try. Its uniqueness stems from a semi-tropical grotto cut PARKS AND PRESERVES deep within its sheltered canyon by perennially falling water. Orchids and cypress trees share the cool moist, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center terrarium-like setting while cactus and juniper grow in the 4801 La Crosse Avenue hot, dry habitat above the canyon rim. It is located on Austin, TX 78739 Hamilton Pool Road, off Hwy. 71. Contact: 292-4200 The land is owned by the Lower Colorado River Au- FAX: 292-4627 thority, and run by a nonprofit organization that gives E-mail: [email protected] tours, and provides security and restoration to the site. Net: www.wildflower.org Projects/Activities: Weekend tours at 10 AM, Noon, 2 Purpose: The mission of the Wildflower Center is to PM and 4 PM, weather permitting. Weekday tours for increase the sustainable use and conservation of native organized groups can be prearranged. wildflowers, plants and landscapes. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are needed to Projects/Activities: The Center’s education department train as trail guides and to do trail maintenance. conducts classes, workshops and demonstrations for all ages throughout the year. The Center’s 279-acre headquar- Dues: Vary, beginning at $15. ters has native plant gardens and natural areas, a Visitors Gallery, and Children’s Little House, all of which focus on educating people about the importance of native plants. The Center also has one of North America’s largest rooftop rainwater collection systems, as well as the Wildflower Café, and Wild Ideas (the store). Volunteer Opportunities: Opportunities exist in all areas of the Center’s operations. Please call 292-4200, x 102, for additional information. Newsletters/Publications: Native Plants, the Center’s quarterly members’ magazine; brochures; as well as more than 200 factsheets about native plants and vendors across North America. Membership Dues: Starting at $30-40/year. Visiting Arrangement: Open Tuesday – Sunday, 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Members free. Admission fees vary depending Wild Basin on season and age. 805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. Austin, TX 78746 Contact: Walter Laich 327-7622 FAX: 328-5632 E-mail: [email protected] Net: www.wildbasin.org Purpose: The mission of the organization is to preserve and maintain Wild Basin and to educate people about the natural environment. Projects/Activities: Wild Basin conducts environmen- tal education programs during the week and on weekends. Weekday programs were developed specifically for school groups to learn about the ecology of the Austin Hill Coun- try. After-school programs are available for scouts. Pre- school tours and parent and preschool walks are sched- uled through the year. Other groups can schedule special programs during the week as well. Weekend programs consists of a variety of topics in- cluding stargazing, full-moon walks, native plants, wild- flowers, geology, ecology, storytelling, snakes, and more. Westcave Preserve Volunteer Opportunities: Office help, trail help, and 24814 Hamilton Pool Road teaching education programs. Round Mountain, TX 78663 Newsletters/Publications: The Wild Basin Magazine, Contact: John Ahrns (830) 825-3442 quarterly. FAX: (830) 825-3509 E-mail: [email protected] Membership: $35/Individual; $20/Students and se- Net: www.westcave.org niors; $60/Family. Purpose: Westcave Preserve is an ecological commu- Admission: $2/Adults; $1 for Seniors, 5-12 year olds, nity of exceptional beauty located in the Texas Hill Coun- and college students; Under 5 and members/free. Parks & Preserves - Non-Profit 1 2 game courts. Boat ramps in Webberville while Wild Basin provides a home for and Little Webberville parks are 2 of several uncommon birds and plants in the primary access points to the Colo- the midst of steady urbanization. rado River, both for motor and paddle Milton Reimers Ranch Park is Travis power crafts. In contrast to the rugged County's new western park that in- terrain of many lake parks, the eastern cludes rock climbing, mountain bik- parks offer the more gentle topogra- ing, and fishing. phy of the Blackland Prairies. East Metropolitan Park is the latest addi- Balcones Canyonlands Preserve tion to the Eastern Parks with a swim- ming pool, sports fields, playgrounds and more. The preserve, established by a per- 1010 Lavaca, Suite 300 mit with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife P.O. Box 1748 Lake Parks Service, protects more than 30 endan- Austin, TX. 78767 gered and rare species and provides Phone: (512) 854-7275 several designated locations where Fax: (512) 854-6474 Travis County Parks include 13 sites Central Texas residents can enjoy and www.traviscountyparks.org along Lake Travis and Lake Austin, study nature. Preserve tracts are providing plentiful opportunities for owned by public and private entities boating, fishing, sailing, scuba diving, including the City of Austin, Travis Take time to explore a land of