City of San Antonio
Information on camping: 210-207-7275
Medina River Park offers trails, camping
Medina River Trail Map (PDF)
Medina River Natural Area Summer Nature Camps available this summer
8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
624-2575
$50 recommended donation with limited scholarships available
June 14–18 Summer Nature Camp for 2nd to 5th graders - Campers will explore the basics of trees, native plants, mammals, geology, reptiles, birds and insects in a natural area outdoor setting. Hiking along the Medina River and kid-friendly, take-home nature craft activities will be included.
June 21-25 You Rock! Get Outdoors Camp for 4th to 7th graders - 8:30 -11:30 a.m. Campers will learn about ethnobotany, geological forces of nature, compass and natural area inventory techniques with nature craft activities included.
This 511 acrea Natural Area features six miles of trails. It is located on the site of the old proposed Applewhite Reservoir property.
The natural area opened in April 2005 and is located at 15890 Highway 16 South.
The park has two distinct areas that can be accessed north and south of the Medina River. The north side has a large covered pavilion, restroom, parking park headquarters, and 2.5 miles of trails. On the south side, there is a cleared camping area, rest rooms, water service, all the amenities needed for group camping by reservation.
In addition, amenities include an interpretive feature that represents El Camino Real wagon trial, which many Mexican settlers followed into South Texas.
The hike/bike trails have varying degrees of difficulty and accessibility. They run the gamut from eight feet wide to four feet wide and from concrete, to compacted base, all the way to cleared or grubbed trails. Medina has an active community education program that includes a Second Saturday Program in which people are invited to participate. Click on Topics to see the program schedule for 2010 (subject to change). A donation of $2 for individuals and $4 for families is recommended.
Texas Parks and Wildlife awarded the Parks and Recreation Department a $750,000 grant to develop the property, while the Kronkosky Foundation gave the Parks Foundation a $500,000 grant for the purchase of additional park property and future improvements. The bulk of the park property, formerly known as Applewhite property, was transferred to the Parks and Recreation Department from the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) in 2002.
This is the initial development on the far south side of San Antonio, which will eventually link to properties to the east. The project eventually will encompass greenbelts and trails of over 10 miles, connecting the Medina River, Toyota site, Land Heritage Institute, Mitchell Lake and the future home of Texas A & M in San Antonio.
The San Antonio Parks Foundation has facilitated a Kronkosky Charitable Foundation Grant that has been used to improve the park's entry signage, added gats and kiosk and ground cover at a cost of $153,000.
The group camping area is available by calling 207-PARK (7275) or any Community Link Center for more information. For more information on Medina River Natural Area and the Parks and Recreation Natural Areas click on sanaturalareas.org.
Comments can be sent to kirvin@sanantonio.gov.