Less than 10 miles from the St. Edward’s University campus, you’ll find Wild Basin Creative Research Center. Wild Basin has over 227 acres of Texas Hill Country with just over 2.5 miles trail hiking. It’s the perfect spot to get outside without a long drive. Trails are open every day, sunrise to sunset. You’ll need to leave your pets, bikes, and picnics at home. Don’t forget your reusable water bottle!
Every second Saturday, the Center hosts free guided nature hikes. Follow us on Instagram and watch our story highlight from one of the Second Saturday Guided Hikes with master naturalist John Barr. We saw fossils, birds, signs of wildlife and ended the hike with a waterfall!
Wild Basin Self-Guided Trail Map with notes on native plants and wildlife
Visit our blog post here for the most up to date visitor’s guide to Wild Basin.
From March 30, 2015
Navigating Wild Basin just became easier! The next time you visit Wild Basin, all you need is some water to keep hydrated and your smartphone! You can either view the trail map as a PDF here or look at it on the Google Earth application.
To download the Google Earth app:
- Go to the App Store (Apple or Android)
- Search for Google Earth
- Install the free application on your smartphone
Once the app is downloaded, this KMZ file is a download that will open in Google Earth. It contains multiple layers that allow you to view the different trails and amenities within Wild Basin. You can also see yourself in Google Earth in real time as you hike along the trails. Never get lost again! Need to sit down? Know when the next bench is coming up.
This tool was designed by Marsha Barnes MSEM ’16, the Environmental Education Specialist at the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. To read more about Marsha’s experience at Wild Basin, read the blog, “MSEM Graduate Student’s Experience as the Environmental Education Specialist at Wild Basin!