Houston Arboretum and Ravine Trail. Ladner noted that the Ravine Trail was developed with a series of design principles. The decking is a fiberglass grate material, which will last longer than traditional wood materials. Join Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Executive Director, Debbie Markey, on Saturday, November 9 for a tour of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (4501 Woodway Drive)! There are a lot of elevation changes. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center 4501 Woodway Drive Houston, TX 77024-7708 arbor@houstonarboretum.org 713.681.8433 The old Ravine Trail used to have two bridges, a land bridge and a wooden one. Photography by It's working: during Hurricane Harvey, the pimples-and-dimples landscape acted as a sponge, and the Arboretum saw almost no damage. Countries; Regions; Cities; Parks; Trails; Maps. The family-friendly getaway has comfortable trails, a nature center and many programs for children. Houston Arboretum Ravine Trail A new trail in the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center near Memorial Park, 4501 Woodway Dr., crosses a riparian ecosystem and two bridges over an actual ravine … 387 Reviews. The response to our goat visitors has been udderly amazing! No kidding. If you crush their leaves, they smell like almond extract, but don't eat them—cherry laurels contain a compound that breaks down into cyanide and benzaldehyde which gives their leaves that characteristic cherry/almond scent. Meadow Pond – Houston Arboretum. is open again. My favorite is the Outer Loop coupled with the newly opened Ravine trail. 13 of 25 Two brothers look at a view along the Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum. The Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has reopened after being closed for the last three years, and closed for eight out of 14 years. Wear comfortable shoes for … My Maps; Create Map; Print Maps; Route Converter; Company. Houston Tourism; Houston Hotels; Houston Bed and Breakfast; Houston Vacation Rentals; Houston Vacation Packages; Flights to Houston; Houston Restaurants; Things to Do in Houston; Houston Travel Forum; Houston Photos; Houston Map; Houston Travel Guide; All Houston Hotels; Houston Hotel Deals; Last Minute Hotels in Houston; By Hotel Type. “We have learned from past experiences,” Mansfield said. If you want to practice your nature photography, head to the Arboretum. Visit during the week and you’re likely to see at least a couple of school buses in the parking lot. In the cool winter, it feels great to bundle up and take easy hikes on tucked-away trails in the Houston … It’s like being in the country while still in the city. Showing results 1 - 90 of 392. The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center has been open since 1967, but for some reason, it's still referred to as a hidden gem. There have been trail washouts and one of the bridges toppled over during Harvey,” Mansfield said. Lower Ravine Trail. We really wanted to work with nature’s timing. The new bridges are longer and go over a straight area of the ravine. While these trails are generally a safe place to get some exercise and fresh air with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, I still bring a mask to keep handy during encounters with fellow nature enthusiasts. The newest addition – Ravine Trail – opened in 2020 and features some urban art by a local artist. Tour starts at 10:00 AM and should last about an hour and a half. Trail Grade: Moderate. The Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has reopened after being closed for the last three years, and closed for eight out of 14 years. Gwendolyn Knapp The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, tucked away near Memorial Park on 4501 Woodway Dr., has unveiled a newly designed ravine trail as part of the nonprofit's Master Plan. A new year can bring fresh motivation to explore our city. Photo: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer 14 … We can’t imagine a better way to celebrate the exceptional weather of late than with an evening walk in this nature sanctuary, with the bats flapping overhead, the ravine gurgling and the flowers in bloom. We usually weave through the inner loop and check out the pond when we go. There is a ton of wildlife and flowers around. It reminds me of Austin in the Hill Country. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Show More Show Less 2 of 4 Staff of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center check out a new multi-deck boardwalk along the renovated ravine trail. One part of the trail is ADA accessible, with a path to one of the bridges. “It feels a lot more like hiking instead of a stroll. We can’t imagine a better way to celebrate the exceptional weather of late than with an evening walk in this nature sanctuary, with the bats flapping overhead, the ravine gurgling and the flowers in bloom. Ladner said that unfortunately the whole path was not able to be ADA accessible due to elevation changes. Design Workshop, Inc has worked with the Arboretum for the last few years on the Arboretum’s master plan. If you want to learn more about how the goats are helping out, join Senior Naturalist, Kelsey Low, and Senior Natural Resource Specialist, Trevor Rubenstahl, this Thursday, October 8 for Planting for the Future: Habitat Restoration for a Resilient Arboretum. The bridges are steel with concrete floors. T he 155 acres of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center are nestled on the edge of Memorial Park between the West Loop and the railroad tracks. The Ravine Trail is in the northwest corner of the Arboretum, and is accessible from both Woodway Dr. and Loop 610 parking loops. According to the Arboretum’s Marketing and Development Manager, Christine Mansfield, the ravine is a tributary to Buffalo Bayou, and it goes through all of the floods and erosion that other waterways in Houston have experienced as well. This trail is ideal if you want to feel like you are far away from the city without having to drive an hour away.” –Ximena Magaña. 11/13/2020 It’s all part of the arboretum’s Master Plan, which the nonprofit launched in 2012 after half of its trees died thanks to the devastation of Hurricane Ike and years of drought, with an aim to restore itself into a resilient, sustainable natural ecosystem (some piney woods, but mostly prairie and savanna). Show more photos. HOUSTON, January 9, 2020 – The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has unveiled a newly painted mural by Houston artist Anat Ronen in the popular Ravine area in the northwest corner of the nature sanctuary. We are allowing things to grow and get good root systems. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center opens new Ravine Trail. There are two new bridges over the ravine— one even has an ADA accessible concrete trail leading to it—and there’s a boardwalk system, new native plantings to improve bio-diversity and prevent erosion, and lots of shade. This wildlife haven invites you to trek through its pathways and revel in the bliss of sightings such as bats flying above your head while the water gurgles along. The Arboretum worked with Design Workshop, Inc., a recognized landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm. Visitors to the trail will notice that there is coconut fiber netting along some of the banks. