Tag: hiking trails

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Field Trip: March 17, 2024, Tree Walk at Old Settlers Park

— by Gary Bowers

What: Tree Walk in the Park, led by Gary Bowers
Where: Old Settlers Park, 3017–3099 Whitlow Way, Round Rock
When: 10:00am-Noon on Sunday, March 17, 2024
Our field trip is free and open to the public.

Join us for the 2nd Tree Walk of 2024 at Old Settlers Park on Sunday, March 17, 2024. We will continue learning about identification of trees during dormancy but, with some luck…

🍀

… and good weather, we will hopefully start seeing some trees break dormancy and bud out.

View directions on: Apple Maps or Google Maps

We’ll meet in the parking area at the Virgil Rabb Pavilion off of Whitlow Way, in Old Settlers Park. From there we will walk around the pavilion to the nature trail. The walk is around 2 miles and will take around 2 hours to complete with relatively brisk walks between talking points.

For anyone interested, a few of the NPSOT members will continue on to Cork & Barrel after the walk to celebrate St. Patricks Day (and native plants).

map
Meeting point and parking. Rabb Pavilion, Old Settlers Park, Round Rock, TX.
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Field Trip: Twin Creeks Historic Park Trail

— by Sue Wiseman

  • What:   Twin Creeks Historic Park Trail Field Trip
  • When:  1:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Sunday, February 4, 2024
    • Please plan on arriving by 1:30 PM. Once we have everyone signed in we’ll start hiking at 1:45 PM.
  • Where:  Parking lot at 3300 King Monument Lane, Cedar Park, TX

Our field trip is free and open to the public.

Most of the trail at Twin Creeks Historic Park is a wide paved roadway followed by a grassy area next to the headwaters of Cypress Creek.  Dress appropriately and bring water. 

  • Directions from US HWY 183 and N FM 620/Ranch Road 620:
    • Head west on N FM620 for 1.9 miles.
    • Turn right onto Anderson Mill Road for 1.0 mile.
    • Turn left at the traffic signal onto RM 2769 for .9 miles.
    • Turn right into the parking lot. 
    • The driveway is on a blind curve so please watch for NPSOT signs.
image of a map
image of a map


See photos from other field trips in our album=>

Field Trip Photo Album
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Trip Report: Jan 1’s First Day Hike

— by Cindy Chrisler

Gary Bowers led 18 enthusiastic hikers on a trail at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock to learn about tree identification and habitats found in the area.  Attendees were treated to Gary’s expertise, augmented by the collective knowledge of several local NPSOT members. 

In addition to learning a new term (marcescence), the group was entertained by a squirrel entering its nest cavity in an elm, the sight of a very large poison ivy vine, luminescent soapberries, colorful possumhaw berries, and an enormous live oak. We also learned Native American uses of some trees from a NPSOT-Wilco member and botany student at UT Austin, Arnan Pawawongsak.

Two children who dutifully accompanied their parents often engaged Gary with questions about leaves, bark, and other observations on the plants seen on the hike. Several non-members attended the hike, and were eagerly invited to attend our next meeting. This delightful outing was the perfect beginning for the new year.

group on field trip
Soapberry, Sapindus saponaria
Possumhaw, Ilex decidua

Plant images: Soapberry, Sapindus saponaria and Possumhaw, Ilex decidua.
Photos by Cindy Chrisler.


See more photos from this field trip and others=>

Field Trip Photo Album