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Wildlife & Nature TrailThis trail is part of the Great Texas Prairies and Pineywoods Wildlife Trails. It is seven and one-half miles long (can also be walked in shorter segments). The circuitous trail begins and ends at the Waterwood National Golf Course and Country Club. Visitors must pick up a trail map at the front desk of the Country Club. The trail begins in the bottomlands of a deciduous woodland, meeting a narrow dirt road that winds through a woodland of pine, cedar elm, water oak, sweetgum, pine, and sugarberry. Listen and watch for woodpeckers, White-eyed Vireos, Great Crested Flycatchers, Northern Cardinals, Chickadees, and spring and fall migrants. Listen for frogs during the wet season and watch overhead for hawks. The trail then leads back into the woodlands and follows variable terrain and crosses a small creek with outlets into Lake Livingston. Look for Red Fox, White-tailed Deer, Squirrels, Opossums, Skunks, and a variety of birds. The path continues on paved roads around a residential area and down to the Waterwood Bay at Lake Livingston. In the fall, look for White Pelicans on the lake and Swallows and Purple Martins swooping around the waters edge. These visitors join year round residents such as Great Blue Herons, kingfishers, and egrets. A patient observer might even get a chance to spot a River Otter.
The trail then continues back into the forest and crosses FM 980 to a small pond where Pine Warblers can be heard singing. The trail also passes a unique, rustic chapel which is open to the public. Behind the chapel, the trail follows a path lined by sassafras, dogwoods, sweetgum, ironwood, and American elm. A small rocky bluff overlooks a deep creek lined with pools of water. Follow along this beautiful creek and you will return to another forest that parallels the Waterwood Parkway. Then cross Waterwood Parkway into an undeveloped subdivision which is mixed pine and hardwood for another mile. There are stepping stones across a frog bog and a bridge across a ravine. The trail ends back at the Country Club. Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Kingbirds, and Red-headed Woodpeckers are some of the species seasonally visible from the club and parkway.
Note: Equestrians have very limited use of this trail, but rather should explore the additional 10.0 miles of forested trails including parking for trailers which are available to horseback riders.
For More Information:
Contact: Terri Reed, terrier77340@yahoo.com |
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