The Outdoor Adventurer

The Outdoor Adventurer

Bring on the unpaved trails, rushing water, and rocky slopes!

Obstacles are a welcome challenge for the Outdoor Adventurer. An adrenaline seeker, you love all things active that test your skills. Mountain bikes, hiking boots, kayaks, and more, outdoor adventure is the best kind of fun.

Dallas-Area Parks for The Outdoor Adventurer

Explore the What Kind of Naturalist Are You? Interactive Map.

Park

Feature for the Naturalist

200 acres of Blackland Prairie. Upland riparian forest ecoregions with creeks. Nine miles of paved, dirt, and DORBA trails, some with interpretive signage. Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Site. Partner in American Kestrel Partnership. Monarch migration stopover. Parking lot biofilter for rain runoff.
100+ acres of upland forest on limestone hills. Highly rated for off-road biking—features one of the most difficult DORBA trails in DFW. Blue Trail—6 mile beginner, more family friendly, bypasses difficult terrain. Red Trail—12-mile intermediate/advanced, hills, rocky descents, creek crossings.

400+ acres. East of Rowlett Creek: Home to Texas champion Box Elder. Deep woods on south end. West of Rowlett Creek: Limestone outcroppings and plentiful fossils in Beck’s Branch. A wildflower meadow with loop trail supports a vigorous Eastern Bluebird population.

1200+ acres of rugged limestone hills with pockets of Blackland Prairie along 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake. Off-road biking/hiking loop maintained by DORBA, with some interpretive signage. Home to over 200 bird species, including the endangered Black-Capped Vireo. Overnight camping, swimming, fishing.
Nearly 10 miles of well-maintained, rugged trails explore 600+ acres of steep limestone hills and soaring 755-feet escarpments with epic views. Lush valleys, riparian corridors, and ponds. Blackland prairie restorations. Butterfly garden. Site of native Texas orchids. Great spot for birders.
Three hiking trails of varying difficulty trace the canyon floor up to the hill tops—one trail with a view all the way to Arlington! Dogwood grove flowers in spring. Superb bird watching. Rich in native plant species and pollinators. Excellent visitor center with talks and events for all ages.
Nearly 315-acre park with wetlands and Lemmon Lake, plentiful migrating waterfowl, year-round shorebirds. Paved lakeshore trail part of extensive Great Trinity Forest system that leads to Trinity River Audubon Center.
Wetlands purify wastewater and provide habitat for waterfowl and wildlife. Home to nesting pair of bald eagles. Sightings of over 260 varieties of birds. Fantastic views of the wetlands from the one-mile boardwalk and a trail to the Trinity River. Water education center. Monthly public days.
1100+ acres where Blackland Prairies and Eastern Cross Timbers meet. Bobcats, wild turkeys, river otter, beaver, wide variety of reptiles/amphibians. Wading and woodland birds and the iconic dickcissel in its prairie habitat. Two blinds for wetland wildlife viewing. 10+ miles of trails, including boardwalks and paddling trails. Pollinators, damselflies, dragonflies, and beetles galore! Guided walks/workshops.
121 acres of upland forest, steep limestone ravines, and Blackland Prairie with eight miles of DORBA trails. Abundant wildflowers in spring.
800-acre park along Rowlett Creek with 13 miles of concrete and soft surface trails through Blackland Prairie, woods, wetlands. Zip line. Equestrian area.
Nearly 100 acres of riparian hardwood forest along channelized creek. Four miles of flat naturalist trails with bird blinds. 15+ miles of DORBA trails. Wildlife tracks in bottomland mud. Pollinator garden.
Over 100 deeply wooded acres along limestone creek. Several miles of paved trails with picnic areas. Trail links to Galatyn Woodland Preserve.
130 acres reclaimed from an illegal dump. Four miles of hiking trails and boardwalks with bird blinds through wetlands, riparian forest, and Blackland Prairie. Bottomland trail with river access. Pollinator garden. Excellent visitor center. Classes and events for all ages. Perfect place for new naturalists!
Paved 5-mile trail atop levees along channelized section of Trinity River with views of downtown Dallas. Dirt trails in river bottom. Waterfowl, birds of prey, and wading birds when river is up. Ronald Kirk Bridge for bicyclists/pedestrians. Connects to extensive trails going south and north.
Beloved 1254 acre lake with 10 miles of paved trails. Great birdwatching at northern end, Sunset Bay, and below spillway. Brown pelicans and other waterfowl migrators overwinter. Look for twiggy nests of monk parakeet colony at electrical substation and nearby towers off White Rock Rd. Naturalist museum at Bath House Cultural Center. 250+ acres of Blackland Prairie. Sailboating, canoeing, kayaking.

