Austin Sierra Club Outings

*We’ll hike at a BRISK pace. We’ll cover roughly 6-7 miles. We’ll hike the greenbelt hills, cover rocky terrain, and STRENUOUS climbing sections. We’ll follow some less-used greenbelt trails taking us to and beyond many of the wonders and treasures of Barton Creek.

*Be prepared to keep up! The hike will be challenging but doable; mysterious yet approachable. This hike is geared towards a small group of fun people who really like hiking. This is for experienced hikers who already have good conditioning, balance, who enjoy trails with rocky, uneven terrain. No pets allowed.

Suggestions:

• Wear hiking shoes. Bring water (include extra), snacks, and your phone for photos & emergencies only.
• Be on time. We will leave promptly at posted time. We do not wait.
• Bring an extra shirt for after the hike because you will be soaked from sweat.
• RSVP only if you will be attending. Attendance will be tracked, and habitual no-shows will be removed from future events.

*** RSVP ON MEETUP ALONE DOES NOT RESERVE A SPOT ON THE TRIP***

Join us for a week long Service Project at Brazos Bend State Park. Only 43 miles from downtown Houston, its coastal prairie wetlands are one of North America's most threatened ecosystems. This park protects a significant chunk of what's left.

This 5,000-acre park sits along the winding Brazos River in the coastal prairie region. Unlike the rugged Hill Country, Brazos Bend is flat, lush, and teeming with water. The park features moss-draped live oaks, shallow lakes and sloughs, and wetlands that create a haven for an incredible diversity of wildlife.

Brazos Bend is famous for its American alligators - and you WILL see them. They sun themselves on trails, glide through the water, and are so common that the park has "alligator etiquette" signs everywhere. Don't worry - they're generally docile if you keep a respectful distance (at least 30 feet).

Also, you can tell people you did manual labor while dodging alligators, which is arguably more interesting than most service project stories.

From the Park Superintendent: We have a new tract of land that was donated a few years ago, and we’re in the process of habitat restoration, and we have a lot of work to do.
There’s a lot of yaupon holly that we’ll be clearing away from trees, so cutting and lopping will likely be the primary task… which, I’ll plan for a few staff to be out with he group and provide direction, cover safety topics, and weather updates each day before the work begins.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation, camping equipment, and breakfasts and lunches.

Under our system for evening meals, you and partners will be responsible for feeding the entire group one evening. This includes bringing and preparing the food, Dish Patrol and washing said pots and pans.

To sign up:

*** RSVP ON MEETUP ALONE DOES NOT RESERVE A SPOT ON THE TRIP***

Join us for a week of meaningful trail service in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, one of the most spectacular landscapes in Texas.
Often described as the second largest canyon in the U.S., Palo Duro stretches more than 120 miles across the Panhandle. That claim depends on how “largest” is defined — for instance, Idaho’s Hells Canyon is deeper — but Palo Duro’s vivid red cliffs and sculpted rock layers make it an unforgettable place to work and explore.

We’ll camp in the Wolfberry Group Area, which has 7 pedestals with water spigots and 30/50-amp outlets, plus plenty of space for tents and a few RVs. Wolfberry is about 5½ miles inside the park, near the Mesquite and Hackberry camp areas.

April usually brings warm days and cool, comfortable evenings.

Our team will assist the park with trail maintenance and erosion control projects. We’re especially skilled with McLeods and Pulaskis and would be delighted to collaborate with another group on shared work.
Expect rewarding, hands-on fieldwork, good company, and time to enjoy the canyon’s trails and starry nights.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation, camping equipment, and breakfasts and lunches. Of course, your park admission will be comped.

We keep evening duty simple: every team cooks one night only — enjoy the other nights free. The chosen team brings and prepares dinner, runs dish patrol, and washes the cooking pots and pans.

The team that cooks, let's say, Tuesday night also washes the dishes used for Tuesday morning’s pancake-and-egg breakfast. That’s it — one dinner, one breakfast-morning cleanup, and then you’re off the hook.

But wait. There's more.

On the last day of this Service Project, we get to check out a huge area that is not open to the public, and won't be for at least three years!

The Cross Bar Special Recreation Management Area is big - 11,883 acres. It is the only BLM land in Texas. https://friendsofcrossbarsrma.org.

We have received special permission to have them guide us across private property to get to the preserve. They are meeting us at the gate at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 18th. It is about an hour drive from Palo Duro. The gate’s address is 9610 Brickplant Road, Amarillo, TX.

After exploring the Cross Bar, many of us will proceed to Caprock Canyons State Park for another week long Service Project.

To sign up: