View Wildflowers on the Blackland Prairies in Sam Houston National Forest

On this outing the Houston Sierra Club and the Houston Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas will visit blackland prairies in Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF). We will enjoy seeing wildflowers in bloom on prairies that are unique to SHNF and are indicative of the Fayette Prairie found farther west. The U.S. Forest Service will act as our guide and show us how they manage these prairies using prescribed burning and other management methods.

Bring your daypack, hat, three quarts of water, lunch, binoculars, hiking shoes, camera, and field guides and wear long pants and a short-sleeved shirt. Long pants are recommended due to briars and chiggers. It will be warm so we will dress cool.

We will meet to carpool/caravan at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot just west of Starbucks (look for Becks Prime) in Meyerland Plaza. Starbucks fronts the 4700 block of Beechnut (south side of Beechnut, near the West Loop South). Look for a Silver Honda Civic with lots of bumper stickers. We will be back in Houston about 5 pm.

For those who want to meet us at the District Ranger Office the directions are as follows:

1. Drive from Houston about 55 miles north on Interstate 45 (I-45), past The Woodlands, Conroe, and Willis, and exit at New Waverly (FM 1375/SH 150/FM 1374 exit). If the construction work allows the first road you come to will be FM 1375. Turn left (west) onto FM 1375 and cross over I-45.
2. If the construction work does not allow follow the detour signs on the north I-45 feeder road (east side of I-45) to FM 1374, turn left onto FM 1374, cross over I-45, and turn left onto the south I-45 feeder and follow it until you come to FM 1375. Turn right onto FM 1375.
3. Go west about 2 miles on FM 1375 and on your right you will see a sign for the SHNF District Ranger Office, a driveway, and a parking lot. Turn right onto the driveway, park in the parking lot, and walk to the front of the District Ranger Office where we will meet.