Friedrich Wilderness Park
For locals, Friedrich Wilderness Park is a great close-to-home spot with more than 10 miles of hiking trails, a mere 20 miles from the Alamo on the northwest side of town near Six Flags Fiesta Texas. This 600-acre hilly haven for rare birds and orchids is a nesting site for two federally listed bird species: the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler. As a protected area that minimizes impact on the environment, rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, and bicycles are not allowed.
Bird-watchers from around the world are often spotted here. Some species are seasonal, such as blue jays (fall and winter), eastern meadowlarks (spring), red-winged blackbirds (spring and summer), scissor-tailed flycatchers (spring, summer, and fall), and double-crested cormorants (winter). You can see turkey vultures, finches, Carolina wrens, doves, northern woodpeckers, northern cardinals, mockingbirds, and more year-round. For trail conditions, check out their Facebook or Twitter, call the park office, or go to Friends of San Antonio Natural Areas ( fosana.org).
