Nature Areas and Programs
Friedrich Wilderness, Eisenhower, Medina River, Crownridge Canyon, and Stone Oak
Parks are the jewels of the Parks and Recreation Department’s Natural Areas Division. Hiking, observing wildlife, and learning more about South Texas native species are among the activities encouraged in the natural areas. Admission is free at these parks. Educational informative programming is offered throughout the year at all of the parks.
Friedrich Wilderness Park
21395 Milsa
Open seven days a week (except Christmas and New Year’s)
7:30 a.m. - sunset
564-6400 (for information on Friedrich, Eisenhower, Crownridge Canyon, Stone Oak or Walker Ranch Parks)
Friedrich Wilderness Park is 600-acre home for rare birds, terrestrial orchids, steep hills and deep canyons. It is internationally known for bird watching. Perched on the edge if the Balcones Escarpment, Friedrich is a nesting site for two federally listed endangered species of birds: the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler. The park offers 5.5 miles of hiking with varying degrees of difficulty.
To protect the endangered species, pets are not allowed. Rest rooms and water fountains are found at the entrance to the park. Visitors are encouraged to bring water bottles for longer hikes in warm weather. Rules include no fires, no smoking on trails, and hikers are required to stay on designated trails. Pedestrians only; roller blades, skateboards, scooters, bicycles, etc. are not allowed.
Eisenhower Park
19399 Northwest Military Highway
Hours: 6 a.m. to Sunset
Nearby Eisenhower Park, south of Camp Bullis on Northwest Military Drive, offers an additional five miles of trails for hiking, jogging and nature study. Special markers, designating examples of Texas Hill Country vegetation, have recently been added along portions of selected trails. A marker guide is available at the trailhead near the public restrooms. This 320-acre park contains excellent examples of Texas Hill Country landscapes, including wooded dry creek beds and rocky canyons. Pets are allowed on leash, but please be prepared to remove any droppings your pet may leave. Barbecue and picnic facilities are
available. A large event pavilion is available by reservation. Two smaller pavilions may also be reserved. (Call 207-3120 for facility reservations.) No roller blades, scooters, bicycles, etc. are allowed and hikers are required to stay on designated trails. To help preserve the health and beauty of this sensitive natural area, please do not disturb the plants, rocks or animals.
Young Birders Club new offering at Friedrich Wilderness Park
do you like to look at, listen to, and learn about birds? That makes you a birder. Are you between the ages of 9 and 14? That makes you a young birder? Would you like to improve your birding and leadership skills along with other people about your age who are also interested in birds? Then join the Young Birders Club!
The first meeting with be February 27 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa Road. The schedule also includes meetings on March 13 (12 noon - 2 p.m.), April 10, May 8, and June 12 (all from 8 to 10 a.m.). Bring your binoculars if you have them. Suggested donation is $2 per meeting. For more information, call 564-6400.
Wild Weeks! 2010 Get to the Bottom of Things (Youth ages 7 to 12)Friedrich Wilderness Park, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Session I June 14 – 18
Session II June 21 - 25
Session III June 29 – July 1
Sessions I and II Fee: $75 (limited partial scholarships available)
Session III Fee: $45
Friedrich Wilderness Park
21395 Milsa Road
564-6400
Want to get to the bottom of things about nature? Come help us explore animal feet, roots, bedrock and underground water. Make a rock collection. Compare mammal, bird, insect and snail feet and hunt for some insects. Confuse some termites. Paint some rock art. Learn about the Edwards aquifer. Examine some hearts. Make a plaster cast of an animal track. Investigate plant roots and sprout some seeds. Go on a virtual safari in the park. Take a photo hike and lots more! Join us for our hands-on ecology day camps presented by Friends of Friedrich Wilderness Park and the Parks and Recreation Department Natural Areas. Pre-registration required. First Saturday Interpretive Walks
Friedrich, Eisenhower, Crownridge Canyon and Walker Ranch
Reservations: 564-6400
These walks are designed to give individuals and families an introduction to the natural and cultural history of San Antonio’s natural areas. The hikes are conducted the first Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. A $2 donation is recommended. The 2010 dates and locations are: April 4 – Eisenhower Park; May 2 – Friedrich Wilderness Park; June 6 – Crownridge Canyon Natural Area; Aug. 1 – Eisenhower Park; Sept. 5 – Friedrich Wilderness Park; Oct. 3 – Crownridge Canyon Natural Area; Nov. 7 – Eisenhower Park; and Dec. 5 – Friedrich Wilderness Park.
Second Saturday Programs at Friedrich, Eisenhower and Crownridge Canyon Natural Areas
Reservations: 564-6400
Recommendation Donation: $3 per person or $5 per family
Experience the natural world through a variety of programs on topics ranging from wildflowers to astronomy. Hikes are often part of the package. Some of the upcoming programs include:
April 10 - Meeting Snakes .10 a.m. - 12 noon Friedrich Wilderness Park. Exploring snakes of the San Antonio area with members of the South Texas Herpetology Association.
