Lance Winter
WIMBERLEY — With cooler fall temperatures on the horizon, residents looking for a new place to explore the Hill Country may want to add Karst Canyon Preserve right in their backyard.
The 175-acre preserve, which opened to the public in March, is located next to Jacob’s Well Natural Area and offers visitors a chance to experience a piece of the Wimberley Valley that only a few years ago was being considered for a large residential development.
The first phase of the preserve includes approximately 2 miles of trails that connect with the North 40 Trail at Jacob’s Well Natural Area. Along the way, visitors can experience the rugged limestone landscape characteristic of this part of Hays County, as well as portions of Dry Cypress Creek and habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. The property is also home to the Wimberley Bat Cave.
Beyond providing another place to hike, the preserve protects environmentally sensitive land within the Jacob’s Well watershed. Its caves, fractures and other karst features allow rainfall to make its way underground and help recharge the Trinity Aquifer, which feeds Jacob’s Well.
The property, formerly known as Coleman’s Canyon, was purchased by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association in 2019 after plans had called for residential development of more than 1,000 lots. Hays County later acquired the property with funding from the voter-approved 2020 Parks and Open Spaces Bond. A conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy provides permanent protection for the land.
As summer gives way to cooler Hill Country days, Karst Canyon Preserve offers residents another reason to head outdoors and a chance to see firsthand a landscape that has been permanently set aside for water, wildlife and future generations.
