Field Trip: Berry Springs Park and Preserve, Sunday, October 26, 2025

— Cindy Chrisler

Renovations and improvements are near completion at Berry Springs Park and Preserve in Georgetown. Improvements include the new Milkweed Trail that takes visitors to the newly opened South Acres, across the county road from the main entrance. We will take a leisurely walk from the Donkey Viewing Area to the Milkweed Trail entrance, under the bridge where CR 152 crosses Berry Creek. The Milkweed Trail is about a mile of mowed grass or mulched pathways that encircle a 30 acre meadow and meander through the tip of an historic  pecan grove. We will encounter some riparian habitat along Berry Creek and  Dry Berry Creek, where flying squirrels and swamp rabbits have been documented. Bring your camera to capture late summer flowers, bees, butterflies, and birds. Visitors are allowed to harvest pecans if you can beat the squirrels to them.

  • What: Easy walk for about 1.5 miles on mulch, mowed grass, and pavement
  • When: Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
  • Where:  Berry Springs Park and Preserve, 1801 CR 152, Georgetown, TX. Meet at the donkey compound.

The field trip is open to all, members and non-members, and no RSVP is required. Wear clothing appropriate for the weather and bring water and snacks. We recommend using bug spray and sunscreen.

Directions from the south via I-35:  From I-35, take exit 265 and stay on the service road for about 0.7 miles. Turn right at the stop sign for TX 130 and remain on its service road for about 0.8 miles. Turn left on CR 152 and proceed for about a mile to the park entrance. Turn left into the park and proceed about a quarter mile to the first parking lot. Park in front of the Visitor’s Center or the donkey compound. Meet at the donkey compound.

There is no entry fee. Take a few minutes before or after the field trip to visit the new Visitor’s Center and pet the donkeys!

There are restrooms and water stations at the Visitor’s Center, at the top parking lot, and in the campground. There are small pollinator gardens at the end of the entrance avenue, at the campground entrance, near the large pavilion, and at the observation deck for the springs. 

If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).

————–
See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.

image of wildflower meadow
Wildflower meadow at Berry Springs Park and Preserve, May 2013. Photo by Bob Kamper.

Field Trip: River Ranch County Park, Friday, September 12, 2025

— by Anne Adams

Want to brush up on your grass ID skills? Our next field trip will be to River Ranch County Park, near Liberty Hill. We will hike about 1 mile on a gravelly trail through Live oak/Juniper savannah, where we will observe a variety of grasses native to this habitat. As hike leader for this trip, we are very fortunate to have Ricky Linex, wildlife biologist and author of Range Plants of North Central Texas: A Land User’s Guide to their Identification, Value and Management. Ricky is also the current President of the Native Plant Society of Texas.

  • What:    Hike along 1 mile of unpaved trail with slight inclines and some loose gravel.
  • When:  8:45 am to 11:45 am, Friday, September 12, 2025
  • WhereRiver Ranch County Park, 194 Reveille Way, Liberty Hill, TX

Directions, including where to meet:

– Entrance to the park is off CR 279 near Liberty Hill. Stop at the registration office to pay the entrance fee of $4 per person ($2 over age 65) and pick up a free map if you wish.

– From the registration office, stay on the main road, Reveille Way, for 1.4 miles. This will take you past the West Trailhead Parking area and past the Hiker sign where Trail B crosses the road. We will gather at the next Hiker sign where Trail A crosses the road.

– Park on the grass on either side of the road.

Members and non-members are welcome! No RSVP is required. Restrooms are available at the registration office and other locations within the park.

Dress appropriately for the weather and terrain. Due to uneven surfaces and loose gravel, we recommend a hiking stick and sturdy shoes, as well as a hat, water, sunscreen and bug spray.  

If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee (contact form here).

————–
See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.

image from trail
From December 2024’s field trip to River Ranch County Park. View from overlook trail. Photo by Gary Bowers.

Field Trip: Aquatic Plants Tour, San Marcos, Saturday, July 26, 2025

— by Nancy Pumphrey

image of White Water-lily
White Water-lily, Nymphaea odorata. Lake Waco Wetlands. Chapter field trip in July 2013.
  • What:    Aquatic Plants Tour, San Marcos, TX
  • When:  Saturday, July 26, 2025, 12:30pm – 2:30 pm
    • There is a $3.00 parking fee payable by card only.
    • Meet at the tour ticket kiosk, but do not buy a tour ticket. The chapter is covering ticket costs.
  • Where:  The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, 211 San Marcos Springs Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
  • You must register for the field trip by Sunday, July 20. Use the RSVP form at this link.
    • Reservations are required since we must reserve space in advance.
  • Our field trip is open to the public.

Join us for an out of town field trip to The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment located on the San Marcos River.

For detailed directions go to https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu. There is a $3.00 parking fee payable by card only.

We will meet at 12:30pm, Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the tour ticket kiosk. Do not buy a tour ticket. The chapter is covering tour ticket costs for this trip.

Bring water, a hat, sun screen and bug repellent. Our tour consists of a one and a half hour tour on a glass bottom boat and a short wetlands walk. Casey Williams will facilitate the trip. (Bonus reminder! Casey shared his expertise with us at last August’s chapter meeting; the presentation is on YouTube here.)

We need a head count by July 20th so please fill out our form and submit it asap so that we have a place for you.  See you in San Marcos!

If you have questions, please contact the Field Trip Committee.

————–
See photos from some of our previous field trips in our Field Trip Album.