Hikers carefully navigating steep, rocky terrain in Uvalde County are catching an early glimpse of Bear Creek State Park, a rugged new public property that state conservation officials are intentionally developing as an untamed, backcountry retreat.
Spanning 1,700 acres across a former ranch in Concan, the property is not yet officially open to the general public. However, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials have begun organizing monthly guided nature hikes across the undeveloped terrain, allowing visitors to experience the landscape while staff collect public feedback to guide long-term planning.
The challenging trails demand careful attention to footing, but the physical effort is rewarded with sweeping 360-degree vistas of the Texas Hill Country. From high points along the trail, hikers can look out over green hills and rolling valleys stretching in every direction, with the prominent silhouette of the famous Old Baldy bluff visible across the horizon.
That distinctive bluff towers over neighboring Garner State Park, Texas’ most visited state park, situated just a 20-minute drive away. On peak summer weekends, Garner is packed to capacity with swimmers and tubers cooling off in the Frio River, rows of tents lining the riverbanks, and vehicles filling every available parking space.
When Bear Creek State Park officially opens its gates to the public in 2029, it will provide a dramatically different experience from the high-density crowds and bustling recreation found down the road.
Park Superintendent Nathan Reynolds has embraced that distinct identity, noting that he views the new site as the "anti-Garner." Planners are deliberately avoiding the heavy tourist infrastructure, extensive cabin accommodations, and large recreational vehicle campgrounds that define more developed parks in the state system.
Although Bear Creek includes its own frontage along the spring-fed Frio River, visitors will not be able to drive directly up to the water’s edge. Reaching the riverbanks on the property will require a rigorous multi-mile hike through rugged, primitive backcountry.
This focused design philosophy is part of a broader statewide effort to expand outdoor access in Texas without simply repeating existing recreational models. With state park acquisitions underway on a scale unseen in decades, park planners are intentionally crafting unique environments to give Texans diverse ways to connect with nature.
The development of Bear Creek is powered by the historic Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a $1 billion constitutional amendment approved by Texas voters in November 2023. Dedicated exclusively to purchasing and improving parkland, the fund represents the first guaranteed public funding stream for state park acquisitions since the 1970s.
Nearly three years following the ballot initiative's approval, Texas has established four designated Centennial Parks. Three of these sites are newly acquired properties: Bear Creek State Park in Uvalde County, Post Oak Ridge State Park spanning Burnet and Lampasas counties, and Silver Lake State Park situated across Edwards and Kinney counties.
The fourth major project funded by the initiative is the expansion of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, located north of Fredericksburg. The state purchased 3,700 acres across 2024 and 2025, more than doubling the total size of the iconic natural landmark to protect additional Hill Country acreage.
While the agency's overarching goal is to acquire and open new public parks across all geographic regions of Texas, early investments have heavily targeted the Hill Country, where recreational demand consistently outpaces available public land.
Centennial Parks Planner Maria Malone pointed out that Garner State Park's overwhelming popularity demonstrates the immense public demand for outdoor spaces in Uvalde County. Adding a complementary property in close proximity offers a practical way to alleviate visitor pressure on Garner while expanding access to the region's natural resources.
Transforming raw, undeveloped acreage into an operational state park involves substantial logistical planning. Malone explained that developing a new park property shares many of the complexities of building a small city from the ground up, necessitating the installation of essential infrastructure such as electricity, water networks, wastewater systems, and interior roadways.
Agency officials emphasize that the final design of each Centennial Park will be directly tailored to its unique terrain and natural assets rather than relying on a standardized formula. As preliminary work continues toward the 2029 opening, ongoing guided hikes at Bear Creek will allow early visitors to play an active role in shaping the future of the primitive wilderness park.
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