Buffalo Bayou Park Hike: March Wildflowers, Redbuds & Spring Woodlands
Details
Spring Hike along Buffalo Bayou to take in the wildflowers, redbuds, and the spring green of the trees starting to leaf out. Recent rains have come just in time. The bluebonnets, primrose, gaillardia, and winecup are some of the wildflowers currently blooming. We will do some tree and plant ID for those interested, look for evidence of wildlife, and note how the park has been revegetating stretches of the bayou banks to address erosion issues from past flood events. Recent years have seen a notable increase in the number of rabbits that make a home in the thickets and wooded areas.
This hike will explore areas around Lost Lake, west to Shepherd, and east toward the Police Memorial. We will probably walk about 3 miles or so, but it should be easy enough to get back to the start point for anyone who has limited time and wants to head back early.
This outing will be limited to a total of 10 participants. All participants will be required to sign the Sierra Club participant waiver, which one should read in advance (scroll down for the detail language).
We will meet next to Cleveland Park, which is a City of Houston park with ball fields located on Scotland St. and Jackson Hill St. just north of Memorial Dr. From here there is a convenient pedestrian bridge that crosses over Memorial Dr. to access the Buffalo Bayou park. There should be parking available along Scotland St. and the east side of Jackson Hill St. near the pedestrian bridge. This area is also accessible by nearby METRO bus routes 40 or 56.
I will be emailing some additional details to confirmed participants.
PLEASE NOTE: if you are coming by car, LOOK AT A MAP so that you understand how the streets are laid out at this location. If you are driving WEST on Memorial Dr. it is possible to make a right turn onto Jackson Hill St., but it comes very quickly after you pass the Waugh Dr. clover leaf (it could be easy to miss, if you haven't looked at a map). If you are driving EAST on Memorial Dr. you will need to exit at the cloverleaf and then go west on Memorial, or you can access Jackson Hill St. from north of Memorial Dr. by streets from Waugh Dr., etc.
Anyway, CHECK THIS LOCATION ON A MAP FIRST to understand your options.
There are restroom facilities at Cleveland Park, as well as in the park at the Lost Lake facility.