Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Visitors Information
Hours: Trails open sunrise to sunset daily; visitor center open Mon-Fri 9 AM - 4 PM
Fees: Free
Parking: Parking lot on-site.
Rules: No pets, bikes, or picnics. Everything is protected on the preserve -- leave all plants, animals, rocks and other elements in place. Stay on the trail.
Explorer's Checklist
Latest Explorer Observation
In the 1970s, an environmental group of “little old ladies in tennis shoes” amassed support to establish this 277-acre preserve. They sought to balance the natural heritage of this woodland expanse along Bee Creek with urban growth. Today, the Wild Basin forms part of the larger Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP), which protects the unique environs of 7 endangered species and 28 threatened plant and animal species.
Ashe Juniper
Ashe Juniper is so prevalent in the Hill Country that many people think of it as an invasive species. Yet, cedar is native. In 1961, a wildfire that swept through the Westbank Peninsula was contained at Bee Creek in Wild Basin. The fire played an important ecological role and led to the healthy regrowth you see today.
The Golden-cheeked Warbler
Something of a local celebrity, the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler nests only in the oak-juniper woodlands of Central Texas. Each spring, these neo-tropical songbirds migrate from southern Mexico and Central America to breed exclusively in the Ashe juniper-oak forests of the Hill Country. They use the bark of mature Ash junipers, aka cedar, to build their nests. An indicator species, the vitality of this little bird tells us much about the ecological health of the watershed and habitat it relies on for survival.
Volunteer Info
Save Barton Creek Association
City of Austin Wildland Conservation Division
Austin Parks Foundation
Keep Austin Beautiful
TreeFolks
City of Austin Watershed Protection Department
Educational Resources
Explorer Gallery
