Last Minute Request: Government Canyon Hike

[SA Bill]

Hi all!
Don't know if anyone will see this in time but I'm planning a hike for a few hours in the morning tomorrow before it gets too hot. Any suggestions for a 3-5 mile circuit with good scenery and some elevation gain? This will be my first trip out there so I don't know what's good vs. what's really good. 

Anyway, you GC experts out there can post your suggestions even if you see this after tomorrow morning and I'll incorporate those ideas for the next trip.

Part of the reason for the trip is to familiarize myself with a new camera so I hope to have some pics to share later tomorrow.
  Thanks!
    Bill

[BigBendHiker]

Hey, SABill!
Good for you on heading to Government Canyon.  You will enjoy it.  My son and I are out there about every two weeks.  For a 3-5 mile hike with some elevation change, I would recommend:
1.  Joe Johnson trail to Wildcat Canyon trail.
2.  Wildcat Canyon trail up to Sendero Balcones.
3.  Sendero Balcones to Recharge Trail.
4.  Recharge Trail back to the start.

That should give you just over a 5 mile hike.  Take plenty of water.  For some reason, it seems that Government Canyon can dehydrate you faster than any other park.  Not sure why.

Wildcat Canyon has some pretty good elevation change and it is very beautiful through that part of the hike.  Once you make the right turn to head down Sendero Balcones, it is pretty much downhill.

Take lots of pics and post a trip report.


BBH

[SA Bill]

Hi BBH!
That looks like a very nice hike! I'll give it a try. I hope to be out there early to beat the heat of the day and get the hike finished before it's unbearable. If I stop to take a lot of pics, it may be hard to finish before it warms up too much.  We'll see how it goes.
  Thanks for the route suggestion!
    Bill

[homerboy2u]

Hi BBH!
That looks like a very nice hike! I'll give it a try. I hope to be out there early to beat the heat of the day and get the hike finished before it's unbearable. If I stop to take a lot of pics, it may be hard to finish before it warms up too much.  We'll see how it goes.
  Thanks for the route suggestion!
    Bill

 Darn!!!....shooks!

[SA Bill]

What's wrong Homero? Want to go along?

There's been a delay anyway. Got all the way out to GC (30+ minute drive) and discovered that I had forgotten my wallet. No hiking in GC today. Drove home and will try Voelker Park this morning...over in Muse's neck of the woods. The park isn't open yet but they're having an open house from 9-Noon today. The park is only a few miles from the house so it's convenient.

I may try GC in the morning...if I can remember to take my wallet with me!!
   Bill

[homerboy2u]

Nothing wrong,at least not on your end...it's just that i was looking forward to seeing your pics... .....and  honestly,in my inner me,i wanted to go too.....

 Heat or no heat!!

[chisos muse]

Bill, let me know how it was at Voelcker. I was originally supposed to be off today, but had to work due to a loss of staff....
Sasha and I went and hiked the Salado Creek Greenway last Sunday, and even though it's paved it's still a very nice walk. We're going again tomm early. I saw some mountain biker's off trail there last week and wonder if there's a trail or they were just being bad boys, LOL

I would love to go hiking again in GC, but dogs aren't allowed in the backcountry and I just don't like hiking without my pup anymore!  The frontcountry is pretty boring there.

[SA Bill]

Hi Muse!
Voelker was underwhelming. Not that it was bad...just not that much to write home about. They let us walk on the "Maintenance Loop" which is just the road that loops around the outside of the park area. The trail hiking loop was in the process of being worked on so the public was kept off of it. We had a leisurely stroll around the loop and it took us about 25 minutes to complete the loop...maybe a mile? The land is just like any other brush country in S TX. There aere lots of big trees that looked like they were in dire need of some rain. Everything was parched. Even the cacti looked close to giving up. I had the camera but didn't take a single picture. Sorry Homero!

I'll go back when they open...September if I remember correctly...and see if it's better with real hiking trails. If nothing else, the dogs will love it. There were several dogs and their people out there this morning.

Back to Governemnt Canyon...I may not make it out there tomorrow. I've thrown my back out and will probably take it easy tomorrow. This happens about once a year. I knew I had "tweaked" it at work yesterday but it wasn't until last night that it started to get stiff. The moving around and walking at Voelker today helped but the yard work we did after we got home did not help. Maybe next Saturday for GC....with the wallet this time.
   Bill

[Casa Grande]

Be sure to check out the cool Spanish Moss tree on the Joe Johnson Trail....just before you get to the Ranch House....very cool

[chisos muse]

Hi Muse!
Voelker was underwhelming. Not that it was bad...just not that much to write home about. They let us walk on the "Maintenance Loop" which is just the road that loops around the outside of the park area. The trail hiking loop was in the process of being worked on so the public was kept off of it. We had a leisurely stroll around the loop and it took us about 25 minutes to complete the loop...maybe a mile? The land is just like any other brush country in S TX. There aere lots of big trees that looked like they were in dire need of some rain. Everything was parched. Even the cacti looked close to giving up. I had the camera but didn't take a single picture. Sorry Homero!

I'll go back when they open...September if I remember correctly...and see if it's better with real hiking trails. If nothing else, the dogs will love it. There were several dogs and their people out there this morning.

Back to Governemnt Canyon...I may not make it out there tomorrow. I've thrown my back out and will probably take it easy tomorrow. This happens about once a year. I knew I had "tweaked" it at work yesterday but it wasn't until last night that it started to get stiff. The moving around and walking at Voelker today helped but the yard work we did after we got home did not help. Maybe next Saturday for GC....with the wallet this time.
   Bill

Well I hope it's open by September. I'm anxious to see it finished. Was there a representative there who spoke about anything, or was it just open? I'd like to go to the next open house to check it out.

The family and I just got back from our lil 4.5 mile hike on the Salado Creek Greenway. Another great day her in SA....I'm off to the pool now to catch some rays before all the rugrats get there! 

Oh yeah Bill, remember to do lots of stretching for your back! I'm always after Jon about that but he's a bit stubborn. He argue's that I'm the stubborn one, HA! 

[SA Bill]

Hey Muse!
There was a gentleman who was speaking about climate change out there from 9-10am. We got there abut 9:15am so we didn't stop to hear his talk. There's a write up about his talk in today's Express-News. There were a few folks at the entrance who were part of the Friends of Voelcker Park and they were very nice and informative.

If I understood them correctly, there won't be any more open house events until this fall...just too hot during the summer.

I'll have to go over and find the parking area for the Salado Creek Greenway. I'm fairly close so that would be a trail I could use to get some miles in when I'm tired of the treadmill.

I ordered a lumbar stretcher last night so I'll be stretching the back regularly. I usually don't have too much trouble but if I move just right (read incorrectly!) it will act up...sometimes really bad...sometimes like Friday...just enough to let me know it's upset.
  Bill