You’ll cowl 255 miles if you happen to walked all the paths in San Antonio’s metropolis parks and people alongside the Howard W. Peak Greenway Path System. At a median velocity of three miles per hour, it could take nearly a full month of nonstop strolling to finish the whole circuit. However there’d be lots to see alongside the way in which. Right here’s a information to each the wildlife and the historic websites you may come throughout in your journey, plus details about numerous “pals of” volunteer teams that do the nice work of defending and selling these trails for all to take pleasure in.
WILDLIFE
You’re unlikely to come across any really harmful animals — lions, tigers or bears — whereas mountaineering trails within the San Antonio space. A lot of the wildlife you’ll see might be extra afraid of you, or a minimum of habituated to people, than you need to be to them.
However taking some fundamental precautions can defend you and no matter animals you may run throughout. Primary, commonsense precautions stay relevant, together with:
Don’t get lost the path.
Put on seen clothes.
Make noise so that you don’t startle an animal along with your presence.
Don’t method or attempt to pet or feed a wild animal. Even apparently docile animals, equivalent to deer, can get aggressive in the event that they assume they or their offspring are in peril. Higher: Deliver a pair of binoculars whereas mountaineering so you’ll be able to observe the animals from afar.
“You additionally want to concentrate to your environment,” stated Judit Inexperienced, an city wildlife biologist with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Division. “I don’t know what number of occasions I’ve seen individuals mountaineering, even on busy roads, with their eyes glued to their telephone.”
Listed below are a number of the animals you may see on space trails.
Predators
Fox: These small, catlike animals have acclimated to city areas and aren’t unusual. They’re nocturnal, though they do seem throughout the day, particularly at daybreak or nightfall.
Coyote: Grayish brown, with an extended snout and upright ears, coyotes are sometimes mistaken for giant canines. In city areas they like wooded patches and shrubbery. Whereas coyote assaults on people are uncommon, they’ll pose a risk to kids and small animals, so if you happen to’re strolling with a pet, maintain it leashed and near you.
Snakes
The hazard from snakes is that you just’ll not often see them upfront and will inadvertently threaten or step on them. Most snakes are innocent, however listed below are some venomous ones that demand warning:
Coral snake: These have alternating bands of purple, black and yellow or white, with the yellow or white bands touching the purple bands. This rhyme will help you bear in mind: “Pink touching yellow, kill a fellow; purple touching black, venom lack.” The excellent news is that they’re sometimes not aggressive and infrequently chew except provoked.
Cottonmouth: Often known as water moccasins as a result of they stay in creek methods, cottonmouths are darkish in shade, with a heavy physique and a broad head. Not typically aggressive, their venom is potent, and bites may be severe, even lethal, if not handled promptly.
Copperhead: This snake is definitely recognized by its triangular head and hourglass-shaped dark-brown or reddish-brown crossbands. In most years, copperheads chew extra individuals than some other sort of snake, though their venom will not be very potent.
Rattlesnake: A rattlesnake is quickly identifiable by the segmented construction on the finish of its tail that offers this snake its title, in addition to the distinct buzzing or hissing it makes when it feels threatened. Rattlers may be present in parks, alongside mountaineering trails and in greenbelts, and like sheltered spots equivalent to wooden and brush piles, and rocky areas.
Different widespread wildlife
Deer: Maybe the friendliest creature on the paths, deer have grow to be inured to having people of their area, so that they’re the most important animals one is prone to come throughout whereas mountaineering. Be vigilant throughout the fall rutting season, nevertheless. And will a doe or buck run throughout your path, cease and stand nonetheless for a couple of moments, as a result of a number of extra are prone to comply with.
Feral hog: The bane of farmers and ranchers, these hogs stay in each nook of Texas. They are often aggressive, particularly sows with their younger, so maintain your distance. If challenged, yell loudly and make your self seem greater — they need to go on their approach.
Raccoon, possum and skunk: These smaller guys are normally extra energetic at night time, so throughout the day, you’re prone to see solely indicators they’ve been round — scat, spoor, tracks and the like. If mountaineering with youngsters, brush up in your identification abilities so you’ll be able to inform them which animal they simply missed.
HIDDEN HISTORY
Comanche Lookout TowerComanche Lookout Park, 15551 Nacogdoches Highway
This 1,340-foot-high peak was a distinguished space landmark for Indigenous peoples and settlers alike. At this time, trails resulting in the highest reward hikers with views of sprawling suburbia and the chance to discover the medieval-style Lookout Tower. Constructed by Col. Edward Coppock, who bought the land in 1923, the tower was meant to be a part of a hand-built citadel, and function a hay and grain barn. Sadly, Coppock died in 1948 and the mission was deserted.
Dinosaur tracks (and extra)Authorities Canyon State Pure Space, 12861 Galm Highway
Stroll alongside 110-million-year-old tracks thought to have been made by theropods or sauropods. With greater than 200 footprints, this is among the few dinosaur observe websites in Texas not locked away on non-public land. Alongside the identical Joe Johnston path, hikers may also stumble upon an 8,000-year-old rock midden (a mound of family waste) and the 140-year-old Zizelmann Home, constructed by a number of the space’s earliest German settlers.