May 8 - Neighborhood Birds.10 a.m. - 12 noon. Friedrich Wilderness Park. Explorations in the world of birds with Tom and Patsy Inglet. Learn to use binoculars.
June 12 - Plants of the Canyon. 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Crownridge Canyon Natural Area. Janis Merritt, local native plant expert, will lead a walk focusing on identification, ethnobotany and potential landscape uses.
July 10 - Growing Up WILD.10 a.m. – 12 noon Eisenhower Park. This program targets children ages 3 to 7 and their families with nature games, crafts, hands-on displays and other activities.
August 14 - Roaches to Go - 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Eisenhower Park. We all love those creeping and crawling bugs. Holly Camero leads our exploration into the world of the six-legged.
Sept. 11 - Animal Tracking - 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Eisenhower Park. Join TPWD wildlife biologist Richard Heilbrun for an interactive workshop to explore wildlife tracks of central Texas.
October 9 - Welcome to My Web. 7 - 9 p.m. Eisenhower Park . A lively investigation of spiders with a brief walk to look for them with Dr. Cary Guffey of Our Lady of the Lake University.
Nov.13 - Native American Stories. 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Eisenhower Park. Lipan Apache story teller, Emma Ortega, shares her stories including the story of what the turkeys saved!
Dec. 11 - Star Party. 6 – 8 p.m. Star gazing with the San Antonio Astronomical Society. What's to see in the crisp, clear winter skies?
Wild Wednesdays
Extraordinary Experiences in Nature
Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Family oriented activities targeted at children ages 7 to 11 years. $5 a class with a maximum of $10 per family per class. Call 564-6400 for more information and reservations. July 14 - Limestone Legacy: Hike to explore the limestone and other rocks of our area. Make a sedimentary rock.
July 21 - From Insects to Ink: Make ink from an insect house; sample some ‘bug juice.’ Write with a quill pen and take it home.
July 28 - Paws and Claws: Examine animal pelts, skulls and model feet. Learn about tracking. Make a cast of an animal track.
Aug. 4 - Water Water Everywhere: Hike to our windmill. Study a model of a stream. Take home a test tube with an oil/water demonstration.
Aug.11 - Roaches to Go: Explore the lives of insects with Holly Camero’s six-legged critters. Make an insect habitat
Aug. 18 - Super Seeds: Meet the largest seed in the world! Observe flowers and pollinators. Take home a seed tube. Medina River Natural Area
15890 Highway 16 South
7:30 a.m. – sunset (Closed Christmas and New Year's)
Program Reservations: 624-2575
Camping Reservations: 207-7275
Medina River Site Map (PDF)
A 511-acre Natural Areas park on the site of the old proposed Applewhite Reservoir property, this natural area opened in April 2005. It is located at 15890 Highway 16 South.This natural area gives citizens access to a beautiful natural area that has been enhanced with six miles of trails with interpretive features representing what was once El Camino Real wagon trail for the settlers. The northside of the park includes a large covered pavilion, restrooms, trailhead, parking and a staff building. The park, which will eventually link greenbelts and trails over a 10-mile area known as City South, also features a group camping area available by reservation. This area includes parking, camping, restrooms, water service and a small covered pavilion for camping activities. For information on how to utilize the group camping area click here.
Medina River Natural Area Second Saturday Program
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.
Viva Voluntarios:
Help keep Medina River Natural Area clean and a wonderful place to hike and camp. This volunteer clean-up event occurs the last Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Plant native trees, remove non-native plants, and pick up trash. Call the park for more information at 624-2575.
Crownridge Canyon Natural Area7222 Luskey Blvd.
Open seven days a week (closed Christmas and New Year's)
7:30 a.m. - sunset
One of the newest parks in the natural areas, Crownridge is a 207-acre property purchased in 2001 with Proposition 3 Sales Tax Aquifer Protection Program funds. The park includes a covered shelter with seating, a rainwater harvesting demonstration area, interpretive signs, native landscaping enhancements, a bike rack, solar lighting, 1.5 miles of cement-stabilized ADA Level 1 accessible trails and .5 miles of natural trails.
Stone Oak Park
20395 Stone Oak Parkway
Open seven days a week
7:30 a.m. - sunset
The first phase of this park opened in March 2006 and includes a multi-use trail system, covered shelter, interpretive signage and cave protection features. A second phase will be under construction during the summer of 2006. When completed it will include additional trails, a natural playground and outdoor classrooms.
Other links to Nature Attractions, Organizations, Agencies and Activities:
Alamo Area Master Naturalists
WildFest San Antonio
Trails
Texas Trail Network Trail Registry
Go to | City Gov Home Page | Parks and Recreation homepage
Comments can be sent to kirvin@sanantonio.gov.