Getting Lost at the Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, Texas
Are you a Dallas resident? If so, you may or may not have heard of the Trinity River Audubon Center situated 10 miles south of downtown Dallas. I only recently discovered it a few years ago even though it’s been around since 2008. It boasts as the largest urban hardwood forest in the entire United States and is home to an extensive array of plant and animal species. My wife and I toured a couple weeks ago, and this is our photographic walk-through as we traversed through its bottomland hardwoods, wetlands and grasslands.
The view from Raccoon Pond
The Center provides a lovely walk through a diverse route selection and allows you to get familiar with the surrounding plant and underwater life. We happened to visit on a cloudy, calm day that was near-perfect besides the occasional trail puddle from the rainstorm the day before. Everything along the way became a photo-op.
At the edge of one our first pathways, we happened upon a massive turn in the ever-meandering river that is the Trinity. The overlook wasn’t anything remarkably grandiose, but the water reversed direction in unfamiliar and curious ways. You could practically feel the history behind this broad-sweeping waterway.
One of my favorite features about this place is how immersed in the environment you feel. A few fuzzy caterpillars greeted us along the walkway coupled with a tree somewhat off-trail who wore mushrooms proudly. Everywhere we looked it seemed something was vying for our attention.
Nature isn’t the only appeal along the trails. Occasionally you’ll come upon small clubhouse structures that act as vantage points for unique views. Weird cut out frames in the sides of the modest buildings direct your attention to specific sections of the landscape presented to you. It’s fascinating the way it’s all prepared
Overall, the Trinity River Audubon Center is an impressive, easy hiking area with some wonderful views. There’s still a lot of the exterior portion of the property we haven’t wandered yet, but we plan on returning soon to explore it. More information is below and some other images I collected from our experience!
Hours, Fees, & Directions
Hours:
Monday through Friday 9am – 4pm
Saturday 7am – 3pm (We offer guided early morning bird hikes most Saturdays at 7am, check our event calendar for more info!)
Sunday 11am – 5pm
Closed on ALL major holidays as well as most federal holidays.Please give us a call for the most up to date holiday hours at (214) 309-5801.
Please note: We close one hour early the day before a major holiday. Please check our Facebook or call us for the latest information regarding early closures.
In observance of the holidays, we will be closed December 23 - 26 and December 30 - January 1.
Admission:
Adults (Ages 13-59): $6
Children (Ages 3-12): $3
Seniors (Ages 60+): $4
Members, children age 2 and under, and 75217 residents: free
Free general admission the third Thursday of each month, 9am – 4pm, for individuals and families
Free and discounted admission rates to not apply to field trips and groups.
Group Rates/Tours:
Group admission: $5 per person (for groups of 10 or more)
Private one-hour guided tours available at $40 per guide (20 person max/guide, available on weekends during the schoolyear and daily throughout the year). Ask about our school programs.
For more information, or to schedule a school program or group tour, call 214-309-5801 or email trac@audubon.org.
Professional and commercial photographers and film crews – please contact us at trac@audubon.org for information regarding our media policy and rates.
Location:
6500 Great Trinity Forest Way*
Dallas, TX 75217
*Dallas recently changed the name of the street. If Great Trinity Forest Way does not show up on maps or GPS, please try "6500 S. Loop 12."
For more information call 214-398-8722
Longitude and latitude coordinates: 32.712636, -96.70879
