Taking in the gorgeous views at the high of Old Baldy Trail at Garner State Park.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com Calling all nature folks, time to get these hiking sneakers out!
Since I began my journey outdoors, I’ve visited fairly a couple of areas in the San Antonio space, corresponding to Government State Canyon and Garner State Park. For these unaware, I began my nature explorations through the pandemic to flee my house and assist boost my psychological well being. (Therapy and hiking have been massively helpful.)
Whether it was climbing trails with brave teams or trekking solo, hiking has turn out to be a pastime I cannot get sufficient of – and, fortunately, my work loved it as properly. With the climate being good, you can lastly explore the outdoors with family or with your mates (or just by yourself) with these 10 bucket record hikes. Remember to take lots of water.
Scroll below to learn about the hikes I’ve skilled so far. Jones Maltsberger Road
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com In May, I took a quick trip to San Antonio’s enormous 976-acre generally recognized as McAllister Park.
In the park, there are many playgrounds for the kiddos, picnic tables to loosen up, barbecue pits, a soccer area, baseball fields, a fitness station, and a fenced dog park. I hiked three of the main trails – Blue Loop, Mud Creek Trail, Salado Creek Greenway North, and Baseball Field Trail – however spent most of my time on the Blue Loop.
Along the Blue Loop, I did get lost because I did not do my analysis ahead of time and was unaware the trail is 5.8 miles long. It wasn’t marked well and I ended up walking three miles alone in a trail no one was on. The trail itself was fairly with bamboo trees, however I was distracted because of my lack of navigation abilities.
My favorite trail within the park is the peaceful Mud Creek Loop, which is at present a controversial matter as town plans to pave a trail for the greenway system. Although McAllister is near Wurzbach Highway, you’ll find a way to’t hear anything but birds and nature on this filth trail. It’s shady and comparatively flat. Read extra about the different trails here.
The park is free and open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Government Canyon State Natural Area
The view from the Bluff Spurs Trail at Government Canyon State Natural Trail. Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com
In June, I hit the Bluff Spurs Trail at Government Canyon State Natural Area to the west of San Antonio.
The park offers greater than 40 miles of trails for hiking and biking. There’s even a well-liked trail (the Joe Johnston Route) that lets you see 110-million-year-old dinosaur tracks – the only publicly recognized dinosaur tracks in Bexar County.
However, I hiked the North Bluff Spurs Overlook (3.four miles) for the breathtaking views.
The trail did not have that much shade at first but about half a mile in you’ll hit trees to protect you from the solar. It’s a bit slippery at times because of unfastened rocks, however the hike is value it. Read more right here.
The 12,244-acre park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday by way of Monday. Reservations are required.
O. P. Schnabel Park
O. P. Schnabel Park is my favourite park within the metropolis for 2 reasons: it’s near my residence and it’s the cleanest park in Texas.
It earned the nickname due to its history. In 1977, the park was renamed to honor O. P. Schnabel, an area businessman who was extensively recognized for his efforts to keep San Antonio clean and exquisite.
The trails are easy, shaded, and spacious. I don’t need to avoid cyclists all that a lot, however I feel comfortable hiking there alone as families hit the trails with their children all the time.
Plus, the deer are so cute and harmless should you depart them alone.
Read extra right here.
The park is free and open every day from 5 a.m. to eleven p.m. NW Military Highway
I hiked six miles with the San Antonio Hill Country Hiking Group on Sunday.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com
I’ve hiked Eisenhower Park loads of occasions. It was actually my first hike in San Antonio. I love it due to its paved trails and access to a tower overlooking the downtown skyline.
In July, I hiked six rough miles with the fittest group in the San Antonio space. The San Antonio Hill Country Group led me down the Yucca Trail at a quick tempo. When I tell you I was huffing and puffing, I’m not mendacity. I barely survived.
The group isn’t for everybody, actually not beginners. I’d recommend them if you’re on the lookout for a difficult hike to embark on with others who can sustain.
Plus, the park now connects two major greenways, Leon Creek and Salado Creek. With the two greenways linking, the parks and recreation department says cyclists can complete roughly 40 miles altogether. Even former San Antonio Spurs favorite Manu Ginóbili approves of the new bike trail.
The trails are free to use from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friedrich Wilderness Park
You can discover them on Facebook and Instagram on the San Antonio Plus Sized Women’s Hiking group.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com
Friedrich Wilderness Park is another favorite of mine in San Antonio. It has difficult trails which would possibly be shaded with a good incline.
In August, I joined the San Antonio Plus Sized Women’s Hiking Group for a enjoyable and loving 3-mile hike along the primary loop, Juniper Barrens, and water trail. I loved my time with this group due to their motto, “No girl is left behind.”
I felt snug and at peace having conversations with the women in the group, whom I found to be hilarious and sensible. We laughed about the totally different kinds of poop we saw on our hike (lots of raccoon feces at Friedrich it turns out). We gazed at each flower in sight (there were plenty of rain lilies as it simply poured the day prior).
While there was no wrestle with this hike, I nonetheless obtained a great workout in with the three miles.
Friedrich Wilderness Park presents approximately 10 miles of hiking trails with various degrees of issue. It’s free and open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ranch Road 965, Fredericksburg
Enchanted Rock State Park
Enchanted Rock state park. Enchanted Rock, a pink granite dome, rises 425 toes above ground and covers 640 acres. MELISSA WARD AGUILAR/HOUSTON CHRONICLE
In August, I went on a second date with a man to Enchanted Rock State Park.
