc. It wasn't obnoxiously loud/noisy, but 'busy' all the time. Every spot was filled & the sites are MUCH closer together than in New Garner. The day campers filled up whatever space was left each day.

My son LOVED the rope swings at O.G. so that's where we ended up each day. I floated on the river & he swung about 500 times! We'd go back to our pop-up during the heat of the day to have lunch & rest/naps.

N.G. -- the sites are more separated & there's less of a 'party going-on' atmosphere. The river is still within walking distance, or you can drive a short way (2 blocks?) to a parking spot & carry your stuff down. There's a nice beach area right down from the Rio Frio site that we went to one day. Tubing was good there for a short distance (2-3 blocks maybe?). But an adult will still get 'stuck in the shallows' occassionally, since the river's down.....

At the Pavilion there's a snack stand/cafe that makes *wonderful* hamburgers! On Friday/Sat. nights it's really rockin' as the campers all come to CW dance there. The cafe's hours are from 10AM-10PM & it's really good for lunch or snacks.

Ummmm, that's all I can think of at the moment. If you want a campfire, try to bring you own wood as 5 little 'logs' are $4.50 at the convenience stores around there. The bathrooms are very clean but one night we ran out of hot water......

I'm thinking if Reserve America didn't have any empty sites listed you could call the park directly & they could check on their computers......

[quote=dwalsdorf]Campermon (and anyone else with info):

Thinking of hitting Garner in a few weeks. Never been there before. Taking several kids (6-6-7) for tents camping, and the fishing access there looks pretty nice. What are your thoughts on Old and New Garner splits? SP website shows a lot of the best sites (waterfront-ish) given to RVers...

Unregistered

Its my first time going without my family and I need help. Whats the earliest time you can check in and get a camp site??? Can anyone help me please????

Unregistered

you can check in at 9:30, but your sight may not be available until 2(?) thats when the campers have to check out. was there last week, river is very low!! but it was still fun

happybooker1

Yes, and I learned from my trip to GSP that you DON'T have to be up at the office in the morning (8-9AM)to get an extra night. Ask the evening before, & if they aren't booked up they'll give it to you.