Getting again into nature doesn’t mean you must drive several hours outdoors of the city!. There are tons of options for hiking in Houston, with a range of microclimates and trails to take pleasure in.
Houston is located in what is considered southeast Texas and close sufficient to the Gulf of Mexico to supply plenty of rain for its surrounding forests and different vegetation.
Although a really industrial metropolis, Houston has numerous parks for hiking and journey, both inside its beltway or inside a couple of hours’ drive from the town center.
Let’s check out one of the best parks enjoying nature and hiking, both in and near Houston.
First, we will take a look at parks with enjoyable trails and hikes in Houston, after which hiking trails outdoors of the town correct with a radius of about a two-hour drive.
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The Best Hiking in Houston
Memorial Park
Any point out of hikes in Houston should embrace what many contemplate one of the best urban park around. At twice the dimensions of New York’s Central Park, this Houston gem got its begin as a World War I coaching camp.
Later named Memorial Park in memory of fallen soldiers of the Great War, it boasts over 10 miles of multi-use trails for individuals to enjoy.
What units Memorial Park aside from a number of the different inner-city parks in Houston is that it is made up of several totally different trail methods. With 1500 acres, there are no less than 13 different systems, every built with numerous natural world in thoughts.
Whether a metropolis dweller or not, a hike through Memorial Park is a worthwhile visit when looking for one of the best hiking in Houston.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Memorial Park is positioned 4.7 miles from the town center, simply inside the 610 Loop and west of downtown.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Self-described as one of many country’s finest urban green spaces, Buffalo Bayou Park consists of one hundred sixty acres of nature that are home to a few of the greatest hikes in Houston.
This green area has a collection of trails that add as much as round 15 miles complete alongside Buffalo Bayou.
While nonetheless being developed by the town of Houston, there are plans to add new sections sooner or later to make it one of the longest urban trail methods within the nation.
While hiking, take a aspect trip to see the historic water cistern system that was developed in 1926, and if strolling at dusk, check out the hundreds of Mexican free-tailed bats as they swirl out of the Waugh Street Bridge on their nightly hunt.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Buffalo Bayou Park is situated inside 1.5 miles of downtown.
Terry Hershey Park
With over 10 miles of trails for hiking and biking, Terry Hershey Park is certainly one of Houston’s best-rated parks.
Nature lovers will particularly love the hiking Terry Hershey Park presents, as lots of the trails run alongside Buffalo Bayou and are located in a wooded setting. The park’s natural variety is a habitat for most of the Gulf Coast birds who call Houston residence.
For those who like to experience mountain bikes, this park is regionally famous as having some of the greatest bike trails in Houston.
The bike trails at Terry Hershey Park have been designed by GHORBA or the Greater Houston Area Bike Association, who developed the trails with technical difficulties built in. The famous “Anthills” Trail for biking is situated here on the park.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Terry Hershey Park is about 16.5 miles west of downtown, placing it right on the edge of thought of an city park.
White Oak Bayou Greenway
More and extra regularly these days, trail builders are connecting new trails with already current paths to create giant hiking techniques.
The White Oak Bayou Greenway has completed this by creating access to a system of hiking trails in Houston that run over 17 miles alongside the waterway the system is called after.
This will be the most numerous of all of the inner loop methods as it encompasses several completely different neighborhoods because it meanders west.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
White Oak Bayou begins within the Heights neighborhood space about 5.5 miles northwest of downtown.
Keith-Weiss Park
With 500 acres of mostly floodplain, Keith-Weiss Park is nestled inside pine bushes, of which 140 acres are devoted to old-growth trees.
Although this has one of the shortest hiking trails of the parks inside town at roughly 2 miles, the forested space makes it some of the enjoyable hikes in Houston.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Keith-Weiss Park is located 11.5 miles north of downtown.
Hermann Park
Not only is Hermann Park generally known as the home of one of the best zoos in Texas, nevertheless it additionally owns a few of the best urban hiking trails in Houston.
While not identified for nature trails, walkers can enjoy surroundings such as the Jessie H. Jones Reflection pool (the awesome obelisk is an additional treat), or the eight-acre McGovern Lake and other nice points of interest alongside the greatest way. The Cue de Grau of your walk might be Hermann Park’s Japanese Garden.
One of the best parts of hiking in Hermann Park is that when completed strolling within the Texas warmth, you probably can cool off in one of many many museums within the surrounding space.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Herman Park is located 3.4 miles southwest of downtown.
The Best Hiking Near Houston
Armand Bayou Nature Center
This wilderness preserve of over 2500 acres in marsh wetlands is a Texas Gulf Coast treasure.
Armand Bayou Park is situated near the Trinity Bay and is crammed with almost four hundred species of animals and 1000’s of native plants.
With 5 miles of trails, you’re certain to spend a full day taking within the park’s beauty.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Armand Bayou Park is a 25-mile drive from the middle of Houston.
