More Than Meets The Map
By Blaze on 11/8/2013
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Distance: 9.20 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 36 minutes
The Spring Acres Preserve is a Bayou Land Conservancy property in the Woodlands along Spring Creek. It is another location that is a part of the ambitious Spring Creek Greenway Project.
I visited Spring Acres Preserve thinking the trails would only be a mile or two. This was based on my understanding that this preserve is only 55 acres in size. However, I found trails going everywhere and due to a lack of signage, it was unclear if or when I left the Spring Acres Preserve boundaries. I did my best to hike all of the trails so my track file could be a guide for others in the future. I was unable to complete a couple of trails due either to fallen trees or massive puddles blocking the path. However, I believe I mapped 95% of the trails in the area.
This preserve has many of the same characteristics as the other Bayou Land Conservancy properties I've hiked previously, namely:
- The land is set aside primarily for plants and animals, so trails are an afterthought.
- There are no maps available online or in print, so you end up doing a lot of exploratory hiking. I would strongly advise taking a GPS with you because it would be very easy to get lost or disoriented in the woods.
- There are few or no signs and no direction markers, just barren trails that go all over the place.
- The trails are poorly maintained and receive little traffic. At times, it is unclear if you are even on an official trail or just following an animal trail.
One other disappointing point -- sadly, people and businesses have used these woods as an area to dump their unwanted items rather than putting them out on "heavy trash days" or paying to dispose them at a landfill. Some places are real eye sores...
I ended up hiking over 9 miles, though, so I was happy to get some distance in.