Big Thicket - Kirby Nature Trail

Nice Nature Trail
By Blaze on 4/22/2013
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 2.40 Miles Duration: 1 hour

The Kirby Nature Trail is a nice place to hike and learn.  It is close to the Visitors Center off Hwy 287 and a popular place for elementary school field trips.  This is a great first stop if visiting the Big Thicket for the first time.

The Nature Trail features a shorter Inner Loop and a longer Outer Loop.  There are no distance markers along the trail so I don't know the distance of the Inner Loop, but the Outer Loop is longer (2.4 miles).  The Nature trail has a lot of educational placards to help you learn about trees and the ecosystem of the area.  The previous reviewer stated the trail signs needed to be more obvious, but I found them adequate.  What I did not have was an enlarged trail map, however.  I'm not sure one exists.  I only had the brochure map which shows the entire Big Thicket National Preserve.  On that large scale map, the Kirby Nature Trail is hard to discern, making it difficult to navigate.

What I found most impressive were the Bald Cypress trees down in the Slough.  They are nice specimens.  Take your camera.

Kirby Nature Trail & Sand Hill Loop
By TrailShoe on 6/3/2006
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Started at the trail head for Kirby Nature trail and took left turn to head towards Cypress Loop. See Pictures. When we reached Village Creek we headed north on the Turkey Creek Trail to trail head of the Sand Hill Loop trail. Sand Hill loop is more of a desert area. Some Long Leaf Pine Trees in area. Completed loop and headed south on Turkey Creek trail back to Kirby Nature Trail, turned east and followed outer loop. Inner loop was shorter, but map indicated wet at one of bridges so we figured mosquitos. We will hike inner loop next time to see.

By PATTY LANDERS on 7/9/2005
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Nice quite trail. Only met a few people, so pretty much had the woods to ourselves. Nice hike and look forward to going again.