Six hundred acres of native wildlife

Friedrich Wilderness Park, located in the northern region of Bexar County, is the perfect place to travel to the Texas Hill Country without having to leave town.

Thanks to the generous land donations of Norma Friedrich Ward, Wilbur Matthews, Glen Martin, and a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, local residents and visitors now have 600 acres and 10 miles of trails to explore just 19 miles from the Alamo.

Ten miles of trails

My husband and I recently spent a lovely afternoon hiking the park’s 1.7-mile Main Loop Trail. The paved entry trail is .27-miles long (.54 total), making for an enjoyable 2.24-mile hike.

Word to the wise: Wear proper, close-toed footwear and carry water in with you. Please leave no trace behind. Pack out what you bring in.

We went during the week, so we didn’t encounter many fellow hikers. Most wore masks, and we gave each other wide berth. Only service animals are allowed in the park, so leave your pup at home or take them to Eisenhower Park or Hardberger Park.

Endangered birds nest here

Years ago, we hiked through Friedrich Park in the spring and were rewarded with a golden-cheeked warbler sighting. Birders from all over the world travel to the Texas Hill Country to spot these beauties because it’s the only place on the planet where they nest. These birds are crazy about mountain cedar, the very same tree that causes terrible allergies for many of us.

You might also spot a black-capped vireo if you are in the park during the spring or summer. It’s white eye stripe and pale yellow feathers are a sight to behold.

Both of these birds are endangered species, so I am thankful that Friedrich Park provides a much-needed oasis for these threatened songbirds.

The park, located at 21395 Milsa Drive near Fiesta Texas, is open daily from sunrise to sunset. If you would like to request a guided hike, contact Friends of San Antonio Natural Areas.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!