Best Parks for Hiking
Although Houston is flat, there’s plenty of parks where you can enjoy hiking miles of trails. Click the links below to find out why we love each of these parks so much!
1. Huntsville State Park – Houston is within driving distance to a few State Parks. Huntsville State Park is located north of Houston a few miles north of Conroe and offers miles of forested hiking trails including direct access to Sam Houston National Forest.
2. Brazos Bend State Park – Houston is within driving distance to a few State Parks. Brazos Bend State Park is located in SW Houston in Fort Bend County and makes our list due to the unique wetlands ecosystem it protects. There’s opportunity to see plenty of wildlife here including birds and alligators.
3. Lake Houston Wilderness Park – Once a state park, now bought up by the City of Houston, this massive park features miles of walking trails, unique campgrounds, and a small lake. Although it is named after Lake Houston, it is not actually in proximity to Lake Houston. The park is located far in the northeast in New Caney.
4. Edith L Moore Sanctuary – A hidden gem in the Memorial City area of town, this park features miles of walking trails, a boardwalk overlooking a small lake, and a historic cabin.
5. Jesse Jones Arboretum – This is a massive park in the Humble area of town. There’s a lot to explore here including a sandy beach of a creek, boardwalks overlooking wetlands, to paved trails great for hiking/biking.
6. Houston Arboretum and Nature Center – Located within Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum is an enclosed part of the park which is managed by a non-profit. There are miles of hiking trails in the setting of a wetlands ecosystem including the opportunity to see plenty of wildlife. Photos coming soon!
7. Mercer Botanical Garden and Arboretum – This park is both a botanic garden and arboretum located near Humble. The Botanic garden is great for nice photos, while the arboretum offers miles of walking trails while surrounded by tall trees and creeks. Photos coming soon!
8. Eisenhower Park – This is another large park in north Houston (near Humble). Here you will find a multitude of hiking trails and fishing opportunities!
More of our handpicked favorite parks here