Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Special considerations: Prior to going to Government Canyon State Natural Area, con-
tact the park for information about trails that may be closed due to inclement weather
or poor trail conditions.
Finding the trailhead:
From Loop 1604 in San Antonio, go 3.5 miles west on FR
471 to Galm Road and turn right (north). Travel for about 1.5 miles to the park en-
trance at 12861 Galm Rd. Proceed to the park headquarters; the trailhead is to the east
in parking lot D. DeLorme: Texas Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 77 B11. GPS (park
headquarters): N 29 55.276' / W 98 74.429'
The Hike
Start the Bluff Spurs Trail at signpost 1 at the turnoff from Recharge Trail. Getting to the trailhead re-
quires walking through an open meadow on Recharge Trail, which is on the fault that separates the
blackland prairie and the Edwards Plateau.
Once on the Bluff Spurs Trail, start climbing uphill on the rocky singletrack. Be careful if it has re-
cently rained, for the rocks can be slippery. Ashe's juniper, mountain laurel, and cedar elm woods form
a welcome sun-shielding canopy overhead.
Those folks interested in geology will have a field day studying the exposed Edwards limestone.
There are also excellent examples of karst limestone. The karst habitat lies beneath the surface of the
plateau and is a honeycomb of caves, sinkholes, and springs.
Reach Bluff Spurs signpost 2, where the trail branches, and take the left branch, heading southwest
toward the South Bluff Spurs Overlook. Just before the overlook, the trail is singletrack, very rocky,
and has a few steep steps that lead down. The view is impressive, with hikers able to see the visitor
center buildings and a couple of windmills. The trail dead-ends here among prickly pear cactus and
large rocks that furnish a place to sit and rest.
Many mammals call the canyon home, among them coyote, Virginia opossum, skunk, raccoon, bob-
cat, and white-tailed deer. Actually seeing them can be difficult, but you can add another dimension to
the hike by taking along a field guide to animal tracks and trying to identify the various tracks around
the trails. Seeing the print left by a bobcat's paw might give the hike a feel of backcountry adventure.
Backtrack to the Bluff Spurs intersection and continue straight (north), then follow a gentle left turn
to Bluff Spurs signpost 4. The trail is singletrack, going through wooded areas and leading to the
North Bluff Spurs Overlook, which is identified by North Spur signpost 2.
Backtrack a short distance to where you turned off to get to the overlook, and follow the trail until it
dead-ends by intersecting with the Sendero Balcones Trail. This is an interesting section affectionately
referred to by the park rangers as the “hog wallow,” due to the large number of wild hogs usually seen
here.
