The best camping near Government Canyon State Natural Area

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Government Canyon State Natural Area adventure.

88% (4 reviews)
88% (4 reviews)

An unspoiled backcountry wilderness preserve near San Antonio.  

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Community favorites near Government Canyon State Natural Area

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Government Canyon State Natural Area

94%
(1318)

Lost Woods

43 sites · RVs, Tents55 acres · San Antonio, TX
Welcome to our little piece of paradise! 55 acres of woods hidden near town. A network of trails criss-cross the creek and wind throughout the property under a peaceful canopy of large beautiful trees. Don't be surprised if you run into deer, squirrels, or roadrunners! Our property is home to a wide variety of hill-country wildlife. - Each of our campsites are private and surrounded by forest. - Each site has a fire ring for campfires - Our trees are our most precious natural resource and set this campground apart! Please don't do anything to harm them. - Port-o-john is available on site. - All of our campsites are primitive. No electric or water here. - When you camp with us you are welcome to explore and play on the entire property! We have 55 acres of trails and woods to explore! Please bring your bikes, trail shoes, or whatever helps you have fun in the wild! - Hammocks welcome! We have so many trees! All of our sites are hammock-friendly. - When you check-in, just text us, your host will help you find your campsite. - Some sites are drive-in where your vehicle can park right next to the fire. Others are walk-in and require a short hike of 100' or less from your parking space. You can indicate your preference during booking or at check-in. If you want to drive right into your site, Campsites 2, 3, 6, and 12 are the sites you want. Some of our campsites are more secluded than others and offer extreme privacy in the most beautiful settings we have to offer. If you're looking for a wilder campsite surrounded by huge old trees and all the peace the woods have to offer, just request Campsites 4, 5, 7, or 8. Each of these sites requires a walk of at least 50' from your vehicle to the fire ring. Site 13 is only for backpackers or people willing to hike about 500 yards to the campsite over rough terrain. There is no way to drive to it or even get close except on foot. But it is spectacular and beautiful! Only three sites can accommodate a smaller trailer or camper. Site 1, Site 2, and site 6. Please notify me in your booking if you intend to bring a camper and I can accommodate you. We practice leave-no-trace as much as possible. So please pack out anything you pack in. You are responsible for removing all trash. If any garbage is left behind in your site you will be billed for the cleanup. We have a dumpster located near the front gate. Please use it and put all your trash in there. Heads-up! We have a small farm on the property. Dogs are always welcome and we LOVE our furry friends! For their safety and the safety of our livestock please keep them leashed while on property.
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$37.50
 / night
98%
(93)

Laf ranch

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents1100 acres · Medina, TX
1100 acres of gorgeous natural land at the headwaters of the Medina River. Crystal clear and clean spring feed water. Fourth-generation family owners. Remote camping. Very private with plenty of varied terrain for hiking swimming, tubing, biking or just hanging out in a hammock enjoying the breeze and peace and quiet. About 2 miles as a crow flies from Lost Maples State Park. You drive through a 13,000-acre ranch to get to us. We are at the end of a dead-end road with one way in and one way out. NO FISHING Free firewood for use during your stay and can make a good deal if you want to take some home! As our topo map shows we have a wide variety of terrain ranging from steep cliffs with huge views to shady canyons. The river cuts through the middle of the place and is surrounded by four hills that each have their unique characteristics ranging from flat oak-covered to rocky steep ridges. I guarantee you will find beauty all around. We do have a couple of fun areas to try your 4-wheel drive out. Please dont make your own....stay on trails. There are plenty of places to swim. When the Ladder is reserved, you may not swim there. Please be respectful. We have approximatley 1.5 miles of both sides of the river so plenty of places to swim. It varies a lot in depth and width over the ranch. Every camp spot has access to all the swimming holes except the ladder when it is booked. The main swimming holes are-- 1. Below the Green Cabin 2. Another my brother likes that has a cypress tree submerged you can sit on he calls the 1000 waterfalls 3. What we call the big pond which has the beginnings of a zip line if i can re-engineer how i have it tied on the opposite bank..right now its not high enough on the opposite bank. The goal is to zip line from one bank to the opposite and drop into the water...about 150 ft. It may or may not stay once we try it out...dont anyone getting hurt...But I think zip lines are a blast and we need to do a few rope swings into the water too! If you would like to see a video from a camper see below https://youtu.be/OydUiRVi8V8 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jH09fJLR0dE
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$75
 / night
100%
(296)