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center “The existing landscape is just so gorgeous. The older bridges were at bends, which tend to be the most impacted spaces during floods. According to the Arboretum’s Marketing and Development Manager, Christine Mansfield, the ravine is a tributary to Buffalo Bayou, and it goes through all of the floods and erosion that other waterways in Houston have experienced as well. already has its own new arborgator, field stations, and Woodway entrance, The Houston Arboretum's Revamped Woodway Entrance Is Open, 5 Fun Things to Do Outdoors in Houston This Month, 5 Things to Do in Houston This Weekend, Jan 22–24, You Can Watch 120 Goats "Mow" the Arboretum in October. “Having the Ravine Trail finally back open has been a huge goal for the master plan,” Conners Ladner, Office Director with Design Workshop, Inc., said. 10/07/2020 Goats are gobbling up the Houston Arboretum. Address: Purple Trail (Easy), Houston, TX 77007 Phone: (713) 863-8403 Website: www.memorialparkconservancy.org. The public can traverse this new trail, which boasts a "true riparian ecosystem" with elevation changes not typically seen in the Houston area, according to the center. But what a hoot. The Outer Loop is about 1.75 miles and pretty much follows the outside border of the arboretum property. Hit Ravine Trail (to see the Owl Eyes Mural) then the outer loop. “It will reduce erosion as things grow in. They have a variety. This is a new trail located in the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, near Memorial Park. A gem is the best way to describe the trails and as of just days ago, they’ve unveiled a newly designed ravine trail as part of the nonprofit’s Master Plan. One of my favorite out and back trails is the Couch Birding Trail. We want to fix it and heal it,” Ladner said. According to Mansfield, this new trail is unlike anything else at the Arboretum. Another feature of the Ravine Trail is a steel boardwalk that brings walkers closer to the ravine itself. This included having to stabilize the ravine to assist with impacts of ongoing flooding. Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Ladner noted that the overall design and completion of the trail would not have been possible without Landscape Architect partner, Reed|Hilderbrand, or without Walter P. Moore, Hydrogeo Designs, Frayre Engineering and Consulting, and Forney Construction. It’s a fun experience,” Mansfield said. In the long run it will create a nice effect and be stable,” Mansfield said. Photos of Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Outer Loop Trail Houston Arboretum and Nature Center Outer Loop Trail. There’s a diverse selection of trails … The newly opened Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center features two new bridges that span the ravine below. The newly-opened Ravine Trail is short, near the entrance, and has some nice elevation changes. The Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has reopened after being closed for the last three years, and closed for eight out of 14 years. Gwendolyn Knapp. Now the Ravine Trail has two new bridges, and both are raised higher over the ravine, allowing for water to flow more naturally underneath. THE HOUSTON ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER already has its own new arborgator, field stations, and Woodway entrance, but the city’s coolest outdoor hidden gem has something else to celebrate: Its beloved Ravine Trail is open again. The Houston Arboretum and Nature Center is one of the city’s best ways to experience the great outdoors. The ravine was stabilized naturally to be able to better handle future flooding events. The whimsical piece depicts a Great Horned Owl, a nocturnal animal that has been spotted and heard on the Houston Arboretum’s 155-acre property located just inside Loop 610. In my opinion it is by far the “prettiest” trail at the Houston Arboretum. “We worked with a great team. Most of the trees in this area were planted after the island was created. thanks to the devastation of Hurricane Ike and years of drought, with an aim to restore itself into a resilient, sustainable natural ecosystem (some piney woods, but mostly prairie and savanna). With always free admission, there’s no reason not to stop in for a nature break, seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. This short 800-foot trail meanders along the outside edge of a small man-made island at the bottom of the ravine. It’s all part of the arboretum’s Master Plan, which the nonprofit launched in 2012 after. The stabilization was done as naturally as possible to keep the ravine authentic. Explore. https://www.houstoniamag.com/.../04/houston-arboretum-ravine-trail-is-back Location: 4501 Woodway Drive or 120 West Loop North Hours: 7 a.m. to dusk Trail map The trails are really great. Parts of the trail, which is just over half a mile long, features mulch, which Mansfield says will be much easier to replace if it gets washed out in future flooding events. Another goal was to clear the evasive plants and protect the tree canopy. While the Ravine Trail has been closed off for three years due to flooding, erosion, and washout, it's now ready to show off its native riparian ecosystem to the public. It is accessible from the Arboretum via a tunnel under Woodway Drive in front of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. Families tend to enjoy the trails closer to the nature center and the inner loop. REVIEWS: “Memorial park is one of my favorite parks in Houston! Hike the trails, climb the trees, and find unexpected treasures at the Houston Arboretum! The refurbished Ravine Trail at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center features new decking and overlooks, perfect for little feet to explore. Get the App. This has been a complete dream project - the opportunity to heal this landscape and build in this natural destination,” Ladner said. By The Ravine is full of beautiful, glossy-leaved cherry laurels (Prunus caroliniana). “It was a hard place to get to be safe for the public. 4/26/2019 at 7:00am. Black - Length: 0.80 miles, Difficulty: Hard The Black Trail runs 0.80 miles from the tunnel under Woodway in a loop around a ravine and connect to the Brown trail … Artist Anat Ronen has transformed the entrance of a tunnel near the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s Ravine Trail into a special bird sighting – a close-up look at the peering eyes of a great horned owl who seems to be hiding in its leafy surroundings. The half-mile Inner Loop Trail is perfect for strollers, as it’s flat and wide without being boring. Trails within the Arboretum are graded easiest, moderate, and more difficult based on terrain and length. 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