Bear Creek Pioneers Park: Equestrian and Nature Trail (Blog Hike #783)

Trail: Equestrian and Nature Trail

Hike Location: Bear Creek Pioneers Park

Geographic Location: east of Katy, TX (29.82383, -95.63390)

Length: 2.6 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: December 2019

Overview: A wet and muddy hike through lowland forest.

Park Information: https://hcp4.net/parks/bear-creek-pioneers-park/

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=777441

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Between Houston and Katy, take I-10 to SR 6.  Exit and go north on SR 6.  Drive SR 6 north 2.5 miles to Patterson Road and turn right on Patterson Rd.  Drive Patterson Rd. east 0.4 miles to Bear Creek Drive and turn left on Bear Creek Dr.  Take Bear Creek Dr. north 0.8 miles to the signed parking area for the Equestrian and Nature Trail on the right.  Park here.

The hike: Owned and maintained by Harris County, the county that contains Houston, Bear Creek Pioneers Park protects 2155 acres near Katy on the west side of the Houston metro area.  The park is a major center for nearly every form of outdoor recreation.  On point, the park features 8 picnic pavilions, 2 playgrounds, numerous softball and baseball fields, tennis courts, and 2 18 hole golf courses.

            In terms of trails, Bear Creek Pioneers Park’s most popular trail is its lighted asphalt jogging trail located along the eastern edge of the park, but hikers looking for a more natural experience also have an option: the 2.6 mile Equestrian and Nature Trail described here.  Be warned that the park’s southern boundary is a dike that restrains water during times of flood, so the southern part of this trail frequently becomes inundated.  I hiked here in mid-December when every other trail I hiked near Houston was bone-dry and still ended up trudging through cement-like mud more than a foot deep here.  Be prepared for poor trail conditions and turn around if conditions get too bad.  Also, I would not even think about hiking here in the summer due to heat and bugs.

Vehicle gate at trailhead

            Start by walking south around the vehicle gate, across the grassy field, and into the woods.  Just after entering the woods, the trail splits to form its loop.  I read that there used to be a trail sign here, but there were no signs or markings anywhere on this trail on my visit.  Regardless, I chose to turn left here and hike the loop clockwise.

Hiking through lowland forest

            At the next trail intersection, you need to turn right; the option going left leads directly back to the parking area.  The wide grass/dirt trail winds its way south with the developed part of Bear Creek Park visible through the trees on the left.  This trail was obliterated by the remnants of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and I still saw the effects of flood events when I hiked here in December 2019.  Large amounts of trash deposited by floodwaters laid beside the trail, and several downed trees blocked the path.

One of the smaller mudholes on the trail

            As the trail winds further south, you get into the part of the park that stays underwater more frequently.  Thus, the small puddles near the trailhead are replaced by boot-swallowing mudholes here.  Patterson Road comes into view through the trees to the left before you reach a trail intersection near 1.5 miles.  With the worst of the mud behind you, turn left to continue the main loop.

Hiking through pine forest

            Soon you cross the first of two iron bridges with wooden decks over Bear Creek.  The trail curves right as Bear Creek Drive replaces Patterson Road on the left.  As you reach slightly higher elevations, the floodplain forest is replaced by a pine planting.  Ignore side trails that exit left and lead to parking lots along the road.  Just after crossing Bear Creek for a second time, you close the loop.  Turn left to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.