Activity Overview
The Trinity River Audubon Center is a nature center located in the Great Trinity Forest, the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States. This wonderful nature center is located on 120 acres of land on the outskirts of Dallas, and features 5 miles' worth of nature viewing trails, fascinating exhibits, and a Children's Discovery Garden.
If your family loves spending time out in nature, then head to the Trinity River Audubon Center to hike, view wildlife, and learn about the diverse plant and animal life that resides in the Great Trinity Forest.
Things to Do
- Go for a family hike on one of the center's nature trails. If you have older children, try the Great Trinity Forest Trail or the AT&T Trail, which are both just over 4 miles long. Families with small children can choose from six other trails that are all less than a mile in length.
- Bring along some binoculars and go bird watching! The Great Trinity Forest is located on the migratory path of many species that fly between Canada and Mexico each year, which allows visitors to see up to 200 migrant bird species in addition to the 60 bird species that reside there year-round.
- Take your kids to the indoor exhibit hall to see native Texas species including fish, snakes, lizards, turtles, and bullfrogs.
- Hunt for animal tracks and see how many you can identify! The center provides ID cards that will help you determine if a coyote, beaver, bobcat, raccoon, or river otter was on the trail overnight.
Trinity River Audubon Center Insider Tips
- Register for one of the center's great children's and family programs. Two-hour workshops include hiking, beginning bird watching, nature journaling, survival skills, and camping basics. Learn more on the programs page of their website.
- If you're planning to spend the day exploring nature, bring along a picnic to eat by the Trinity River or while sitting on the overlook trail which provides spectacular views of the Dallas skyline.
- Stop into the nature store to pick up an educational book for the kids, photographs to hang on your walls, or nature-inspired decorations for your home or garden.