Government Canyon State Natural Area
Hill Country Trail Region
The rugged land of Government Canyon, just outside of San Antonio, was familiar turf for Buffalo Soldiers. The troopers, including from the 9th and 10th Cavalry, often rode through this area from their Department of Texas Headquarters in the late 1800s, patrolling routes, protecting settlements, and heading to western posts. This history adds a real human story of frontier defense to the canyon's amazing natural and cultural heritage. You might sense the echoes of these soldiers who helped secure this gateway to the Hill Country when you hike and explore more than 40 miles of trails that wind through woods, across grasslands, and up to limestone ridges.