While far sufficient out to be thought of outdoors of the town, it’s nonetheless thought-about urban hiking near Houston.
Lake Houston Wilderness Park
Although outdoors of Houston’s beltway and never in an urban space, Lake Houston Wilderness Park is part of the City of Houston’s park system.
Encompassing over 4700 acres, the park has over 20 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horse riding.
With this many miles to cover, you may wish to spend a couple of days hiking the different trails. Luckily, this is the only park in the city of Houston’s system that permits overnight tenting.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Lake Houston Wilderness Park is located 33 miles northeast of downtown Houston.
Brazos Bend State Park
Texas has a number of the cleanest and best-organized state parks methods of any within the nation. The first state park on our listing is a brief drive outside the city and makes a fantastic day journey.
Brazos Bend State Park has nearly 40 miles of trails throughout the park, surrounded by nature. The paths of the park twist by way of hardwood forest and round lakes to satisfy the most important outdoor enthusiasts.
For those who want to take pleasure in a great hike by way of the wilderness, but may not have the ability to stroll, the park also provides thirteen miles of horse trails (sorry, horses not included).
When you’ve completed this hike near Houston, visit the park’s nature center and observatory for a rest.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Brazos Bend State Park is situated 45 miles southwest of downtown.
Spring Creek Greenway
Running along Spring Creek, this greenway connects several parks communities with its hiking trail system.
Close enough to Houston to be located in a developed space, Spring Creek Greenway is surrounded by enough nature to make you suppose you’re in a faraway nation setting.
There are presently 12 miles of trails running from park to park with a plan to add as much as 30 miles when completed.
One of the most effective issues about Spring Creek Greenway is you could enter the trail system at several totally different points. Spring Creek Bend, Riley Fuzzel Road Preserve, Dennis Johnson Park, and Jesse H. Jones Nature Center are only some parks to begin out your hike within the greenway.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Depending on which trailhead you start your hike, Spring Creek Greenway is about 32 miles north of downtown Houston.
Huntsville State Park
Getting again to state parks, we find probably the greatest areas for hiking near Houston.
Huntsville State Park is close sufficient to the city for a brief drive, but far sufficient away to witness the topography of the land change.
Here you will find more challenging hiking trails, with rolling hills and loads of wandering to do inside a thick pine forest. There are 18 miles of trails on the park, all connecting and between .08 miles up to around 13 miles each.
Much of the trail surrounds the park’s stunning human-made lake, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps through the Great Depression years. Campsite, kayak, and canoe leases are additionally obtainable for additional fun.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Huntsville State Park is situated sixty five miles north of downtown Houston.
Sam Houston National Forest
This large nationwide park covers over 163,000 acres and wishes three Texas counties to stretch out in.
With over 128 miles of natural paths, that is by far the biggest trail system on our record. One of one of the best places to mountain bike is the 18 miles of trails situated in the Double Lake area of the Sam Houston National Forest.
Take a day hike beginning at one of the dozens of trailheads or take several days to hike the whole system. Deep inside of the piney wooden forest, you’ll be able to spend a whole day without seeing another human in a few of the extra distant areas.
Take loads of water and food with you, as the Texas warmth and distance between civilization can be extreme.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
The Sam Houston National Forest has several trailheads in numerous towns and counties, but on common is a 60-mile drive from downtown Houston.
Galveston Island State Park
Compared to other state and national areas, Galveston State Park hiking trails are thought-about short in length. What they lack in further miles, they make up for in variety.
The park has four miles of hiking trails via lovely and natural marsh and sand dunes that can’t be found on some of the longer trails within the area.
The trail system is well managed with wooden boardwalks designed to keep your feet dry.
When you need a cool off from your hike, take a dip at the park’s beach.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Galveston Island State Park is situated 65 miles from downtown Houston.
Big Thicket National Preserve
The greatest phrases to describe this trail system are long and diversified, as nine totally different ecosystems could be discovered in the Big Thicket National Preserve.
As the name implies, the world is residence to a dense forest that grows exceedingly fast in its subtropical local weather.
Over forty miles of hiking trails are maintained within the thicket, with entry to tons of of sorts of plant and animal species.
Located along a quantity of creeks and the Neches River, the park also presents tenting, kayaking, and canoeing if you get bored with the lengthy hikes.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
The Big Thicket National Preserve is located ninety three miles from downtown Houston.
Stephen F. Austin State Park
Located on the gorgeous Brazos River, this park presents 5 miles of hiking trail alongside the river and through native hardwood timber.
Not only is the park nice for hiking near Houston, but it is also the site of one of the first colonies in Texas settled by Stephen F. Austin’s authentic 300 households.
Driving Distance from Downtown Houston
Stephen F. Austin State Park is located 50 miles west of downtown Houston.