Honey Creek
First Field Trip of the HCMN 2024 Fall Training Class
All photos courtesy David Hatfield
David Hatfield
In late August of 2024, the Fall Training Class of the Hays County Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists™ (HCMN) visited Honey Creek State Natural Area in the Texas Hill Country. Field trips like this one let naturalist trainees enjoy their wealth of new knowledge out under the big Texas sky.
Honey Creek State Natural Area is a nature preserve spanning nearly 2,300 acres, with an additional section of about 500 acres. The preserve was acquired by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in three phases: the first portion in 1985, the second in 1988, and the most recent in 2023, which is not yet open to the public. Situated on the western side of Comal County in the Texas Hill Country near Bulverde, this hidden gem is located within Guadalupe State Park and is accessible only through guided tours.
The 2024 fall Training Class tour began at the Rust House in Guadalupe State Park, where we learned about the early immigrants to the region. Once we entered the preserve, aside from an access road and a few picnic tables, the land appeared much as it did 100 years ago.
TPWD's primary goal is to preserve both the surrounding area and the watershed that feeds the natural spring. There are also restoration efforts underway to restore the oak savannah.
The hike started with a typical mix of post oak, live oak, Ashe juniper, cedar elm, and persimmon trees. Shortly after, we entered an area that underwent a prescribed burn about 8–10 years ago, where native grasses, oaks, and a few palmetto trees now cover the landscape.
As the hike continued deeper into the woods and closer to the river, the trees grew denser and were draped in Spanish moss, with minimal ground cover due to the heavy shade.
We followed the trail toward the creek, pausing at one point to allow a shy rat snake to pass.
Upon reaching the creek bed, we found ourselves under the shade of towering bald cypress trees. Approaching the headwaters of the spring, we felt as though we were the first to discover this secluded spot.
While we didn’t encounter much wildlife, our large group was content with simply enjoying the peaceful beauty of nature—and that’s perfectly fine too.
