Guadalupe River State Park - Texas Parks & Wildlife

11/01/2026

As of 12 pm on Sunday, November 1st, the County-wide Burn Ban is once again in effect. No wood or charcoal fires (or pellet stoves) are allowed. Propane and butane ARE allowed.
Thank you for helping protect your state park!

10/30/2026

As of 1:15pm on Friday, October 30th, the Burn Ban in the park is temporarily OFF, following the burn ban being lifted in Comal County.

The Burn Ban will resume November 1st at 12:00pm.

Please exercise caution with any fires, and of course fires are only allowed in designated areas. Thank you!

10/29/2026

📣 Trail Status as of 9:00am on 10/29/2026:
Due to recent rainfall, most trails in the park are temporarily closed to all users. We are anticipating more rainfall today as well.

⚠🥾 Open Trails (Foot Traffic Only)
The following areas remain open for hiking only:
-Bald Cypress Trail
-River Overlook Trail
-Discovery Center Loop
-Cedar Sage River Trail
-Bauer Trail

Please use caution if you choose to explore these trails, as conditions are slick in many areas—especially where rock is exposed.

Why do we temporarily close trails?
Wet soils lose structural strength, making them extremely vulnerable to erosion, compaction and long‑term ecological damage. When saturated, especially in clay‑rich soils, the ground deforms under pressure instead of springing back. Even a small amount of foot or bike traffic can create deep ruts that trap water, slow drying and turn the trail into a channel that accelerates erosion.

Stay safe, stay dry, and plan ahead!

10/28/2026

This Wildlife Wednesday, we interrupt our “spooky” October critter posts to bring you another October critter:the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). 🦋

Right now, thousands or even millions of monarch butterflies are winging their way across Texas on their way to the mountains in Mexico, where they will spend the winter. These monarch butterflies were born in the northern United States or Canada, so they are flying along a route they have never been before – amazing!

Today we focus on two ways that people like you and I can use technology to help scientists track monarchs! Engaging regular folks like us (rather than scientists) is a great way to “crowdsource” information so scientists can gather more data. 📋 This is called Citizen Science.

One of our citizen science opportunities today involves identifying monarchs (with or without a photo), and one opportunity is more passive – it only requires you to have an app open! 📱

- Journey North:

Best viewed from your computer 💻 rather than on your phone -- click on this link and you can see a real-time map of where adult monarch butterflies have been sighted.
https://maps.journeynorth.org/map/?map=monarch-adult-fall&year=2026&season=fall
Make a free account and log in, and you can report your own sightings! There are other maps you can look at (and report on!), too, such as monarch fall roosts (when they gather to rest at night), and even maps of where other types of animals have been spotted.


- Project Monarch – We just found out about this due to an entomologist who recently came out to the park to do monarch research. Scientists carefully attach a tiny transmitter with solar panels, to a healthy adult Monarch butterfly. If you download the free Project Monarch app and click “Scan”, your phone acts as a receiver, and if a tagged Monarch flies within 100 meters, your phone can track its location, and you’ve contributed to scientists’ knowledge of where that monarch is at!


The monarch migration is a fantastic phenomenon, and Journey North and Project Monarch are great tools that can help these amazing insects! 🦋


Photos of monarch butterfly by Texas Master Naturalist Darlene Varga

10/25/2026

UPDATED 1 PM SUNDAY 10/25: Phones are back up and running, thanks so much for your patience!

🚨 Park Alert 🚨

Our phones are currently down at Guadalupe River State Park. We're working hard to fix the issue and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

For assistance, please reach out to us through messenger. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

10/25/2026

☁We tried to wait it out, but the clouds had different plans. Cloud cover= no dark sky visibility. Star Party for tonight (10/24) is unfortunately cancelled 😕.

10/24/2026

Way to go Chungus!

CHUNGUS IS THE CHAMP 💪🏆🐿️

Give it up for the chonkiest chunk at Texas State Parks 👏👏👏

Chungus beat Squirrelly Temple by a dimple. It was ever so close!

Congratulations to Cooper State Park Doctors Creek Unit and Fort Parker State Park for their adorably squishy squirrels.

THANK YOU to everyone who voted 🙏

p.s. Please don’t feed the squirrels. They got this 😋

10/23/2026

🏹 Explore Bowhunting is Tomorrow at Guadalupe River State Park

Join us on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a hands-on introduction to bowhunting, wildlife conservation and outdoor skills. Whether you're curious about hunting or looking to sharpen your knowledge, there will be something for all ages to enjoy.

10:00-11:30 a.m. | Self-Guided Activity Stations
Explore at your own pace:
-Archery Range
-I-Spy
-Camo Hike & Seek
-Don't Call Blind

Educational displays and information booths:
-Skins & Skulls
-Explore Bowhunting Trailer
-Wildlife Health Info.

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Shot Placement & Blood Trailing
Learn about deer anatomy, ethical shot placement, blood trailing and recovery techniques with hands-on instruction using 3D deer targets.

12:15-1:00 p.m. | Deer Processing Demonstration
See the basics of field care, skinning, quartering, meat handling and processing.

⚠Please note: The Prairie Trail and equestrian parking areas will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 24 to accommodate this event. Please plan accordingly.

10/23/2026

📢Burn Ban Notice for Guadalupe River State Park

Comal County Commissioners Court has implemented a county‑wide burn ban as of Friday, October 23, 2026, at 6:00 AM. For official updates, visit the Comal County Fire Marshal page: https://www.comalcounty.gov/189/Fire-Marshal

🔥🚫Why are we under a burn ban?

Dry conditions and elevated wildfire danger throughout the county have triggered restrictions on all outdoor burning. County burn bans must be observed by state parks. https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/frequently-asked-questions/ -safety

⚠What This Means for Park Visitors

No open fires or campfires are allowed.
Only containerized fuel is permitted, such as propane stoves and similar fully self‑contained units.
*Applies to both camping and day‑use.

🚫Legal Reminder

Violating a county burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500.

Always check Texas State Parks alerts for the latest conditions, restrictions and updates before your visit. Staying informed helps keep you safe and protects the park.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Guadalupe River State Park and the surrounding community safe.

10/22/2026

Well, folks. We regret to inform you that Chonky, our beloved representative of Guadalupe River State Park and Honey Creek State Natural Area, has officially been eliminated by a LANDSLIDE defeat at the hands of Chungus from Cooper State Park Doctors Creek Unit - Texas Parks and Wildlife.

We knew the competition would be tough, but we didn't realize we were bringing a snack-sized squirrel to a pecan fight. 😭

Chonky gave it everything he had. Every acorn. Every stolen birdseed. Every ounce of unapologetic woodland fluff. But apparently, the people have decided that Chungus is the reigning heavyweight champion of the squirrel world.

We will be observing a brief period of mourning, followed by an aggressive emotional-support snack break. 🍂

But all jokes aside, CONGRATULATIONS, CHUNGUS! 🏆 You've earned your place in the final showdown tomorrow, and Chonky wishes you the very best of luck.

May your cheeks be full, your tail be fluffy, and your enemies be mildly intimidated by your sheer girth.

Chonky may have lost the battle, but he will forever be a legend in the Guadalupe River complex. 🐿️❤️

Now go get 'em, Chungus. Make those acorns proud.