Nature Trail 

Experience Beaumont's "Wild Side" 

The natural beauty found in Beaumont is meant to be enjoyed face-to-face - on foot, floating down a river, by bike, or with your toes in the sand. Once a haven for trappers and loggers, Beaumont is now a paradise for hiking and biking, camping, paddling, hunting, bird-watching and close encounters with gators and other wildlife.

In Beaumont:

Beaumont Botanical Gardens

Beaumont Botanical Gardens is a 23-acre garden located within the 500 acres of Tyrrell Park. The garden features a 2-story rock waterfall and lake surrounded by multi-colored roses along with one of the country's first 9/11 Memorials. Stroll the paved walkway connecting the themed gardens that showcase camellias, modern and antique roses, bromeliads and many native plants. These walkways allow easy access for strollers and wheelchairs. Also located within the gardens is the Warren Loose Conservatory, the second largest conservatory in a public garden in Texas. The indoor conservatory boasts hundreds of species of plant life and a Koi pond stocked with Texas size fish ready to be fed. 

Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands & Boardwalk

Cattail Marsh includes 900-acres of scenic wetlands filled with wildlife. The Cattail Marsh boardwalk features two covered platforms, providing access to incredible views of the wetlands’ abundant wildlife. Cattail Marsh is offers a refuge for more than 250 species of birds annually, including: pelicans, egrets, roseate spoonbills, ducks, ibis, doves and red-winged blackbirds. The Cattail Marsh Education Center, located at the at the beginning of the boardwalk, offers a viewing deck to see the wetlands and space for activities and meetings. 

Gator Country

Feed your adventurous spirit at Gator Country - Texas' only alligator theme park. The whole family can have a hands-on experience by helping feed live alligators and take home a picture to prove it! (Kids can even swim with alligators when weather permits.) View educational demonstrations and see two of the largest alligators in captivity in the State of Texas, Big Tex and Big Al. Gator Country is also home to crocodiles, snapping turtles, snakes and other reptiles.

Neches River Boat Tour

Embark on a Neches River Adventure aboard the Ivory Bill Riverboat. The 37-passenger slow moving boat is perfect for any group looking to relax and soak in the beauty of the Neches River and Big Thicket in comfort. The river boat and dock are wheelchair accessible.

Elsewhere:

Big Thicket National Preserve

The Big Thicket National Preserve, located just outside of Beaumont consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 108,000 acres. Approximately 40 miles of trails wind through the Big Thicket, allowing hikers and bikers to observe many different ecosystems. Big Thicket activities include: backpacking, biking, bird watching, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, interpretive programs, canoeing, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. 

Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center

Rekindle your sense of wonder at Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, located just minutes from Beaumont in Orange, Texas. Along with a formal botanical gardens that contains more than 300 plant species, a bird blind allows guests to view nesting birds in Shangri La's heronry. Take a boat ride into the bayou and sit in silence as you reflect under a canopy of moss covered Cypress trees.