Lots Of Short, Interconnecting Trails

Park Map
This map shows the myriad connecting trails throughout the park.
User: Blaze - 2/9/2013

Location: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center

Rating: 2stars
Difficulty: 1star  Solitude: 1star
Miles Hiked: 5.00 Miles  Elapsed Time: N/A

Comments:

Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center is a pretty nice park with lots to see and do.  You can hike, bike, fish and canoe.  My review will be written from the perspective of hiking.

There are numerous interconnecting trails weaving throughout the park.  Half of the paths are paved ashphalt, the rest are dirt trails.  Although the junctions are well marked, it is easy to get disoriented without a trail map.  Which brings me to this point: Be sure to stop by the Nature Center when you FIRST come into the park.  It will be on your left hand side of the road when you enter the front of the park.  There, you can pick up a printed trail map.  You'll find this valuable once you start your hike.

Within this park, there is a short trail (Homestead Trail) that takes you to a mock log cabin to give you an idea of what life must have been like in the 19th century.  As an added bonus, I was very fortunate to hike this park on Homestead Heritage Day, which was a big celebration with featured bands and a post-Civil War reenactment by actors.  It really gave you a sense of going back in time and an appreciation of how difficult life must have been back in those times.

As far as the trails go, they're nice, but there's no major "Wow!" factor.  Several trails take you to Spring Creek, which is where the fishermen and canoers go.  There are some small ponds sprinkled here and there with some wildlife in them.  I didn't see as much as the person that logged this park before me, but perhaps that was because the park was very crowded on the day I went and may have scared the wildlife away.

There's not much solitude here as it is very close to Bush Intercontinental Airport.  Nice place to spend a weekend afternoon.  If you're looking for a longer hike, you can catch the Spring Creek Greenway Trail by taking the Judy Overby Bell Trail which starts near the Pavillion Parking Lot.  It is an 8.0 mile trail along Spring Creek to the Stahl Preserve and eventually to Pundt Park.  You can read my log of the Spring Creek Greenway Trail here.



Log Photos
Park Map
Cypress Swamp
Spring Creek
Nature Center
Homestead Trail
Homestead Area
Entrance Sign
Area around Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center
Recommended Item
Recommended Item 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Houston: Includes Huntsville, Galveston, and Beaumont
Laurie Roddy
List Price: $16.95 Your price: $11.91 Buy Now
It’s Time to Take a Hike in Texas!

The best way to experience Houston is by hiking it. Explore Buffalo Bayou Park, one of the top urban parks in the country. Nature-watch at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, or challenge yourself with a long hike on the Lone Star Hiking Trail. Local author and hiking expert Laurie Roddy has selected the best hikes within a 60-mile radius of the city. This perfect blend of popular trails and hidden gems transports you to scenic overlooks, wildlife hot spots, and historical settings that renew your spirit and recharge your body.

With Roddy as your guide, you’ll learn about the area and experience nature through 60 of its best hikes. The author provides expert tips about where to go and what to expect when you get there. Plus, each hike description features key at-a-glance information on distance & configuration, hiking time, difficulty, scenery, traffic, trail surface, and accessibility, as well as details about the history and natural history of the area. GPS-based trail maps and elevation profiles, along with clear directions to the trailheads, help to ensure that you always know where you are and where you’re going.

Whether you’re a local looking for new places to explore or a visitor to the area, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Houston provides plenty of options for a couple hours or a full day of adventure, all within about an hour from Houston and the surrounding communities.