I love hiking with my dog but people need to put their dogs on a leash. They should not be allowed to be there without one.

Thanks to Covid-19 I have recently started hiking, I found this area to have some great trails with some very nice scenery. Still have some trails to head out there and explore but am looking forward to them.

We had a great time hiking the trails here. We were only able to hit about half of the trails here, as the northern half is closed March-May for the nesting period of an endangered bird who calls the preserve home. Still, what we were able to see was great, and the trails had some good inclines and rocky paths to keep it interesting.

Another great greenspace in San Marcos. Nice trails and accessible from a couple of different locations. Some of the views make you forget that you are in the middle of town. Parking at the river center is tough as it is closed due to COVID, and the parking lot is blocked off.

A great place to go and relax, I use to drive the glass bottom boats when it was Aquarena Springs and its definitely a really nice ride and you see a lot of cool things, natural springs that look like cream of wheat and theres a spring that puts out 18,000 gallons a minute. Take the kids they will love it. They can feed the ducks and geese that r there.

Spring Lake Natural Area was a really large and nice park where we took my friends puppy. The weather was nice but it was obvious that the area is prone to standing water. Lots of bugs and even more mosquitos. Bring some repellent, water and you’re sure to have a good time.

It was a nice 6 mile hike! Some very beautiful areas, with a few short hills, flat areas and lots of rocks!

Beautiful trails and nature area! Lots to explore, and best of all, dogs are allowed as long as theyre leashed and you clean up after them.I loved hiking along the centipede trail.

New favorite spot! Its a quick 20 min trail with a scenic pond to stop and admire the schools of fish. My dog loves this place and its nearly impossible to get lost :)

I love this place, the trails are always well marked and clean. Dog friendly (as long as they are on a leash) and is always a nice little hike.We park at spring lake reserve and use the trail behind the matinence shed.

This is a great park. Ive gone on strolls here with my lady and Ive gone mountain biking here and quickly gotten over my head in some of the rock gardens. This park has twisty turny trails that take some time to get used to so if you are visiting, snap a picture of the trail map so you dont get turned around up on the hill. This is my go to park for mountain biking because there are some challenging areas but mostly its pretty approachable runs. Great park!

My son and I have hiked these trails many times. We always enjoy the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere, although this is 5 minutes from downtown San Marcos. It’s a beautiful place.

Spring Lake Natural Area offers many trail options and activities including glass bottom boat tours.

Great MTB trails

This area is a part of Texaa State University. It includes tours of the lake in glass bottom boats. Also hiking trails are next to the lake. All part of the Meadows Center for Aquatic Studies. Theres also an aquarium next to the lake. Theres a boardwalk over a porton of the lake. There is a small charge for the glass bottom boats.

I LOVE IT

Great place that was close by!!! Nice hiking trails, great for my family.

Hiked from the Lime Kiln trailhead to the N. LBJ and back. The perfect mix of flat grassland hiking and forested hills hiking. I think it ended up being about 5 or 6 miles after we took a couple scenic detours. Definitely need to bring the mountain bike next time.

Love this place!! Unfortunately its slowly being ruined by people who cant pick up after themselves.

Love that there is a lot of shading on the trails. And it’s not too steep that you will tire easily. Will definitely be coming again with the family and puppers

This place is Rad, Brah...

Great hike

It was nice a quiet. Perfect length for a nice peaceful hike. Dogs are allowed so thats a plus.

Very nice area, very secluded. I have 5 kids and they are all Nudists. So very peaceful place to be in the nude without anyone around

Nice trail

Spring Lake Natural Area was Ammmaizng!

Really enjoy this place. Love the small waterfall.

Love hiking here

A natural oasis deep in the heart of texas yall. This spring that feeds the San Marcos river never stops flowing not even in the worst of droughts.

Ok to hike or bike through, but, the junk and waste thrown behind the buildings and, plus the non-management of invasive aquatic vegetation is disgusting. It could be managed a lot better, in my opinion.

Huge park with a lot of trails, perfect for both mountain biking or just hiking. Theres also a pond, great for dogs.

We love this place because it has a lot of mid level trails for hiking and biking. We have a 2 year old and teenagers and they all enjoy it. Good for picnics. About 8ish miles of trails, mostly covered. So good in all seasons. A little Rocky in some places.

