Nature Hiking on the Seabrook Texas Trails
A Gateway to Gulf Coast Wetlands and Home to a Lucky Trail Marathon
Dec 19, 2008
The town of Seabrook, Texas lies on the opposite side of the Kemah bridge from the Kemah Boardwalk, south of Houston. Some years ago, the city council resolved to link the city parks together with a crushed gravel trail. A round-trip nature hike totals a little over eight miles.
Parts of the trail are loops, parts are single trails, and one section is an out-and-back dog leg. There are five places to park a car, two at either end and three places in the middle. This way, hikers, bikers, and runners can start at any part of the route.
How to Get to the Seabrook Trails
The easiest way to get to the trail is to take I-45 South from Houston. Turn left (East) on Nasa Rd. 1. When it hits Highway 146 turn right. Next turn left, towards the bay, on North Meyer. Travel 0.6 miles and turn in at Wildwood Park. The city swimming pool is right there and has a good size parking lot.
The only time when it's not a good idea to park here is March 14 and 15, when this park is the staging area for the Seabrook Lucky Trail Marathon and Half Marathon.
The trail forms its largest loop here and is considered one end of it. Wildwood Park boasts the city swimming pool, a covered basketball court, a skate park, and a Frisbee golf course. Starting here and hiking in either direction leads to Hester Park.
The Dense Vegetation of Hester Park
Hester Park is the other end of the initial loop and has an interesting history that gives it its unique character. It was originally a nursery, owned and operated by Joe Hester from 1925 to 1993. The city commissioned it as a park in 1993.
As a consequence, many of the plants and trees for sale simply remained where they were set out and developed into a densely wooded area. Traveling on one side of the loop, runners go through a forest of crepe myrtles, neatly ordered in rows. It's a stunning site when they're in bloom.
The opposite side of the loop goes through stands of dense oaks, sub-tropical plants, and bamboo groves. There are multiple side trails off the main trail which are dirt (or mud), making it prime terrain for trail running and hashing.
Cruising Down Todville Road
Coming out of Hester Park, the loop merges into a single trail at a small, shady parking lot. The trail then parallels Todville road. This section is about a mile long and additional parking is available at the tennis courts on the left, about three quarters of the way down.
The next park is Robinson Park. It is located just past the intersection of Todville and Old Red Bluff Road and the small parking lot accommodates about eight vehicles. This is the last spot before the end of the trail to get a drink at a water fountain, and there's even a water trough for dog-walkers.
Robinson Park – Where the Wildlife Begins
This is the place to dig out the binoculars. It's not really much of a park; there's the parking lot, a gazebo, and a bayou. But, this is where the hiker really begins to enter the Texas gulf coast wetlands, which is a critical Texas ecosystem and part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
This is another trail loop. Going left, the runner can explore more dirt trail offshoots. Going right, count on plenty of cardinals flitting about and javelinas (wild boars). Central to the loop is a bayou, replete with turtles, herons and the occasional Rosette Spoonbill.
At the end of the loop, a foot bridge crosses the bayou. Going left is the dog-leg which parallels a larger bayou where alligators, rabbits, and turkey buzzards are frequently sighted.
Going right leads through a wooded area, crosses Todville Road and enters another wooded area. This is a heavily wooded area where the trail leads towards the bay. It runs parallels Pine Gully and terminates in Pine Gully Park.
Pine Gully Park – a Gem for Family Gatherings and Fishing
Pine Gully Park contains the final trail loop and is a weekend destination with a fishing pier, picnic tables, barbecue pits. It's located right on the bay. The astute explorer will locate shell middens where pre-Colombian Indian tribes lived. Entering by road to park requires a very small fee.
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