City: San Antonio, TX

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (210) 564-6400

Address: 21395 Milsa Rd.

Description: Nature lovers flock to Friedrich Wilderness Park for its birding opportunities and its hiking trails. Located near Six Flags Fiesta Texas, across I-10 from the Dominion Golf Course, it is the city’s only nature preserve. The 633-acre park offers more than 5 miles of hiking trails, including the Forest Range Trail, which is both scenic and wheelchair accessible. The park is known not only in Texas but also internationally for its birding opportunities. It is shaded by thick juniper trees that provide nesting sites to the golden-­cheeked warbler and the black-­capped vireo, both endangered species. The park is also home to many other forms of wildlife, including white-­tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, and more. Guided hikes are scheduled for the first Saturday of each month. A donation of $3 for individuals or $5 for a family is requested, and reservations are required.Pets are not allowed in this nature reserve; also prohibited are fires, camping, hunting, and smoking on the trails. Hikers must stick to marked trails.Nature lovers can take part in the park’s 40-hour Master Naturalists Program to learn more about local ecology, native plants, site maintenance, and more. After completing the course, participants give 40 hours or more in volunteer work. For more on the program, call the park number or see the website. The park is open from 7:30 a.m. to sunset.