Government Canyon protects drinking water under 13,000 acres of trail country

Government Canyon is an unusual piece of city-edge country: a 13,000-acre natural area whose first job is protecting San Antonio's drinking water. Much of it lies over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, where rain can move through limestone and into the aquifer below.

About 40 miles of trails cross open grassland, wooded slopes, and rough canyon country. Hiking and biking rules change by trail. Pets stay in the frontcountry, and some sensitive trails open only part of the year. A map matters once you leave the easy Discovery Trail.

The backcountry also holds the only known dinosaur footprints on public land in Bexar County. The track site is about a five-mile round trip over rocky ground, and TPWD dates the tracks to roughly 100 million years ago. Water, algae, mud, or a closure can hide the prints, so the hike is not a promise that they will be visible that day.

There are walk-in campsites, programs, and plenty of shorter outings. Government Canyon often reaches capacity, and wet weather can close trails. Reserve ahead when the day matters, then read the live alert before leaving home.