Lacy Point Nature Area

Trail
6.00 Miles
N/A
Free
3point5stars (3.80)5
1point5stars (1.80)
3stars (3.40)
N/A
Yes
Yes
N/A
Waco
McLennan
More Info

Be aware of the fact that many of the roads that show up on the online mapping services either do not exist, or have long since been fenced off. The wife and I spent quite a bit of time trying to find the trailhead of the Paradise Loop only to eventually discover that you can't get there by car. The boat launch area at Speegleville is spot from which to enter the trails and it adds another couple of miles in order to get to Paradise, so to speak.

To get to the trailhead, head west on Hwy 6 out of Waco and turn right on N Spreegleville Road. Turn right onto McLaughlin Road and then left on San Ann. When you come up to the boat launch area look for the large locked gate on the left. There's a kiosk just behind the gate that includes a trail map.

Photos
Lost Oak Loop
Another loop off the trail. (Photo by Branden)
Trail
Here is a picture from one of the more wooded trails. (Photo by Branden)
Log Entries
Prettier than Expected
By jcpj on 8/15/2011
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 7.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Hiking at the Lacy Point Nature area is mostly flat, prairie hiking, though parts of it do run by the lake. I didn't expect much going there, but I was pretty overwhelmed by the largeness of the sky and the wildlife I encountered. I also enjoyed the length of the trails. You can go on several, and it is very long. Sadly, I moved from Waco before exploring everything the nature area offered, but I enjoyed my time there thoroughly.
Paradise Trail
By Megan on 11/28/2009
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 7.75 Miles Duration: N/A

I had a wonderful hike from the Trail Kiosk to Paradise trail, around that loop, and back.  I did, however, mistake some creek runoff for the actual creek.  I made a wrong turn and ended up making the loop at the far west end of the trail twice.  I saw a beautiful owl and many deer including a buck with a very impressive rack.  I enjoyed the hike a lot, but it was about a mile too long.  If I hadn't made that wrong turn, it would have been nearly perfect.

 
Pretty nice treaure in Waco
By Branden on 5/10/2009
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours

I took my 12yo son and his best friend on this hike. We had a good time and enjoyed the trails. There are a lot of trails in this area, more than they show on this site. Most of them are old roads that have been converted to trails. The trail was very active the day that we were there since they have discovered Bald Eagles in this area. Overall though it was nice but could use better trail markers in areas.

Nice Surprise Near Waco
By millerdw on 11/20/2007
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 7.50 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes

THere is actually quite a bit more trail mileage than is listed here.  When you enter the park near the boat ramp, the main trail/jeep track goes about 1 mile toward the lake, where it splits off.  If you go right, there is about a 3 mile loop around Lacy Point.  If you go left, the trail goes about 2-3 miles past a cultivated hay field to the mouth of Reynolds Creek.  Near the end of this trail, there is a nice new 4 mile loop, which the Corp of Engineers is calling "Paradise Loop."  It goes up Reynolds creek (through some nice old woods) and loops back through some cedar grassland.  There are several other side trails totalling at least 2 miles - probably more, so there is a good 11 miles of trails to explore here.

The nicest trail I have seen is the Paradise Loop.  As you enter the loop, there is some nice old bottom land woods with native trees.  Unfortunately, a lot of this is dying out since the lake has been raised 7 feet and this area floods quite often for extended periods, but there are still some nice old trees.  Upstream, Reynolds Creek becomes a true creek, and is quite nice.  There are at least 2 springs feeding the creek and some nice places to stop and enjoy the sound of the water.

There is a ton of wildlife at this park.  Both times I have been, I saw 10 or more deer, including a 10 point and a 12 point buck.  I actually saw a bobcat in the woods near the mouth of the creek, so that was exciting!

Overall, this is a pretty nice, quiet place to go near Waco, and there aren't many of those!  In the two times I went, I have only seen one person on the trail, and he was going in to fish on the bank near the boat ramp.  I didn't give a 5 for solitude only because there tends to be a lot of fishermen in loud bassboats near the mouth of Reynolds Creek.  Having said that, the fishing (both crappie and bass) is quite good around there, so take your pole if you want to try to catch something...

Great open field/prarie type hike.
By gabegober on 3/3/2007
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: 1 day
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