amaz- camping, and outdoor recreation. County, the Lower Colorado River ing diverse beauty – from lakes and These parks range in size from the 3.6- Authority, the Nature Conservancy of hills to rivers and prairies – and more. acre Dink Pearson Park to the 1,368- Texas, the Travis Audubon Society, as Nowhere else in Texas will you find acre Pace Bend Park. The Lake Austin well as private landowners, making it such a variety of recreational opportu- Parks are within minutes of down- one of the country’s largest urban pre- nities so close at hand. town Austin, while some of the Lake serves. The managing partners have Travis parks such as Pace Bend and currently acquired over 27,000 acres. Want to sail or scuba dive one of the Arkansas Bend are more remote. Some Public access by tours is available for cleanest lakes in Texas? Observe one of the Lake Parks include habitat for preserve tracts and is provided by the of the largest and most varied migra- several rare plants and 2 endangered agency owning the tract. tory bird populations in the country? bird species. Most of the Lake Travis You can do it right here in the parks of parks are owned by the Lower Colo- Adopt-A-Park Program Travis County, along with softball and rado River Authority and managed by soccer, family picnics, hiking, nature Travis County. Travis County’s Adopt-A-Park pro- study, or just kicking back to view a gram is designed to enhance prudent spectacular Hill Country sunset. Your Nature Preserves stewardship of Travis County Parks. opportunities are virtually unlimited! It utilizes volunteers, local businesses, Enjoy the many park features and help Hamilton Pool (photo above), Wild and special interest groups to improve us maintain them so the future gen- Basin, and some areas of Pace Bend and maintain parks facilities. erations may enjoy them as well. Park are operated as nature preserves. Special efforts are made to confine Eastern Travis County Parks recreational activities to designated Any person or group can partici- areas so that the unique beauty and pate. Call or write for an application. natural history of these parks can be When you mail it, an Adopt-A-Park The parks in eastern Travis County coordinator will contact you. Once are as varied as their western counter- preserved for generations to come. Hamilton Pool is an excellent example you are on board, your coordinator parts. These parks offer excellent oppor- will work with you to schedule projects tunities for group activities such as nu- of relatively undisturbed Balcones Canyonland’s geology and wildlife, that are best suited for your group and merous picnic areas, well-maintained the park you’ve adopted. For more ballfields, soccerfields, and multipurpose information, please call (512) 854-7275. Parks & Preserves - Travis County Parks 3 Information & ACREAGE BARBECUE GRILLS PRIMITIVE CAMPING ENTRANCEDAY FEE USE ONLYPETS PROHIBITEDRESTROOMSDRINKING WATERPICNIC TABLES NATURE/HIKINGPLAYGROUNDS TRAILSGROUP SHELTERSSWIMMINGCLOTHING BOATOPTIONAL RAMP IMPROVEDTRAILER CAMP SITES DUMPBALLFIELDS STATIONSSPORT COURTSEQUESTRIAN Reservations NATURE PRESERVES 1. Hamilton Pool Preserve 232 GGGG G G G (512) 264-2740 2. Wild Basin Preserve 227 GGG G (512) 327-7622 LAKE TRAVIS PARKS 3. Pace Bend 1368 G GGGGG G GGGG G(512) 264-1482 4. Dink Pearson 3.6 GGGG GG For all 5. Arkansas Bend 195 GGGGG G GG other 6. Sandy Creek 25 G GGGG G GG G parks 7. Cypress Creek 15 GGGGGGG call 8. Bob Wentz at Windy Point 211 GGO GGGGG GG ∆ (512) 854-PARK (7275) 9. Hippie Hollow ◊ 109 GGGGG G GG Monday-Friday 10. Tom Hughes 5 GGGG G G 9 am – 5 pm 11. Mansfield Dam 65 G GGGGGGGG G G www.traviscountyparks.org LAKE AUSTIN AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS 12. Fritz Hughes 5 GGGGGG G 13. Mary Quinlan 5.8 GGGG GG G Or write: 14. Selma Hughes 5 GGGG G Travis County Parks 15. Loop 360 Boat Ramp 3 GG G P.O. Box 1748 16. Windmill Run 50 GGGG GAustin, Texas 78767 17. Allen Park 10 G GGG EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY PARKS 18. Richard Moya 100 G GGGGGGG GG 19. Del Valle Softball Complex 35 G GGGG G G 20. Webberville 135 G GGGGGGG G GGG 21. Little Webberville 6 GGGGG G 22. Ben Fisher 6 G GGGGGGG 23. Northeast Metro 420 G GGGGGGG GG 24. Southeast Metro 299 G GGGGGGG G 25. East Metropolitan Park 273 G GGGGGG G GG WESTERN TRAVIS COUNTY PARKS 26. Milton Reimers Ranch ParkN 510 GGGG ◊-Must be 18 years of age or older to enter O-Pets prohibited on point only ∆-Boat ramp restricted to sailcraft only NMountain Biking, Rock Climbing, and Fishing 1431 1 1431 620 6 3 2769 7 23 8 9 620 2322 5 11 10 2222 4 12 71 17 22 14 15 1 620 13 360 25 26 1 973 2244 2 3238 71 969 21 16 20 24 19 1826 71 18 4 Gear & Guidance • Sales Rentals • Instructions • Tours (512) 473-2644 Duplication/Conversion We Can Edit or Author Your Next Production and More DVD/CD or Tape 3411 IH 35 • 78722 For Training/Event or Web Content www.kayaktexas.com Honest, Dependable and Phone 512-451-1289 Cost Effective Service Email:[email protected] To Meet Your Needs 5448 Burnet Rd.