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January 1, 2025    
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Welcome the New Year by strolling with friends on a small-group guided walk along the creek and through the massive trees of Spring Creek Forest...
January 1, 2025    
10:00 am - 11:30 am
LLELA || First Day Nature Hike (AT) Wednesday, January 1, 2025  |  10:00am – 11:30am   CT Description:  Kick off the New Year with an invigorating...
January 1, 2025    
7:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Chapter Meeting Placeholder. A further description monthly meeting will appear here as the scheduled meeting draws near. Join us in north Dallas at Dallas College...
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center || 1st Saturday Walk & Talk Bird Tour (AT) Saturday, January 4, 2025  ||  7:30am – 9:30am Description:  Join us...
TMN-Elm Fork Chapter || Early Bird Watch & Walk at Furneaux Creek (AT) Saturday, January 4, 2025   9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Description: Join Randy...
Heard Museum || 1st Saturday Guided Trails  (AT) Saturday, January 4, 2025  ||  9:30am – -10:30am CT Experience the ecology, geology, flora and fauna of...
January 6, 2025    
7:23 pm - 8:23 pm
Board Meetings are open to all members and to the public. Please contact the Vice President at vicepresident@ntmn.org for meeting details if you want to...
LLELA || 2nd Saturday Bird Walk (AT) Saturday, January 11, 2025  |  7:30am – 10:00am   CT Description:  Birders of all skill levels are welcome to...
Heard Museum || 2nd Saturday Bird Walk (AT) Saturday, January 11, 2025 ||  8am – 9:30am CT Description:  2nd Saturday Bird Walks are intended to...
TMN-Elm Fork Chapter || 2nd Saturday Trail Walk at Furneaux Creek (AT) Saturday, January 11, 2025   8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Description: Fun for all...
Trinity River Audubon Center || Second Saturday Guided Hike (AT) Saturday, January 11, 2025  |  8:30am – 10:00am   CT Description: Join us for a guided...
Heard Museum || 3rd Thursday Bird Walk (AT) Thursday, January 16, 2025  |  8am – 9:30am CT Description: 3rd Thursday Bird Walks in the Heard...
Dallas Master Gardners || Unveiling the Hidden Wonders of Planting a Pollinator Garden (AT) Thursday, January, 16, 2025  ||  6:00pm to 7:00pm   CT Description:  Growing...
Trinity River Audubon Center || Morning Bird Walk (AT) Saturday, January 18, 2025  |  7:30am – 9am  CT Description:  Hit the trails with us to...
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center || 3rd Saturday Guided Boardwalk Tour (AT) Saturday, January 18, 2025 ||  9:00 AM – 10:30 AM    CT Description:  As...
Lewisville Parks & Rec || Thrive Nature Walk –(AT) Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 9am – 10:30am   CT Description:  Sights of plants and wildlife, smells...
January 25, 2025    
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Please join us in re-establishing this beautiful Great Trinity Forest trail to the lovely grove of Texas Buckeyes! Rain dates are the following Saturday. Sign...
Trinity River Audubon Center || Sunday Morning Bird Walk (AT) Sunday, January 26, 2025  |  9am – 10am  CT Description:  Join us for a Sunday...
January 26, 2025    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
  Sunday, January 26, 2025  1:30 - 4:30pm Address: 2725 N. Jim Miller Rd. Dallas, Texas 75217; A few blocks south of Scyene in the parking...
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center || 1st Saturday Walk & Talk Bird Tour (AT) Saturday, Feb 1, 2025  ||  7:30am – 9:30am Description:  Join us...
TMN-Elm Fork Chapter || Early Bird Watch & Walk at Furneaux Creek (AT) Saturday, February 1, 2025  ||  9:00 AM – 11:00 AM  CT Description:...
Heard Museum || 1st Saturday Guided Trails  (AT) Saturday, February 1, 2025  ||  9:30am – 10:30am CT Discription: Experience the ecology, geology, flora and fauna...
Events on January 1, 2025
01 Jan
01 Jan
1 Jan 25
Farmers Branch
Events on January 6, 2025
Events on January 19, 2025
Events on January 25, 2025
Events on January 26, 2025