It’s just a short 45 min. drive through the mountain passes from Utopia to Garner State Park.

Garner State Park sits on the Frio River and is probably the most highly used park in Texas for good reason. In the fall, the leaves color the frigid water with a golden glow.

The river meanders through cypress trees and creates shallow rock beds as it snakes around the bends.

High water periods leave banks of chert that was, and is, an attraction to the many small bands that make camp along the banks.

A photographer’s paradise. The egret poses undisturbed by the clunky human and his camera.

Texas Kite poses at twilight, contemplating its evening meal.

Wild Turkeys pose in their mating glory.

Leave the river and take a hike up Old Baldy.

The path turns rocky and you’ll have to use hands, knees, and footholds to make it to the top, but there are plenty of reasons along the way to take your time—colorful cacti in bloom.

There are shallow caves to explore.

This was perhaps a longer cave tunnel that collapsed during an earthquake or rock slide—at least that’s what we imagine to have happened in our Shadow Trails tale.

And at the top of Old Baldy, you’re rewarded with a grand view of the Frio snaking through the park.

If you volunteer to help out, you can stay for extended periods of time. We liked the folks here so much, we stayed and took on the project of renovating the Native Plant and Butterfly Garden.