3 Dry Wells Ranch

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents110 acres · Blanco, TX
We welcome you to come enjoy the beautiful outdoors and dark sky on a scenic 110 acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Our family has lived and cared for this unique property since 1976 and we are still here today. We are conveniently located in Blanco, Texas less that 50 miles from either San Antonio or Austin and in the heart of the Texas wine country. Our campsites are next to a spring feed tributary creek which flows year around feeding into the Blanco River just a few miles away or hillside with amazing views of the river valley. You will enjoy the babbling creek, miles of hiking and biking trails, cooling off in the creek, scenic hilltop views, solitude, bold sunrises and sunsets, and a brilliant night sky. We have numerous old growth hardwood trees including Live Oaks, Spanish oaks, Elm, Escarpment Cherry, Black walnut, and Ashe Juniper (cedar) one of which has the largest circumference in Texas. We have a wide selection of native and migratory wildlife that calls this place home including white tail deer, wild turkeys, foxes, bobcats, jack rabbits, road runners, seasonal songbirds and butterflies. We are just minutes away from Blanco State Park and a short drive to Pedernales Falls or Guadalupe River State Park.
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$28
 / night
95%
(135)

Everfree Shire Ranch

48 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Devine, TX
Everfree Shire Ranch is an 11 acre estate nestled between quite country houses and a very active horse ranch next door to the east. Rescue horses are also kept on the property in rotation. Much of the camping here is still a work in progress! So for now, a very private economical choice for campers! The central building has indoor lodging available and the side bathroom with indoor toilet / washer / dryer may be used by campers as well. A new outdoor shower is under construction. As of April 2024, the outdoor shower stall is 95% complete and usable but swimwear is required because we have not finished filling in the slots between the wood fence panels. Please ignore old photos of the shower tent. I'm working to remove them as I find them. The dump station is not available at this time pending reconstruction, hopefully in May 2024. Please use the free dump stations on I-35 near Natalia on either side of the highway.
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$10
 / night
99%
(1149)

Seco Ridge Campgrounds

14 sites · Lodging, Tents42 acres · Utopia, TX
EXPERIENCE UTOPIA Private, family-friendly campgrounds in the Texas Hill Country. Great views, and just minutes from Garner State Park and Lost Maples State Natural Area. We offer 3 different types of camping experiences, so be sure to check out all of our listings. Message us if you have any questions regarding bookings during the Texas 2'clipse dates: 10/14/23 (annular eclipse) and 4/8/24 (total solar eclipse). We will be in the path of total darkness for both! -PRIMITIVE TENT CAMPING SITES- Want to get back to nature? Our secluded primitive tent camping sites are for you. Includes tent pad, fire ring, access to Community Kitchen & our Shower Haus (aka bathrooms & showers). 14-day maximum per month. -Ridge Site- Maybe you'd like to get back to nature in style? Enjoy our Ridge Site with Cargo Tent - complete with a fire ring, table and chairs, and swings. This site does not include a bed. -THE BUNKHAUS- Looking to get back to nature with all the creature comforts? Check out our Bunkhaus that sleeps 4, including a queen size bed and a set of bunk beds. The Bunkhaus has electricity, A/C and Wifi. ALL OF OUR CAMPING EXPERIENCES INCLUDE ACCESS TO: • Communal Kitchen (sinks, fridge, grills, etc.) • The Shower Haus (flushing toilets, sinks, and hot showers) • The Tree House Play Area AROUND UTOPIA • Experience driving on the 'The Twisted Sisters' (Ranch Roads, 335. 336, and 337). • Garner State Park • Lost Maples State Natural Area • Tubing the Frio River • Sabinal River • Horseback Riding • Sabinal County Museum • Frio Bat Flight • Utopia Community Park - picnic, swim & fish under the enormous cypress trees. • Dine at Lost Maples Café, The Lunchbox, or take the 20 min drive to Mac & Ernie's Roadside Eatery in Tarpley, Tx (featured on Food Network)
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$40
 / night
96%
(1043)

Sparrow Bend River Retreat

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents8 acres · Pipe Creek, TX
Sparrow Bend River Retreat is a beautiful 8 acre multi-site vacation rental property with camping, RV sites and 2 vacation homes.With a private 300yard stretch of the crystal-clear, spring fed MEDINA RIVER your party will spend the day exploring its majestic cliffs and coves, paddling/floating the river (tubes and kayaks for rent), splashing in the shallows, playing yard games on the lawn or sunbathing on a massive bolder.Enjoy a delicious and memorable dinner in Lakehills (15min), Bandera (20min) or Boerne (25min). Or stay in and grill out over the fire, or at the provided grill.Camp sites each have a customized picnic table for you convenience.Spend you evening sharing laughs around the provided firepit as you take in the dazzling canopy of stars. (Firewood available for sale)Our family has always dreamed of hosting a place for families and friends to come enjoy nature however we would have never dreamed of finding a property as unique and beautiful as this. A lake when the water is high, a beautiful river when the waters low. All crowned by a majestic limestone bluff, complete with boulders, coves and endless room for adventures.This land was once a part of a wagon trail along the river and, if you're lucky, you can still find arrowheads along the paths.The property is gated with a high privacy fence along the neighboring borders for security.
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$44.80
 / night
98%
(545)

