TX State ParksAn independent field guide

Government Canyon State Natural Area

State natural area in Bexar County, in the Hill Country region. Established 1993. 13,210 acres by TPWD boundary data.

View of the Government Canyon State Natural Area from the Protected Habitat Area Backcountry Trails
Photo: Chamberlain2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Government Canyon is a 13,000-acre natural area on San Antonio's north side, about 35 minutes from downtown, that protects the city's drinking water. It has more than 40 miles of trails across grassland and rugged canyon land, including a 5-mile hike to dinosaur tracks. Dogs are allowed in the frontcountry only. The gate is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Monday and closes at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Things to do

Dinosaur tracks

A five-mile hike over rocky terrain leads to the only known dinosaur footprints on public land in Bexar County, left about 104 million years ago. Pets are not allowed on this trail.

Overlooks

For views, take the Far Reaches Trail to the Chula Vista and Sotol overlooks. The Joe Johnston Route passes the dinosaur tracks and leads to the Zizelmann House, built in the 1880s.

Discovery Trail

The 1.23-mile Discovery Trail is an accessible nature trail, and there's a natural playscape for kids.

On the Discovery Trail in Government Canyon State Natural Area in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The trail is 1.23 miles and has a packed decomposed granit
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Oak trees in Government Canyon State Natural Area.
Photo: Corey Leopold, CC BY 2.0
Government Canyon State Natural Area, Texas
Photo: Zereshk, Public domain

Camping

There are 23 walk-in tent sites and two walk-in group camps for up to 16 people.

Site typeSitesSleepsPer night
Campsites with Water (Walk-in)Tent sites with water238$18
Group Camps (Walk-in)Group216$40

Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.

Visiting with dogs

Dogs are allowed in the frontcountry only, on a leash no longer than six feet. They aren't allowed in the backcountry or on the trail to the dinosaur tracks.

State park rules also keep pets out of buildings and swimming areas. TPWD park rules.

Swimming

TPWD doesn't list swimming for this park.

Best time to go

Night sky
Bortle 5

TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and recommends reserving a day pass. Some trails in the Protected Habitat Area are only open part of the year, so check before you plan a long hike.

Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).

Getting there

12861 Galm Rd
San Antonio, TX 78254
(210) 688-9055

Open in OpenStreetMap (29.5493, -98.7647)

From the nearest cities in this guide
FromApprox. driveStraight line
San Antonio36 min16 mi
Austin1 hr 59 min80 mi
Corpus Christi3 hr 34 min157 mi
Waco3 hr 44 min167 mi
Houston4 hr203 mi
The Woodlands4 hr 20 min200 mi
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Nearby parks

  1. Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area14 miles away.
  2. Honey Creek State Natural Area24 miles away. $2 per adult, kids 12 and under free.
  3. Hill Country State Natural Area26 miles away. $6 per adult, kids 12 and under free.
  4. Guadalupe River State Park26 miles away. $7 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  5. Old Tunnel State Park38 miles away. Free entry.

Straight-line distance. See every park in the Hill Country.

Questions people ask

Can you bring dogs to Government Canyon?

Only in the frontcountry. Pets are not allowed in the backcountry or on the dinosaur track trail.

Where are the dinosaur tracks at Government Canyon?

At the end of a five-mile hike over rocky terrain. They're the only known dinosaur footprints on public land in Bexar County.

What are Government Canyon's hours?

The gate is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Monday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

Photo credits

Sources

Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Government Canyon has current alerts and closures.

  1. TPWD: Government Canyon State Natural Area, retrieved October 14, 2026
  2. TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
  3. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
  4. TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
  5. TPWD: Government Canyon State Natural Area campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
  6. TPWD: Government Canyon State Natural Area trails, retrieved October 14, 2026
  7. TPWD: Government Canyon State Natural Area history, retrieved October 14, 2026
  8. TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
  9. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
  10. Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
  11. OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
  12. Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026