Garner State Park

Just 30 miles southwest of Lost Maples State Natural Area is Garner State Park. This is an old and large state park along the Rio Frio.

We’re camped out on the flats of the Frio Canyon where the newer campgrounds are. Our site has 50 amp service, though the weather has been so mild (lows near 50 and highs around 70) we’ve not had to use either both heaters or both air conditioners, so we really don’t need the 50 amp service.

On my first foray with Matey in the stroller we came across this armadillo. I aimed the stroller right towards it, so Matey could see it and got this photo. Another day we saw a Jack rabbit in the same area, but he wasn’t so obliging, so no photo. The only other wildlife I’ve seen are feral cats, and I think there are several.

There are plenty of places to take the stroller. I cut through to the loop we camped on in March of 2022 and there was no one there.

When I walked out I saw that’s because it’s not yet open this year. Altogether there are 214 campsites in this part of the park, only Rio Frio Camping Area is open, and only about 25 of the 114 sites are occupied. We’ve no one around us so far, which you know we like.

Yesterday we drove over to the old side of the park to climb Old Baldy. We immediately saw that trail was much too steep for Matey, so we came here, to Bridges Trail to hike the half mile to the Painted Rock Overlook.

Unfortunately, Matey doesn’t like walking on the loose stones, and this trail was all loose stone. Matey and Bud turned back after about a tenth of a mile on the trail.

I continued on.

I like the trail markings, yellow footprints painted on the rocks.

However, there were places where the trail was only a small level place to put your feet in the scree on the side of the steep hill. I was glad I didn’t have Matey to worry about.

You were definitely rewarded for your climb. That’s Old Baldy and the white zigzag on the right side is the trail.

I took this video of the view from the overlook.

Coming back you could see over the flats to our campground.

Yep, there it is.

There was also this rather whimsical trail mark.

Just before coming back to the truck the trail runs above the river and I got this shot.

This morning we took a short walk on an access trail to the Rio Frio.

These rocks were about 3 or 4 feet above the water, so we couldn’t test to see if the Rio Frio, Cold River, really was.

And there wasn’t a path either up or downstream so that was a short walk. Matey and I did walk back to the campsite, cutting through the closed loop, so we walked about three quarters of a mile.

I wanted a good walk, so decided to try taking the stroller on the Frio Canyon Trail. I knew it was relatively flat and used by regular bikes, so thought I’d take a chance.

We passed this river view, but I didn’t take the stroller down.

There were some rough spots, but nothing too bad.

This part of the trail went along the river for a bit.

Then it was about a half mile walk on park roads from one trailhead to the other. I had joined the trail midway at the nearest access from our campground.

At one point I think this was the entrance road, though not the oldest one. There’s an old entrance road that’s now just a trail.

Soon we were back on the trail which was very nice and smooth here.

We walked through an area that has turkeys, but saw none.

I thought this bridge was going to be rough for the stroller, but it wasn’t.

I liked where the trail went through the mesquite, oaks and juniper.

Towards the end of the loop we crossed a large flat open area. It didn’t seem long enough for a runway, but there was a windsock. It is used as a helipad. That windsock says Air Evac Lifeteam.

Although the whole trail was flat, you could always see the surrounding mountains. Matey got out and walked the last half mile of the trail. I made him ride in the stroller again when we came to the road.

That was my most ambitious stroller walk yet; 4.38 miles, three miles on the trail and the rest on park roads. Now Matey and I are relaxing in the shade by the trailer.

I wish there were more short trails that Matey could walk; the short trails all seem to be steep. Otherwise this is a very nice place, especially now when it’s mostly empty.