SMGA is frequently asked how to get into and around in our natural areas. The problem of finding the entrances exists because we are still on the "city's gonna" side of improvements for access to, and the entrances of, the larger areas, for example Upper Purgatory, Blanco Shoals, and Spring Lake Preserve. We should be on the "city fixed it" side soon. Highlighted below are some notes on what will be coming soon to these locations.
SMGA has used blue blazes to make it easier for visitors to find their way around in some situations and when our trail crew volunteers get ahead of the raging spring growth that is choking some of our trails, we will get in and apply more blazes for our visitors.
Prospect Park (the southeastern portion of Lower Purgatory) has blue blazes throughout to mark the routes through the single track wilderness trails. Thank you Eagle Scout Lucas Spencer for some of the work. A two inch by six inch blue blaze can be seen in the photo. Blazes were used in the Appalachians long ago to mark routes through the forests although they used a swipe of paint instead of a piece of corrugated polystyrene. You should always have a blaze within sight, some of them are a bit high up in the tree - look up.
At Spring Lake Preserve you can park in the northwest corner of the parking lot at the Texas Rivers Center and look toward the maintenance building across Laurel Lane. A blue blaze is on a large cedar elm. If you cautiously cross the street and look ahead to the left the next blaze can be seen, walk to that and the next one can be seen on a tree beyond and so on. The blazes will lead through the Texas State maintenance area up to the actual preserve where trails begin at an eagle scout kiosk. Spring Lake directions + photos. The warmer weather and the end of the abundant spring growth will enable SMGA volunteers to post blue blazes and some signage on the wilderness trails over the next few months.