It was my first time climbing up that 425-foot pink granite monolith, which is why I don’t advocate occurring a date to a strenuous incline with a man who breezed through the trail.
Hiking up the summit was one of many hardest hikes I’ve ever accomplished. It’s short (0.8 miles), however the incline kicks in nearly instantly. I never felt so unattractive. I was sweating, out of breath, and never speaking at all. He was candy and took SEVERAL breaks with me. Sadly, we stopped relationship after the fifth date, however it was a pleasant summer fling.
At Enchanted Rock, there’s additionally a hidden gem hikers love to enter. Enter at your personal danger as one San Antonio woman discovered the onerous method when she walked in and was greeted by thethousands of spiders dwelling in it.
I plan on going back to Enchanted Rock State Park to train for a objective of mine. I wish to complete the Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains State Park. The trail could be very steep and has exposed cliff edges. It is rated strenuous, with three,000 ft of elevation acquire. The spherical journey distance is 8.4 miles and customarily takes 6-8 hours to finish.
Enchanted Rock State Park is open every single day from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are needed. Park Road 31, Spring Branch
Guadalupe River State Park
Hikerbabes walking along the Bamberger trail at Guadalupe State Park.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com
In September, I joined the San Antonio group known as Hikerbabes to hike the distant a part of Guadalupe River State Park.
Guadalupe River State Park is thought for its in style river trails. However, I did not know something in regards to the primitive trails on the other facet of the park within the Bauer Unit.
With the San Antonio chapter Hikerbabes, we carved out four miles along Bamberger trail and Curry Creek Overlook trail. Most of the trail is shady, however you may attain a small stretch with native prairie grasses the place the solar will hit you exhausting. Once you get past this half, it’s clean sailing.
Hikerbabes can be one other group that leaves no woman behind. There had been only about five of us that day, however we went at a moderate speed. I’d recommend them should you like hiking in areas you’ve got been dreaming of going to, just like the Lost Maples State Natural Area, but don’t need to do it solo.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are wanted.
The gorgrous overlook at the high of Old Baldy Trail at Garner State Park.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com
Oh, Garner. This state park is particular for so many reasons.
It’s the most visited park in Texas, based on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. From September 2020 to May 2021, greater than 317,000 folks visited Garner State Park, which holds sixteen miles of scenic trails. There’s additionally a 2.9-mile stretch of entry to the Frio River, and it has 1,774 acres out there for overnight camping.
In September, I saw some jaw-dropping views after tackling the difficult half-mile Old Baldy Trail. The 45-minute hike has a sneaky elevation that assaults your lungs in the course of the first five minutes. My running shoes slipped on the free rocks for the entirety of my climb.
However, the views of the Frio River and Hill Country have been well worth the slips and falls. After the hike, my pal and I swam within the chilly and mossy river. It was top-of-the-line Saturdays this yr. Reservations are virtually all the time booked, so plan ahead.
Lost Maples State Natural Area
A photograph from Lost Maples State Natural Area to point out what the leaves look like when they turn.
When I visited the preferred state pure space for fall foliage in Texas, I was a bit dissatisfied as a outcome of the leaves hadn’t quite turned to the colorful pink and orange colors I anticipated for a November hike. However, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy my time on the park practically two hours northwest of San Antonio.
It’s beautiful.
Lost Maples offers beautiful views and an excellent disconnect from the world as cellular phone service doesn’t work on the market. I traveled alone for this hike however did not really feel any nervousness all through my 6-mile journey, thanks to how packed the park gets during November.
It’s truly a hiker’s paradise because of its challenging trails and beautiful views of the Sabinal River. Lost Maples options more than 10 miles of trails for its visitors. I explored three trails during my trip: Maple Trail (0.4 miles), East Trail (3.1 miles), and the East-West Trail (1.0 miles). I’m bummed I didn’t have sufficient strength to check out the West Trail (3.6 miles) or the West Loop Trail (2.four miles), however I plan to next time I have a chance to guide a reservation.
My favorite trail was the East Trail, the place you’ll find a cool Monkey Rock point of interest. It’s a singular limestone outcrop that has the face of a monkey. The feature was formed thousands of years ago by water flowing through the Sabinal Canyon walls.
It’s open from eight a.m. to 10 p.m. daily but check the park for holiday hours. Reservations are needed.
Read more concerning the hike right here.
McKinney Falls State Park
Instead, that is what Lower Falls looked like on Sunday, November 21.
Priscilla Aguirre, MySA.com
Though I have not strolled through sufficient Austin parks to say which one is my favorite, McKinney Falls State Park shortly became a contender with its peaceful views of Onion Creek and majestic bald cypress bushes. Views aside, the park also woos Texas historical past buffs.
In late November, I satisfied some associates to walk some trails at McKinney Falls State Park, it’s solely about 13 miles from the state capitol in Austin and about an hour and a half from San Antonio. Sadly, as a outcome of it hadn’t rained for a while, we didn’t expertise these sturdy waterfalls I’ve seen in footage and videos on-line.
However, the good, straightforward trails still provided relaxing sounds alongside the Onion Creek. It’s additionally not a closely trafficked park. We made a reservation on-line a week prior, however people had been buying day passes the day of with none issues.
The seven trails on the 641-acre park are all moderately simple for anyone on the lookout for a breezy walk or jog. We parked at the picnic trail parking lot so we could take a short stroll to the Lower Falls. It flows over limestone ledges to a pool you presumably can swim in below. We additionally checked out the Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail (2.eight miles) to escape the creek and enter trails that wind by way of the forest around the campground areas.
Read extra about its rich history.