re: only tent camping --
If Government Canyon had anything more than that, it would be completely overrun as it's not even outside the San Antonio city limits! I hear it's a BIG TIME boon for mountain biking and hiking/backpacking enthusiasts -- lots of rugged, challenging and scenic trails. Government Canyon has dozens of caves; some of the delays in the park's opening were probably due to going through all the required and desired research/identification of the park's native flora and fauna. Also, they've had some extra hurdles since 88% of the SNA sits atop the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.
Justin and I have been dying to see this park for years, although I should note that the park's been available on a very limited basis to small groups with pre-approval. There have also been a few TPWD naturalist guided events offered to a limited number of people (capped at 10 or 25 people, for example) over the past couple years. For the most part, though, the park hasn't been seen by anyone other than trail volunteers who've poured their "sweat equity" into clearing out/cutting trails and so forth. Now, the park's about to get hammered by San Antonio's millions! I can't blame them for keeping it a State
Natural Area, and am actually glad to hear that tent camping will be permitted since it could've ended up like some of our National Wildlife Refuges on the coast -- no camping, day use only.
San Antonio *so* needs another "rugged" and large acreage park, and we certainly welcome the scores of miles of trails! From the article linked below:
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There are 41 miles of proposed trails for GCSNA and almost all of it is multi-use with only one pedestrian-only trail (located near endangered bird habitat and will be closed during nesting season). The existing trails we toured will need some adjustment but they have potential to be some of the most exciting we've seen!
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We have to drive out to Bandera's
Hill Country State Natural Area for that kind of mileage, natural state and "elbow room".
Here's a 1999 article about Gov't Canyon -- some of the info is dated, since the state acquired more land between 1999 and now, but it provides a little more info than TPWD's own park page does yet.
Justin and I hope to attend opening day, if not very soon after, so you can expect a new Park Profile here soon after! (Truth be told, all the park pages are coming due to a revamp and data verification, to ensure we've got the right prices/info posted.)
Yes, the park is popular with mountain bikers, but there are also swarms (pods? flocks?) of hikers, as well. It's a wonderful park and there's plenty of airspace and trails to keep everyone from walking two by two all the way down a trail. We usually only see folks on the trailhead, and have maybe a biker or two pass by). Justin's done mountain biking out there, but I haven't yet gotten out to do my share.
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