What's Happening
in the Hill Country

A new 175-acre nature preserve near Wimberley is opening to provide public trail access while protecting a karst landscape critical to regional aquifer recharge. Funded by Hays County’s $75 million parks bond, the preserve features karst formations, a stretch of Dry Cypress Creek, and the Wimberley Bat Cave, while safeguarding threatened species including the golden-cheeked warbler and fern bank salamander. Phase 1 opens with roughly two miles of trail, accessible via the North 40 Trail at Jacob’s Well Natural Area. A Phase 2 expansion adding two more miles of trail is planned. The ribbon cutting is March 27 — parking closes at 6 PM.

Hill Country Conservancy has permanently protected the 240-acre Muckleroy Ranch bordering Enchanted Rock through a conservation easement, the latest in a series of wins for the iconic park. Texas purchased 630 adjacent acres in September 2024, then added another 3,073 acres in January 2025 for $43 million using voter-approved Centennial Parks funds — more than doubling the park’s size. The new state land includes creek systems, ponds, and rolling prairie that will eventually support additional trails and camping. TPWD is gathering public input through summer 2026 on how to develop the expanded acreage, with limited public use required within 18 months of acquisition.