Cattail Marsh
- Trail Length: 8 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
With more than eight miles of trails, Cattail Marsh’s natural beauty unfolds itself to its visitors. With a variety of aquatic mammals and over 250 species of birds visible anytime of year and even more during spring and fall migration, you’ll have plenty of friends guiding you along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for sun-bathing gators, waterfowl and the family of bald eagles that call the area home. This wildlife refuge makes for a great place to get your jog on or to simply be inspired by your surroundings. Afterward, take a breather at the Wetlands Education Center and learn about all the intriguing creatures you come across.
Pro Tip: There's free yoga and kid's activities every Saturday morning.
Big Thicket National Preserve
- Trail Length: Approximately 40 miles of hiking trails ranging from 0.3 miles to 18 miles roundtrip
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Recommended Trails:
- Birdwatchers Trail (1 mile roundtrip)
- Kirby Nature Trail (1.5- 2.5 miles roundtrip)
- Sandhill Loop Trail (5 to 9 miles roundtrip)
- Turkey Creek Trail (17 miles)
Encircling more than 113,000 acres, consisting of nine land units and six water corridors, the Big Thicket National Preserve offers approximately 40 miles of hiking trails and more than 20 miles of paddling trails. Described as the "Biological Crossroads of America," it's one of the most diverse natural areas in the country and an important protected ecosystem.
Activities aren’t limited to just hiking and kayaking - biking, bird-watching, fishing, hunting, and even horseback riding are a just few of the recreational opportunities the Big Thicket offers.
Trails of varying lengths and interests allow visitors to choose their experience and decide which landscape is right for them. Whether you’re into wildflowers, birds, or biodiversity, there’s a trail for you. If you can’t get enough of the Big Thicket and want to explore more, make it an overnight trip and camp out in the backcountry.
Village Creek State Park
- Trail Length: 8 miles of marked trails ranging from 0.1 miles to 3.8 miles roundtrip
- Difficulty: Easy to Challenging
Recommended Trails:
- Lil’ Paws Nature Trail (0.1 miles) – Easy for the Kiddos
- Water Oak Trail (3.8 miles roundtrip) – Moderate
- Village Creek Trail (2.1 miles roundtrip) – Challenging
On the edge of the Big Thicket sits Village Creek State Park. Diverse plant and animal species make this heavily forested state park unique. Bobcats, roadrunners, and armadillos roam the grounds while woodpeckers and songbirds perch from lofty treetop rafters.
Trek the eight miles of marked trails and take in the nature around you. With multiple trails of different distances (from 0.1 miles to 3.8 miles roundtrip) and difficulties (ranging from easy to challenging), it's a choose your own adventure. See yucca and cypress along the Water Oak Trail and backwater sloughs in the Tupelo Trail and take a dip to cool off following the Village Creek Trail.
Sea Rim State Park
- Trail Length: About 5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Recommended Trails
- Dune Boardwalk: 0.1 miles
- Beachfront: about 5 miles
With over 4,000 acres of marshlands and five miles of sand shore, Sea Rim State Park attracts lovers of the marsh and the gulf. From warblers to gators to muskrats, wildlife abounds, making this coastal park not only a great place to get your steps in, but also to witness nature up close. For the birders out there, Sea Rim State Park is located along the Greater Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
Take in the sights from the elevated boardwalk above the dunes and listen to the sound of the waves before combing the beach for seashells. If the sprawling marshland demands you to stay, dispersed and electrical campsites are available to spend the night beside the lapping waves.
Beaumont Hike & Bikes Trails
If you’re looking for a nature reprieve right in the heart of the city, look no further than Beaumont’s Hike and Bike Trails at the intersection of Folsom Drive and Phelan Boulevard. Both offer wide, fully-paved paths, benches to rest or take a water break, and welcome furry friends.
Folsom Hike & Bike Trail
- Trail Length: 1.4 miles (one-way) or 2.8 miles (roundtrip)
- Difficulty: Easy
At the Folsom Hike & Bike Trail, enjoy a stroll or a sprint along the 10 feet wide and 1.4 mile-long concrete trail. With a sloping hill, you give your body a chance to adapt to a different terrain and get a different view of your surroundings.
Gulf Terrace Hike & Bike Trail
- Trail Length: 3.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
The Gulf Terrace Hike & Bike Trail offers a distance of 3.5 miles via a loop trail. The trail can be accessed from two different entrance points - via Dishman or Phelan. If you’re in the mood to run on grass, try the adjacent soccer fields, but watch out for stray balls.