Village Creek Drying Beds

Review: The Village Creek Drying Beds are a birdwatcher’s paradise! Located on the site of a former wastewater treatment plant, this 130-acre area features large basins that blend water and land, creating an ideal habitat for a wide variety of bird species. With plenty of space to explore, you can immerse yourself in nature here!

Distance: There are multiple paths through the preserve’s 130 acre area. Not trails per se, but you can wander along the berms or between the basins

Where is it?:  Arlington, right next door to River Legacy Park

Facilities: None, aside from limited parking. However, you can access River Legacy facilities next door if you do need a restroom or a place to sit. You an access River Legacy via the berms on the eastern edge of the property.

Suitable for: Hiking / Trail Running, Bird Watching

Type of Trail: Dirt Trails

Shade: Mix of shade and sun, depending on where you are in the space

Where to Park: There is a small parking area, down a gravel road off Green Oaks Blvd. Google Maps will take you here. You can also park at Dunlop Sports Center, and then cross Green Oaks into the drying beds.

Official Site: I couldn’t find one

Nestled beside River Legacy Park in Arlington, the Village Creek Drying Beds offer a unique blend of history and nature. Once part of a wastewater treatment facility, this hidden gem is now a haven for birdwatchers and a peaceful spot for a leisurely walk.

Normally this is where I’d give you an official map of the area, but I can’t find anything online. In fact, the Village Creek Drying Beds don’t really have much of an online presence, aside from a few write-ups or mentions of bird walks held by various naturalists. So I did the next best thing, I grabbed a photo shot from Google Maps, showing the surrounding area.

River Legacy Park has been one of my frequent destinations to bike its mountain bike trails and paved trail. I had NO idea how close the Village Creek Drying Beds were, it’s literally next door. You can see from the map, that the northern border of the Drying Beds is located just south of the River Legacy DORBA trails. We saw portions of the trail from the berm, and there was access via a path into the woods. Along the eastern berms of the Drying Beds, you can walk right into Legacy Park, not too far from the bathrooms and a pavilion. So while there are no facilities in the Drying Beds themselves, you can access them easily without having to drive over to the park.

In terms of parking, if you use Google Maps, it will take you to a gravel road, which then leads to a small parking area behind a gate. I don’t remember seeing a sign, but my friend I visited with said that they close the gate at 4:30, so if parking there, I’d make sure to be mindful of the time. If that parking spot is full, you can also park across the street at Dunlop Sports Center, and then just hoof it across the street.

There wasn’t much to go on, in terms of the history of the area. This was the site of a former waste water treatment plant, but is no longer used. Due to that, the water levels have changed, and per Amy Martin’s DFW Wild book, that unfortunately has led to a reduction in the diversity of bird life found in the preserve. The land is laid out like several other similar locations such as John Bunker Sands or (on a much smaller scale) the Old Fish Hatchery near White Rock Lake. There are multiple cells or basins set up where the water collects, with paths between them where you can wander through the area. Around the perimeter of the Village Creek Drying Beds are large berms or dams, which can be a bit steep in places to ascend.

The images on both Google and Apple Maps show quite a few cells with water on either side of the entrance, but this is not how it was when we went in early January 2025. There were quite a few large cells on the eastern half of the property, but the western half cells were empty except for tall grasses. If you are unsure which way to go, just follow the sound of the birds!

The paths between the cells are wide and well maintained, at least when we visited. While there was a lot of tall grass growing near some of the basins, the paths that had been mowed were easy to see and follow. Once you got to the end of each row, you could easily walk around and follow the next row.

I’ve never seen so many ducks in my life, and so many kinds in one spot. We saw mallards, American coots, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, and Northern Shovelers. Unlike the ducks at White Rock Lake, who seem quite comfortable with humans, these ducks often would leap into the air as we approached, quacking their displeasure at being disturbed. The cells here are huge, often with a mix of water and islands poking up, often covered in grasses.

Beyond ducks, you’ll see many other kinds of birds. We saw turkey vultures in the sky, heard the cries of hawks (never saw one though), meadowlarks, an Eastern Phoebe, and others. Not only did we see birds, we also saw some nutrias (water loving mammals, sorta like a beaver with bright orange teeth) swimming around in the cells.

While we were the only ones to park there when we arrived, we did encounter a few other people wandering the grounds, one family brought a very excited dog who was racing around sniffing anything in sight. It did feel like we had the spot all to ourselves, even though there were others around.

Keep in mind, the kinds of birds you’ll see will very likely change by the season. Many birds migrate here to spend the winter in this area, then return as we move into spring and summer months. So the kinds of birds we spotted on our visit in January, will likely not reflect the kinds of birds you may see if you go in May or September. You can find more information on birds spotted in the Drying Beds by using eBird or iNaturalist.

For the birdwatchers out there, the best times to come would be early in the morning, or later in the day, as they are hunting / feeding. When we went, it was afternoon, so many of the ducks were sleeping (as seen in one of the photos above, if you look closely). And to be clear, we saw plenty of birds, even if it wasn’t the optimal time to visit. However, if you do come later in the day, just make sure to be cautious about parking behind the gate so you don’t get stuck if they close it!

Like John Bunker Sands, this is less of a trail or trail system, and more a place to just wander and explore on your own. You can certainly get quite a few miles in wandering around through the 130 acres of the Drying Beds, but make sure you stop to take in the nature and birds here.

Whether you’re a dedicated birder or just someone looking for a peaceful escape, the Village Creek Drying Beds offer a unique and rewarding experience. Wander, explore, and let the sights and sounds of this hidden gem captivate you.