Friedrich Wilderness, Eisenhower, Medina River, Crownridge Canyon, Stone Oak, and Walker Ranch Historic Landmark 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 Drive
Hours: 6 a.m. to dusk

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.

First Saturday Interpretive Walks
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. Experience the natural world through a variety of programs on topics ranging from wildflowers to astronomy. Hikes are often part of the package.

The 2008 dates and locations are: April 5 – Crownridge Canyon; May 3 – Walker Ranch; June 7 – Eisenhower; July 5 – Friedrich; Aug. 2 - Crownridge Canyon; Sept. 6 – Walker Ranch; Oct. 4 – Eisenhower; Nov. 1- Friedrich; and Dec. 6 – Crownridge Canyon.

Second Saturday Programs
Eisenhower Park
19399 Northwest Military Drive
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 12, 2008 – 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Neighborhood Birds – explorations in the world of birds with Tom and Patsy Inglet.
May 10 – 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Plant Hike – Join Janis Merritt, native plant expert, on a hike through the spring flora.
June 14 – topic to be announced.
July 12 – 7 – 8:30 p.m. How the Possum Lost his Furry Tail. Native American stories with Lipan Apache storyteller Emma Ortega.
Aug. 9 – 10 a.m. – 12 noon – Meeting Snakes. Exploring snakes of the San Antonio area with members of the South Texas Herpetology Association and scaly friends.
Sept. 13 – Topic to be announced.
Oct. 11 – 7 – 9 p.m. Welcome to My Web – A lively investigation of spiders with a brief walk to look for them with Dr. Cary Guffey from Our Lady of the Lake University.

Wild Wednesdays Extraordinary Experiences in Nature at Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa. 9:30 – 11 a.m. July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13, and Aug. 20. Family oriented activities targeted at children ages 7 to 11 years. $3 a class with a maximum of $6 per family per class. Call Peggy Spring at 564-6402 for more information.

Medina River Natural Area
15890 Highway 16 South
7:30 a.m. – sunset
Program Reservations: 624-2575
Camping Reservations: 207-7275
Medina River Site Map (PDF)

A 364-acre Natural Areas park on the site of the old proposed Applewhite Reservoir property opened in April 2005, located at 15890 Highway 16 South.

This natural area gives citizens access to a beautiful 364-acre property that has been enhanced with 2.5 miles of trails with interpretive features representing El Camino Real wagon trail. 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. Topics vary and may include a hike. A donation of $2 for individuals and $4 for families is recommended.

The upcoming Second Saturday schedule includes:

March 8 - 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Makin' Tracks, Bill Woller, Master Naturalist, and Susan Blaker.
April 12 – 9 – 11 a.m. – Spring Bird Migration lead by Susan Blaker and Georgina Schwartz, San Antonio Audubon Society.
May 10 – 9 – 11 a.m. – Rainwater Harvesting & Butterflies - Nelson Diarte AgriLIFE, and Terry Doyle
June 14 – 9 – 11 a.m. Nature Photography with Cindy Sims
July 12 – 9 – 11 a.m. – Turtles of Medina with Andrea Coleman
Aug. 9 – 9 – 11 a.m. – Fishing Clinic with Kenny Fletcher, San Antonio River Authority
Sept. 13 – 7 – 9 p.m. – Owl Prowl & Night Sounds with Richard Heilbrun, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Oct. 18 – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Fall Fest featuring numerous presenters on Topics such as bats, tusks, flintknapping, water conservation, Plants, birds, fishing, tracks, insects, maps, crafts, butterflies and more
Nov. 8 – 9 – 11 a.m. – Art in the Park with Susan Blaker
Dec. 13 – 6 – 8 p.m. – Star Quest – San Antonio Astronomical Association

Down By the River Nature Day Camp
Medina River Natural Area
June 2 – 6 and June 9 -13, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 12 noon
$50
Youngsters interested in nature will love this camp. They’ll learn the characteristics of insects, what birds live nearby, what scat is, how to identify tracks and much more at Medina River Natural Area. They’ll take hikes, do ecology scavenger hunts, journal, do nature art and make birdhouses. Pre-registration is required and camps are limited to 25 campers. For more information, call 624-2575.

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. Dates in 2007 are April 28, May 26, June 30, July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 29, Oct. 27, and Nov. 17. Call the park for more information at 624-2575.

Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park
12603 West Avenue
Hours: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Walker Ranch, added to the park system in 1999, has long been a site of historical significance for this region. The park is part of a larger archaeologically significant site where hunting and gathering people have lived and visited over thousands of years. It also was part of the Monte Galvan, which was a supply ranch for the Mission San Antonio de Valero, later known as the Alamo.

The park currently features a 0.5 mile paved exercise trail, about 1 mile of nature trail, playscape and covered pavilion (which can be reserved by calling 207-3120). Rules include no fires (including BBQ pits and hibachis) and no camping. Trail signs, benches and a map board have recently been added to help visitors explore the natural surfaced nature trails.

Crownridge Canyon Natural Area
7222 Luskey Blvd.
Open seven days a week
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

San Antonio Botanical Garden

Government Canyon State Natural Area

San Antonio Audubon Society

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Comments can be sent to kirvin@sanantonio.gov.