Canyon Lake serves as a central hub for glamping in Cibolo, Texas and the surrounding Hill Country. The region's limestone terrain creates unique river conditions with swift waters in some sections and calm pools in others. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with summer months bringing higher visitor traffic to popular river access points and glamping locations.
What to do
Water activities access: At Camp Huaco Springs, you'll find direct river entry points for tubing and swimming. "Nice staff, spacious camping spaces, on the water, near facilities," notes Ali C., highlighting the convenience of riverside access.
Fishing opportunities: Potters Creek Park offers lakeside locations ideal for fishing. "We stayed in site 66 right on the water. There are great spots everywhere you turn," shares Tim M., who found the boat ramp "easily accessible" with "plenty of space along the shoreline to hang out."
Live entertainment: Mountain Breeze Campground provides on-site entertainment during peak seasons. "The campground has great facilities including a restaurant (good burgers and pizza), showers, clean bathrooms, general store and live music," according to Jordan E., who appreciated the "friendly, helpful staff."
Water park access: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park™ Camp-Resort: Canyon Lake offers water attractions beyond just the lake. "Amazing place for kids because they have so many activities such as paintball, laser tag and a pond and much more," writes Tripler S., who also mentioned the "bounce house area" that was previously available.
What campers like
Riverside sites: The proximity to water is a major draw at Camp Huaco Springs. "Great place in the Guadalupe River. The RV spots have plenty of room," notes Jay W., who advises, "Pack an ice chest an a chair and get wet in the river."
Lake views: Cranes Mill Park provides spacious sites overlooking Canyon Lake. "Clean and quit. 35$ and a rather small park. Some sites have a shade. All hookups," according to Len L., who described it as "a very nice experience."
Family activities: Mystic Quarry receives praise for its recreational options. "The grounds are well kept and friendly. Lots of outdoor games and places to explore," writes Karen B., who noted, "We used the dog park quite a bit and it was very clean. Water close by and fenced off nicely with two areas."
Shaded camping areas: Summit Vacation Resort offers relief from Texas heat. "Very nice spaces with lots of large trees! River access, pools, outdoor activities and lots more," reports Heather T., highlighting the combination of shade and recreation options.
What you should know
Holiday crowds: Camp Huaco Springs becomes very busy during peak times. "This lace has everything you could want at a campground. Minus the privacy. On holiday weekends it's packed from but to butt," advises Jedidiah R.
Security measures: Mountain Breeze Campground maintains on-site security. "They had security officers on site at all times which was a nice plus," notes Jonathan B., who adds, "If you do NOT like to party, listen to loud music, be around excessive drinking and loud people.... this in NOT the place for you."
Train noise: Stone Creek RV Park experiences railway disruptions. "Park sits next to heavily used railroad tracks, frequent train whistles at all hours," reports Terri W., who also mentioned the "horse stable" nearby resulted in "strong odor" at some sites.
Water level variations: Cranes Mill Park experiences seasonal changes in lake access. "Although water is low there were folks who fished. Showers were clean and RR had plenty of TP and soap," mentions Stephanie G. during a "quick weekend getaway."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Jellystone Park offers numerous child-friendly amenities. "We use to be big rustic tent campers until they replaced the area with cabins," explains C&J F., who praised the "water park, pools, bouncy pillow, games, hay ride and the mini golf" as making it "by far the best kid friendly camping place."
Water safety: Potters Creek Park provides supervised swimming areas. "My cousins and I decided to take some hammocks out to Canyon Lake and do some grilling, swimming, and chilling," shares Matt M., adding, "Make sure you get there early because it gets busy quickly."
Weather considerations: Mystic Quarry offers both sunny and shaded options for families with young children. "Sites are a good size, some bigger than ours and mostly well drained. Our site 21 could use more gravel or mulch but most other sites look like they had new gravel and mulch added to them," reports Karen B.
Wildlife viewing: Summit Vacation Resort offers deer watching opportunities. "Small deer herds would move through the park each evening. Many of the campers feed them corn and they know the sounds and come running out of the hills," shares Laura H.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Hill Country RV Resort, arrival timing matters. "We traveled to the canyon lake area on Labor Day weekend 2022. The campground was extremely clean and friendly!" says TJ S., who specifically mentioned, "The shuttle service to Whitewater Amphitheater was awesome."
RV size limits: Stone Creek RV Park has age restrictions. "Per website," warns Erika K., "RV must be less than 10 years old" to stay at this location.
Backing challenges: Camp Huaco Springs requires careful parking. "Backing in can be tricky if it's a busy weekend and you arrive late," advises Jay W., suggesting early arrival for smoother setup.
Leveling preparation: Jellystone Park requires some adjustment for RVs. "It's a bit narrow and has a lot more trees here," explains C&J F., who noted, "Staff was more than helpful at trimming some trees for a couple large RVs that struggled to get through an area."
