Set west of San Antonio and south of Garner State Park, the Frio River is a winding river nestled among south Texas's cypress and juniper-laden Hill Country. This brisk, spring-fed river is known for its crystalline waters that carry kayakers, floaters, and canoe-bound fishing enthusiasts past wooded banks and various riverside communities.

Concan, one of the central towns along the Frio River, is where travelers will find the main access points for floating, along with swimming holes, equipment rentals, and several bars, cafes, and restaurants. When you’re taking a break from river-bound activities, check out sites like Garner State Park and Lost Maples State Natural Area in the surrounding region for hiking and cycling. Trails for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles also wind through the region, offering plenty of opportunities to explore south Texas's scrub forests, wildflower meadows, and highland plateaus.

During the summer, Texans from all over the state cool off and float in the brisk Frio River, which passes along riverfront cabins and under the cover of cypress stands. In this part of the Hill Country, summer temperatures are high, and so is humidity, the heat relieved only by the occasional rainfall. By contrast, winters are overcast and bring colder temperatures, although they rarely dip below the freezing point.

The autumn weather is crisp and moderate, and you can enjoy the changing of the leaves as you hike along the area's many trail systems, particularly in Garner State Park. The shoulder seasons also happen to be when some of the area's most popular events occur, like the Rio Frio Music Fest in March and the Fall Festival on the Frio at the beginning of November.

Garner State Park

If you’re a lover of the outdoors, Garner State Park, just 20 minutes north of Concan, has much to offer. Three miles of the Frio River flow through the park, with access points for floating, swimming, and paddling in its waters, and equipment rentals are available on site. Several intertwining trail systems allow for hiking and cycling opportunities, too. In the summertime, the park holds jukebox dances if you’re looking for more lively outdoor entertainment.

Float the Frio River

Floating down the Frio River is a generations-old Texas tradition. Whether you bring your equipment or rent from a local vendor, you’ll find several different stretches of river to float on. They range from short, refreshing jaunts to longer trips that take half a day and wind through rapids as well as calm waters.

Frio Bat Caves

South Texas has some of the largest bat populations on Earth. Large Mexican free-tailed bat colonies occupy several caves around the region, some accessible to the public, others on private land. If you’d like to encounter the bats outside their daytime home, arrive near the caves at dusk, when millions of them leave for the night’s hunt, their stunning formations covering the sky.