Trail entrance with picnic benches.

By Emily Reyner.

In summer 2023 I made my first trip to the Blair Woods nature preserve in East Austin. While I had never visited this preserve before I was excited to see what the 10-acre sanctuary had to offer.

To get to Blair Woods you take a turn off busy East MLK Boulevard and onto a narrow gravel road. From the street it is a bit hidden, but as soon as you make your turn it feels like a whole new world. Trees and shrubs begin to rise around you and by the time you make it to the parking lot the urban hustle and bustle seems far behind. The end of the drive greets you with a small parking lot, the trailhead, and some historic buildings from a time before Dr. Frank Blair, a renowned herpetologist, owned the property. The buildings themselves, while clearly many decades old, still appear to be very well preserved and cared for.

Historic shed and dairy farm.

Approaching the trailhead, you can find an easy-to-read map, nature guide, and a message welcoming the public to explore and appreciate the nature within the preserve. The trails themselves are well maintained and some have even been recently renovated to be accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. While the preserve has more than a mile of mulched and paved trails, the winding, crisscrossing paths make it feel like each turn will bring you to something new. Trail signs pop up along the way, with information on native plants, land management, and wildlife habitats which provide insight into the environment around you. The signs provide details on the ongoing upkeep of the preserve and give you a glimpse into Travis Audubon’s mission for managing the property.

Signage regarding habitat restoration.

Just a few minutes on the trails and it’s not hard to spot the wildlife that calls this place home. The park is filled with birdsong, the rustling of lizards in the leaves, and butterflies fluttering across the walkways. A small pond has also been created where you can see waterfowl on the banks, turtles basking in the sun, and dragonflies dancing on the water. An airplane overhead was the only reminder that I was still in the heart of the city and not surrounded by miles of wild nature. Aside from the trails, the preserve offers several other points of interest as well. A busy pollinator garden, a picturesque water feature, and a group of picnic tables that offer a great place to get out of the sun.

View of pond from the pier.

By the end of my trip, I found that Blair Woods is a great place to get away from the urban hustle and bustle without even leaving the city. The trails are welcoming, nature is abundant, and the quiet and calm atmosphere makes for a great escape. It is clear as well that so much love goes into maintaining this property and it has a strong connection to nature, history, and wildlife.