Government Canyon State Natural Area - Texas Parks and Wildlife

Government Canyon State Natural Area - Texas Parks and Wildlife Government Canyon State Natural Area opened to the public in '05 & our mission is aquifer protection.
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Before visiting please remember that reservations are recommended as capacity limits are in place. You can check permit availability and make reservations online at texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com

Check out our educational resources below:

Interactive Birding Poster- friendsofgovernmentcanyon.org/birding

Virtual Bird Guide-
docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTG9qCnFvCB_BuliHv8WYHcOj4dSNNAHQzdDDIuNznMTb6jyeicxfoQO_qbQo19LQr2PXfnXuLxzXY7/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=5000

Happy International Day of Caves and Karst, everyone!Here at Government Canyon State Natural Area, we are all about wate...
09/13/2026

Happy International Day of Caves and Karst, everyone!

Here at Government Canyon State Natural Area, we are all about water- which for us also means we are all about karst. The word “karst” refers to a limestone landscape that erodes to have many holes over time; some small and some big enough to be called caves. When it rains, water filters down through all the holes in the rock and eventually combines to become part of the Edwards Aquifer- most of San Antonio’s water supply!

Our property lies over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, the specific area where the water can go into the limestone. It is our mission to make sure as much rainwater can make its way through the karst rocks and into the aquifer as possible. This is part of why we close our trails when it rains.

Have you seen some of our karst rocks out on the trails?

It's Resource Ranger Thursday, and your hunt manager has three fresh new things she wants you to know about hunts at Gov...
09/10/2026

It's Resource Ranger Thursday, and your hunt manager has three fresh new things she wants you to know about hunts at Government Canyon State Natural Area!

1. All hunters must have a valid hunting license, photo ID, and proof of having taken hunter education. For more information on hunter education requirements, please visit: tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education
2. You do NOT use your tags on special drawn hunts! We have tags for you to use and will issue them upon harvesting an animal. So save your tags for another day!
3. Only drawn hunters, and in the case of youth hunts, a non-hunting supervising adult, may be on site during hunts.

Just a reminder that we will be CLOSED on the following hunt dates:

November 17-19 (Archery Deer/Exotic)
December 1-3 (Gun Deer/Exotic)
December 4-6 (Youth Deer/Exotic)
January 5-7 (Gun Deer/Exotic)
January 12-14 (Gun Deer/Exotic)

Lotería is a traditional Mexican game of chance that's very similar to bingo but uses illustrated cards with colorful im...
09/09/2026

Lotería is a traditional Mexican game of chance that's very similar to bingo but uses illustrated cards with colorful images and names instead of numbers. Our game will feature plants, animals, and other features particular to Government Canyon SNA. It's the perfect way to laugh and learn some park Spanish while enjoying time outdoors with your family and friends. The game clues will be given in both Spanish and English. A few small prizes will be awarded for winning cards!

Details: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/government-canyon/loteria-en-el-parque

Attention, Scouts! For Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend (Sept. 12-13), you can visit Government Canyon and do a habi...
09/08/2026

Attention, Scouts! For Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend (Sept. 12-13), you can visit Government Canyon and do a habitat scavenger hunt with your troop. Use one of our wildlife "shopping lists" as you hike to find everything a wild critter needs to survive.

This is a self-guided activity. Pick up trail maps and ask about recommended hiking routes in our Visitor Center (open daily 8:30 am-4:30 pm). The Visitor Center will have copies of the Habitat Hike activity sheets, but supplies will be limited. Please print and bring your own if possible. Complete info (including link to download the activity sheets): https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/government-canyon/girl-scouts-love-state-parks-habitat-hike

If you see a small yellow-orange butterfly zip past you on your next hike at Government Canyon, chances are it'll be a S...
09/07/2026

If you see a small yellow-orange butterfly zip past you on your next hike at Government Canyon, chances are it'll be a Sleepy Orange. They are seemingly everywhere right now, wherever they can find something in bloom. They move so erratically and fast that "sleepy" seems a poor description. But their name actually refers to a small mark on the underside of the forewing which imaginatively looks like a closed eye.

The adult butterfly feeds on nectar and can be found here any month of the year. Their caterpillar feeds on Lindheimer's senna and other plants in the Legume family (Fabaceae).

09/06/2026

Bob & Doug heard Monday is Labor Day.

Bob immediately asked, “Are we working?”
Doug reminded him they have tiny arms, no jobs, and have been extinct for millions of years.

Labor avoided and a sale approved. Enjoy 20% OFF Recharge Run registration for a short time only!

Starts: RIGHT NOW
Use code: BOBDAVE20
Link: https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/SanAntonio/FriendsofGovernmentCanyon15K8KRechargeRun
Goes extinct: Labor Day, Monday, September 7 at 11:59 PM.

Please don’t explain unions to them.

Are you participating in our Veterans' Mental Health Awareness Ruck & Hike on September 26? If you are active duty, a ve...
09/06/2026

Are you participating in our Veterans' Mental Health Awareness Ruck & Hike on September 26? If you are active duty, a veteran, or a Gold Star family member, you qualify for a Parklands Passport which will give you free entry to all Texas State Parks. Obtaining this in advance will speed your entry to Government Canyon on Sept. 26, but it must be done in person. Stop by sometime soon and we'll set you up...whether or not you are coming on Sept. 26!

Details about the passes (including required documentation): https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/passes/texas-parklands-passports/ %20Duty

Details about the Veterans' Mental Health Awareness Ruck: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/government-canyon/veteran-suicide-awareness-walk-ruck

Our rangers (shout-out to Justin on the tractor!) and volunteers have been HARD at work this summer cleaning up the hist...
09/04/2026

Our rangers (shout-out to Justin on the tractor!) and volunteers have been HARD at work this summer cleaning up the historic Kallison Ranch! This portion of GCSNA, acquired in 2001, is home to several structures which record the legacy of innovative San Antonio rancher Nathan Kallison. Kallison purchased his ranch in 1910 and used it to demonstrate new agricultural techniques and promote soil conservation.

Unfortunately, today some of the ranch structures and the surrounding brush are quite hazardous to tromp around in due to decaying supports, broken glass, rusty nails, and things of that nature. With the rental of a roll-off dumpster and the official green light from our regional archeologist, we were finally able to get to work and make this area safer to explore! Another goal of this restoration effort is to clear the area of invasive exotic vegetation including chinaberries, privet, and our old nemesis, Johnsongrass.

While this area remains closed to the public for now, you can join a guided hike to see it. The next Kallison Ranch Hike will be on November 28. See our event calendar for details: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/government-canyon/park_events

Address

12861 Galm Road
San Antonio, TX
78254

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 10pm
Tuesday 7am - 8pm
Wednesday 7am - 8pm
Thursday 7am - 8pm
Friday 7am - 10pm
Saturday 7am - 10pm
Sunday 7am - 10pm

Telephone

+12106889055

Website

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