A littleMuddy buta good walk. Would have been good to know most of trails were closed due to endangered bird breeding season

Great trails and wonderful wilderness in suburbia.

This is great place to hike, run, mountain bike or even just a light stroll. The trails are well maintained and there are sights to see along the way. Its a great place to bring your pup too!

Multiple trails that can be linked for varied mileage. Hills,meadow and stream. Wild flowers are coming into bloom. Trees are well leafed. A beautiful day for a walk.

Great short hike with a couple of good hills! Close to home yet feels very remote. Also minimally trafficked. Saw some prints early part of summer that looked like large feline (possible mountain lion?) There are sightings at purgatory but haven’t heard of any here. I’d be cautious going alone at dusk. Have definitely seen several boar though!

Great for a nice peaceful stroll through nature.

Great trails. Fast and fun single track, water crossings, and never too crowded.

Really nice hiking trails!

Gorgeous, wild, natural area with clear, well-marked trails.

Great place for a nature hike and to see the wildlife.

Everyone should go outdoors more. It is important to have places like this in every community. We must detach ourselves from electronics so that we may appreciate our natural environment.

Never did find the waterfall thats in the picture I walked around there for over 2 hours did see a deer

Allway peaceful and relaxing

Great open trails that are well kept! But make sure to check your dogs as well as yourself after your walk because there are ticks around the area! Found 2 on my dog!

This was my second time to the park I wondered almost all the way through but turned around to go back to Key Line

I decided to shoot a music video in here. There are some beautiful parts to this park. Close to campus and you can really get a good workout.

Spring Lake Preserve is my favorite greenbelt property in all of the San Marcos region. I say this mainly because the headwaters of the San Marcos river lie on the south end of the preserve and dry creeks are abundant throughout the entire park. I have located 3 dry creeks during my time hiking the preserve. Some dry creek access points can be difficult to locate during spring and summer months because of dense vegetation. This park is also an excellent place to enjoy mountain biking. Helmets are a must as the backcountry trails are windy and covered in large stones.

Genuinely the best nature area in San Marcos, you can disappear from the noise and the city and get lost in nature for an hour or two. There are creeks, springs, prairies and so much more.A great group outing place or to get kids into nature.

Great variety of hikes

The beauty is calming.

Nature loving fun trails.

This reserve is a great place to run, hike, and bike. The trails are well marked. It is not that busy so you feel like you are walking alone most of the time.

A lot of deer! Decent hills, easy peaceful hike, nothing spectacular.

This is where I have started jogging, its peaceful and has many trails and interesting views.

Its a nice area to walk around.

There are some really nice trails here that make you feel as though you are not just 10 minutes away from town. I like to use the trail head that is behind the apartments at the end of Ramsay St. (up N. LBJ). There are tons of fossils here too!

Great peaceful area. Natural beauty

Is there a good place to park? Maybe in the neighborhood somewhere? This address didnt take me to the actual park entrance just a random no outlet street with no trail...

Beautiful nature preserve on the old site of Aquarena Springs amusement park. Glass bottom boats still operate and are worth the visit if youve never been.

Love it

We had a hard time finding where to park for the trail head and they require dogs to be on a leash. The views are great and we saw goldfish in the pond.

Absolutely beautiful and enchanting, a marvel to have inside San Marcos! Never too crowded

Great place for a day hike!

Difficult trails, huge spiders, boars, deer, prickly pear s, wildflowers, juniper, there is a peak and a koi pond, these trails are amazing . Pristine hill country environment Great spot for a day trip or run.

Miles of quality trails. Easy access right in the heart of San Marcos.

Great hiking

Great local spot for a more challenging hiking experience.

One of my favorite walking trails in San Marcos. The exogyra trail is my favorite.

Beautiful, quiet area

Great hiking and views

Porta-potty only available at Like Kiln Road entrance.

Fabulous walking trails for humans and canines alike!

Love it!

Love this place to the max

Beautiful hikes, glass bottom boats, and educational.

Lovely!

Good option of trails, but all the entrance are in bad locations.

Very beautiful

Nice place to walk

It was amazing!!

Very beautiful area for hiking and biking

Its just still magical

Beautiful, quiet and wooded

Its fun

I just love that place!!!

Nice views

Beautiful rolling hills and scenery

Hope youre doing swell.

Great trails, multiple entrances.

Beautiful

Awesome hiking.

The trails are kind of hard to find at first

Nice place