Boulderdash Cabin & Camping

12 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Bandera, TX
Hi Hip Campers! Spend some time in the beautiful Texas Hill Country at Boulderdash. Located along the serene Medina River, you can enjoy riverfront access and the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. Boulderdash hosts a variety of accommodations for every type of camper. Enjoy a cozy rustic three-bedroom cabin, primitive tent camping, full hookup RV sites, riverfront tent sites, and more! Play in the river,(please check lake levels) unplug, reconnect with friends and family, and enjoy the views of this beautiful country setting! Enjoy feeding the deer and watching the many varieties of birds, foxes, armadillos, squirrels and others! Our place is just 9 miles from Bandera, TX, the "Cowboy Capital of the World," where you can get a taste of the cowboy lifestyle with horseback riding, ranch tours, rodeos, museums, and more! This is one Texas destination you don't want to miss!
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$31.50
 / night
100%
(31)

The Charmadillo: Glamping Resort

29 sites · Lodging, Tents44 acres · Center Point, TX
A getaway tucked deep into 44 magical acres of rolling hills. 10 minutes outside of Center Point, Texas. Tucked into the top of a beautiful valley, where hills rule supreme! While on the property spend your time enjoying the rugged trails, bird watching, dark night skies, and the quiet. Don't forget to take advantage of our communal amenities including stock tank pools, sauna and outdoor shower! Currently we have 7 A-frame cabins to rent as well as dispersed camping sites! If you're interested in booking the whole property for your group shoot us a message! We have many communal spaces that are available for all guests to use! *We ask that guests clean up after themselves in the communal spaces during their stay. Allowing all guests to have access to a clean and welcoming space!* SHOWER HOUSE -4 private stalls: Shower + Toilet + Vanity *Dr.Bronner’s body wash will be provided in each shower KITCHEN: -Equipment: 4 burner range + convection oven + refrigerator + freezer + toaster + kettle + pour over cones -Tools: pots and pans + bakeware + measuring tools +cooking utensils + colander + can opener + wine opener -Pantry: olive oil + butter + salt + pepper -Breakfast: Birch Benders pancake mix (gluten free available) + syrup + oatmeal STOCK TANK POOLS -2 8 foot stock tank pools open 24/7 -Get your soak on and take in the views! SAUNA + OUTDOOR SHOWER -Sauna hours will be listed in checkin details. -The outdoor shower is not heated. It is intended for a quick refreshing rinse off, whether to cool down after the sauna or kick off your day with a rejuvenating start! THE DEN** A communal indoor space with Wifi, tables and couches. Think of a hotel lobby sort of vibe. You can also find games as well as books on plant ID and history of the area. (Found in the first bay of the garage) THE DUGOUT** A covered open air space appointed with twinkle lights and picnic tables. Intended for shaded outdoor hang space. We ask that tent campers cook there if they choose to use their own camp stoves. (Found in the open bay of the garage) The Charmadillo is a great base to explore the area! About an hour from Lost Maples, Garner State Park and Enchanted Rock. About 35 minutes to Hill Country State Natural Area. Various access points to the Guadalupe river via Center Point and Kerrville. With the addition of wineries, honkytonks, and charming bars and restaurants throughout the region.
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$35
 / night
99%
(90)

Old Herrera Ranch - Medina River

9 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Von Ormy, TX
We're a five acre piece of an historic Texas ranch in Southwest San Antonio, just 20-minutes from downtown, sitting along the Medina River. Come for the day or stay the night for some primitive camping. We've got plenty of room for tents, roof-top-tent setups or car/van dry-camping. We’re currently in the building/restoring process, but we’ll have some electrical, drinking water, fire pits, plenty of shade, compost toilets, water in the river, and plenty of good vibes.  Old Herrera Ranch has been in our family since the early 1800's and holds a lot history. A couple of our old buildings, the "jacals", are dated from around the 1830-40's. You'll also see the old "Dance Hall" which is great for hanging out or even some cover if it rains. They say that Santa Anna's army, invading from Mexico, may have crossed through our area on their way to the Alamo. This may be because our part of the river includes some of the more shallow areas of the Medina River. For more information, feel free to take a look at our page on the San Antonio Conservation Society's website https://farmandranch.omeka.net/exhibits/show/blasherreraranch We use Hipcamp to help maintain, preserve, and restore the land my family loves so deeply. We're excited to share it with you and see what all we'll be able to do. Thank you in advance for your support! Coming soon: picnic tables, benches, outdoor cooking area, South Texas Jungle Gym, Pink Elephant Cantina (BYOB), and more!
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$38
 / night
92%
(166)

