Ready to spend some time outside but live in Houston? There’s plenty of nature, if you know where to look…
Houston, Texas may be full of concrete highways and office buildings, but the city actually has acres of parks, trails, and other outdoor spaces to experience nature. Here are some of our favorite Houston parks!
Favorite Local Parks:
Memorial Park
Location
Lower Heights: 6501 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007
Memorial Park covers about 1,500 acres, making it Houston’s largest city park and almost double the size of Central Park in New York City. The park is located in the heart of Houston with roughly 30 miles of park trails and a 600-acre urban forest (one of the largest in the country). Plus, it’s also an archaeological protected site and where the sport of jogging was popularized! The huge Houston park has facilities for jogging, tennis, hiking, biking, picnicking, and so many other outdoor activities. More interested in wildlife? There are known to be at least 139 different species of animals and 267 different species of plant life. Anyone and everyone is sure to enjoy their time here!
Hermann Park
Location
Texas Medical Center: 6100 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
Located in the heart of Houston on over 445 acres, there's a lot to do in Hermann Park. As a free, safe, and enjoyable public space, this city park is an important resource for many Houstonians and fosters a strong sense of community to bring people together. In fact, Hermann Park was recently named one of America’s best parks! Whether you plan to ride the mini train,explore McGovern Lake in a pedal boat, jog along the trails, or enjoy a peaceful moment in the Japanese Garden, this Houston park is a wonderful place to spend a relaxing day.
Houston Botanic Garden
Location
South Houston: 1 Botanic Lane, Houston, TX 77017
The Houston Botanic Garden inspires and connects visitors with an incredible collection of unique plants from around the world that reflect the rich diversity of Houston itself. The garden is a 132-acre urban oasis and living museum home to 1,000 different species! The Houston Botanic Garden enriches lives through discovery, education, and the conservation of the natural environment. You’ll also be able to hear the sounds of the distinct wildlife drawn to the area, smell incredible aromas from the different botanical life, and even get to feel some of nature’s amazing textures!
George Mitchell Nature Preserve
Location
The Woodlands: 5171 Flintridge Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77381
The George Mitchell Nature Preserve is a 1,800-acre nature preserve connected to the adjacent forest, the Spring Creek Greenway. This Houston park has miles of hiking and biking trails exposing you to Houston’s native plants and wildlife, as well as access to Bedias Lake and Spring Creek for water recreation.
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center
Location
Humble: 20634 Kenswick Dr, Humble, TX 77338
Jesse H. Jones Park is part of a 312-acre nature preserve connected to Spring Creek. This Houston park features traditional park recreational amenities, such as a playground, restrooms, and miles of pedestrian trails, but also several miles of unpaved trails, swamps, and a nature center highlighting a variety of plant and wildlife species, like alligators and century-old cypress trees! Jesse Jones Park visitors can also find the Redbud Hill Homestead, Akokisa Indian Village, and tons of other educational programs and events—all for free.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Location
Downtown: 10-mile stretch Shepherd Dr. to Sabine St. between Allen Pkwy & Memorial Dr.
Buffalo Bayou Park is a 160-acre green space right outside of downtown Houston. Visitors to this cool Houston park can enjoy beautiful gardens and native landscaping, miles of hiking and biking trails, a nature-themed play area, a huge dog park (a local favorite), a skate park, an outdoor, public art gallery, and serene picnic spots. You can also explore the bayou on the water itself! Kayaks and canoes are available to rent, or you can bring your own small boat to cruise down the water and enjoy the Houston outdoors. Buffalo Bayou Park weaves together green spaces, trails, and reimagined industrial relics, serving as portals to Houston’s diverse history and neighborhoods to create common ground along the waterway.
Looking for a nice Houston park to let your dog run around? Check out our list of favorite local dog parks.
Want more insight into the local life in Houston? Check out our exclusive city guide for FREE here and get ready to fall in love with Houston, Texas!