Espada Dam, Acequia and AqueductMission Attain, close to 9045 Espada Highway
Development of this complicated system started shortly after Espada Mission was relocated right here from East Texas in 1731. The three buildings operated as a fancy irrigation system, with out which the mission couldn’t have survived. The still-functioning dam raises the San Antonio River till water flows into the hand-dug acequias, which carried it to the encircling fields. Most dramatically, the gracefully curved aqueduct nonetheless carries water over Six-Mile Creek.
Friedrich Wilderness Park WindmillFriedrich Wilderness Park on the Water Path not removed from the park’s essential entrance.
Early farmers and ranchers used windmills to pump groundwater to the floor, permitting them to boost livestock and domesticate crops nicely past rivers, creeks and different naturally occurring our bodies of water. This working windmill pumps water from the Trinity Aquifer 200 ft under floor. Water within the close by cistern makes this a great birding spot, as long as the birds aren’t scared away by different hikers.
Ignacio Perez Rancho JacalMedina River Greenway, west of Applewhite Highway
One among solely seven surviving jacals in Bexar County, this straightforward dwelling is believed to have been constructed someday within the late 1700s as a part of a 20,000-acre cattle and sheep ranch. Protected by a safety fence and visual from the Greenway path, the jacal is alleged to be probably the most important Spanish colonial websites inside the metropolis.
Morningstar BoardwalkSalado Creek Greenway, north of Woman Chook Johnson Park trailhead
Named in honor of San Antonio native and Military Workers Sgt. Christopher Morningstar, who gave his life for his nation, the raised, 3,400-foot boardwalk runs alongside the Salado Creek wetland space, so maintain an eye fixed out for deer and different wildlife. The north finish of the boardwalk is embellished with an indication commemorating Morningstar, and an embedded mosaic of purple, white and blue ceramic tiles topped by a star.
Voelcker Historic HomesteadPhil Hardberger Park, 1021 Voelcker Lane
The one-time farmstead that now makes up Hardberger park was, within the 1800s, Max and Minnie Voelcker’s dairy farm. The restored parts of the homestead embrace the dairy barn, the unique 1870s stone home and the vintage windmill. Restoration continues on the dairy barn. The homestead is open to the general public solely throughout such particular occasions, equivalent to Dairy Days within the fall; kids’s vegetable backyard courses; and month-to-month applications on the Butterfly Studying Heart.
VFW Submit 76Museum Attain, 10 tenth St.
Based in 1917 by veterans of the Spanish American Struggle, that is the oldest VFW submit in Texas. Whereas the submit does the same old VFW issues, it additionally operates the Submit Canteen, an outside patio on the banks of the River Stroll Museum Attain, the place the general public can take pleasure in grownup drinks whereas listening to music and taking within the passing scene. Common weekly occasions embrace Thursday night time karaoke, Friday DJ events and stay bands Saturday nights. Canteen revenues go to help the submit, native veterans and the encircling neighborhood.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP
In an age of restricted assets, when native governments are sometimes unable to correctly keep mountaineering trails, to not point out different park facilities, so-called “Buddies of” teams have grow to be more and more necessary to the well being and well-being of space greenspaces.
These nonprofit volunteer teams present important help through “elbow grease” efforts equivalent to path upkeep and habitat restoration, in addition to fundraising and advocacy. In different phrases, they assist “fill the gaps,” finishing duties park businesses are sometimes unable to perform alone.
San Antonio has loads of “Buddies of” teams they usually’re all the time in search of volunteers.
One such group, the Buddies of San Antonio Pure Areas, works to guard and enhance undeveloped pure areas equivalent to Friedrich Wilderness Park, in response to Dayna Cramer, the group’s president.
“We assist with nature-based training and assist individuals join with nature,” she stated. “We increase funds, herald volunteers and assist restore and restore amenities.”
Like comparable teams, SANA is all the time in want of recent volunteer members; data on the right way to get entangled is contained on the group’s web site.
Right here is extra details about different “Buddies of” teams, together with how they describe themselves:
Brackenridge Park Conservancy: “Established … to boost funds to protect and improve the park’s pure, historic, instructional, and leisure assets for present and future generations.” brackenridgepark.org
Buddies of Authorities Canyon: “We’re lovers of the outside with one widespread mission: defending and preserving the Pure Space.” friendsofgovernmentcanyon.org
Buddies of McAllister: “An all-volunteer nonprofit group working for the good thing about McAllister Park and its guests.” mcallisterpark.org
Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy: “This … nonprofit group helps all features of the park, from planning actions to fundraising.” philhardbergerpark.org
San Antonio Parks Basis: “A non-profit group whose mission is to help and improve parks in San Antonio and Bexar County.” saparks.org
