TRAIL BLESSING AND OPENING
All are invited to the blessing and opening of the new trail at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, located at 3039 Ranch Road 12 (just past the San Marcos Academy). The event will take place at 9 a.m. on Good Friday, April 18. This trail, which extends for roughly a mile in the “back forty” behind the church, was built by members with considerable help from SMGA volunteers. The trail will be open to the public. Guests attending the event on April 18 should gather at the playground to the left of the parish hall, immediately behind the labyrinth.
SPRING PLANT SALE
Emily Mullan (far right) pointing out one of the trails to a visitor to the SMGA table; board members Melani Howard & Kimberly Meitzen visiting with David Zambrano at the Eyes of the San Marcos River table.
Naturescapes is celebrating its 21st year! Thanks to everyone for helping to make the contest and exhibition great! Your beautiful images are key to our goal of protecting our natural world.
The unique beauty of the natural areas within San Marcos inspired the first Naturescapes Photography Contest. The contest includes photographs taken in greenspaces and natural areas throughout Hays, Blanco, Comal, Guadalupe, Caldwell, and Travis Counties.
Goals of the contest and exhibit include increasing public awareness of the importance of protecting our natural world and giving photographers at all levels of experience a chance to capture, share, and receive recognition for beautiful and inspiring images. Suggested subjects include natural scenery, wildlife, plants, and people and pets in the natural environment.
The entry deadline is June 23. Click here to enter.
TRAIL WORK
April 3, 2025—Ringtail Ridge
Just when you thought you were ready to move on to the next project you learn there’s more to do at last week’s. And there was: Trail marker cages with posts soon to get the new directions. A bridge or two that needed shoring-up to withstand flooding. The 20+ volunteers didn’t complain in the high humidity because the results were evident. Soon we’ll be doing trail maintenance at many of the natural areas, as, (drum roll) grass will be growing on the trails. String-trimming and lopping will need to be done in the coming weeks. If you want to join us, we work Thursday and Saturdays for a couple of hours before the heat rises.
March 13, 2025—Ringtail Ridge
The full trail crew descended on Ringtail Ridge yesterday to conduct trail maintenance, bridge repairs and enhancements to the kiosks and trail markers. Ringtail connects directly with Limestone Link, the newest connector trail for our Loop and Check goal of trails around San Marcos.
Photos by Lance Jones, Mark Olson, and Monique Tshurr.
March 6, 2025—Limestone Link
Work is completed at the newest trail for visitors, Limestone Link. Owned by Hays County, the trail connects Ringtail Ridge (Spur Trail) with River Recharge (Karst Korner), both City of San Marcos properties. As with all the natural areas it is open dawn to dusk.
We don’t do a lot of painting, carpentry or brick work but, as one trail leader said, “This is the most polished trail we’ve ever done.”