HomeAway Ranch & Wildlife Preserve

62 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents100 acres · Boerne, TX
We're happily retired partners loving life in this wonderful oasis... And working hard to make it a bit better for our animals and guests, every single day. Mickey's recently retired from 21 years traveling the world with International Joint Special Forces and Vicky's a Cordon Bleu Chef who also recently retired. We are living our dream "retirement" in this gorgeous wooded Texas Hill-Country, caring for and playing with all sorts of fun animals and welcoming lovely people to our ranch/wildlife preserve/nature- resort, personally ensuring everyone has a memorable experience, from customized horseback-riding experiences (everything from trail rides, to horseback riding lessons to weddings and vows-renewals on horseback), to serving as concierge to preparing that special "made to order" fresh country breakfasts, champagne brunches and romantic or fun meals and treats like chocolate covered strawberries for any special occasion, including anniversaries and birthdays.
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$28
 / night
98%
(302)

Overalls and Bird Calls

12 sites · Tents45 acres · Timberwood Park, TX
Welcome to the Cibolo Gardens Nature Preserve! Just 22 miles from downtown San Antonio, not far off of US 281, our educational homestead is an excellent place to camp. We’ve transformed 45 acres of what was once an active rock quarry just 15 years ago, into a healthy, regenerative, green space as well as an event and training venue. Our venue is nestled in the middle of the rapidly growing suburban landscape around us in north San Antonio. We purchased the property five years ago from good friends who had already started the mission of revitalizing the land. Today, 39 of the acres are in “preservation” status, which means that we are letting the natural micro-ecosystems that have developed from what remained of the quarrying activities 15 years ago to develop on their own. We hope to always keep this acreage in that status for generations to enjoy. The remaining 6 acres is wooded, where we live, have gardens, farm animals and where we interface equitably with our environment. Feel free to simply relax in the shade of the persimmon and juniper trees. Or, to add some activity to your stay, hike the varying terrain on our 45 acres, hunt for fossils in the dry creek bed, break out your tree / plant id books, or watch the wildlife (even if it’s just the chickens).  Refresh by taking a dip in the above ground pool, or wash off in the outdoor cob shower.  [Please be advised that besides campers, we also host homesteading, wilderness survival and herbal medicine classes on our site.  So, you might have company, but you'll definitely have room for privacy. ]  If you want to explore more Hill Country, nearby attractions for outdoor fun include the Guadalupe River State Park (16mi), Guadalupe Canoe Livery where you can rent tubes and kayaks on the river (16 mi) or Natural Bridge Cavern (17mi).
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$27
 / night

The best camping near Government Canyon State Natural Area guide

Overview

About

Get away from it all at this 12,000-acre rugged natural area located in Bexar County about 25 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio. Government Canyon State Natural Area offers 40 miles of trails overlooking unspoiled acreage full of trees, wildlife, and even dinosaur tracks. Secluded front-country campsites, 23 backcountry tent campsites, and two group tent campsites are available on weekends, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in nature as you sleep under the stars.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Camping is only available at Government Canyon State Natural Area on weekends and select major holidays, such as spring break.
  2. Advanced reservations are recommended through the Texas State Parks reservation website for all camping. Reservations can be made up to five months in advance.
  3. Due to the limited camping spots available, Government Canyon State Natural Area frequently is fully booked to capacity. 

When to go

If you’re interested in hiking through the Protected Habitat Area trails, plan to visit between September through February; the rest of the year, those trails are closed. September through November can be lovely months to camp in central Texas due to the more temperate weather. It’s also helpful to keep an eye on the forecast—preservation efforts mean that rain or other inclement weather will close down all trails in this preserve, which would be a bummer if you’d had your heart set on hiking here.  

Know before you go

  • Campsites do not include electricity. Composting toilets are available, and potable water is available at the parking lot.
  • Dinosaur tracks dating back 110 million years can be seen along the Joe Johnston Route, a five-mile rugged round-trip hike. 
  • Hikers should bring sturdy hiking shoes or boots, as the trails are sometimes ungroomed.
  • Pets are allowed only on the front-country trails due to the fragile ecosystem of the protected habitat area.

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