Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve

Review: Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve in Arlington, is a lovely 59 acre cross timber slice of nature just south of I-20. Four ponds, rolling terrain, and a blend of prairie and forest teeming with wildlife make this an ideal place to wander and explore at your own pace. What it lacks in total mileage it makes up for in experiences.

Distance: 1.23 miles

Area of Town: Arlington south of I-20

Facilities: A few picnic tables and benches. An amphitheater, fishing pier and seating area on southern side

Suitable for: Jogging, walking

Type of Trail: Natural Dirt Paths, although the southern pond trail is paved

Shade: Mainly shaded, some portion near the ponds are open to the sun. Southern section is sunny

Where to Park:  There is a parking lot at the entrance

Official Site:  Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve

Nearby Trails: Tandy Hills, River Legacy

Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve is located on the west side of Arlington, just south of I-20 off Bowman Springs Road. Formerly known as Southwestern Nature Preserve, this has been on my radar to check out for a while, and I was excited to finally explore it! While the milage does seem on the low side, I spent over 2 hours here exploring the 59 acres of forest and prairie land.

The parking lot is easy to spot from the road, and there was ample parking when we got there. I was there on a weekday, so not sure how busy it can get on weekends. Informational signs provided information about the history of the site, the councilwoman the preserve was named for, the habitat found here as well as the flora and fauna that makes this area their home.

From here you can go to the north to enter the main part of the park, where you’ll find the nature trails the larger ponds. To the south you will find a picnic area and the paved trail that leads to the fourth pond, and an amphitheater and fishing pier.

Northern Section

The main trail is broad and wide, and you can’t miss it. However we took another trail in, which we mistook for that main trail, and wound up on the wrong side of the spillway. Our way in had a lot of poison ivy, so don’t be like us!

Looking at the trail map here, it looks a lot smaller than how it felt when we wandered through the area. Once we crossed the spillway and got on the main trail, we headed to the main pond to see what wildlife we could find. Across the pond we heard the honks of geese who were hanging out by one of the beautiful homes on that side. In the pond itself we saw ducks and a heron, as well as lots of turtles basking in the morning sunshine. Reeds grew along the shore, and it was very picturesque and beautiful, aside from the honking from the geese.

We didn’t really have a plan, we just wandered through the area to see what was there. In fact the trails didn’t feel as distinct as the map implies, and we used Outdoor Explorer TX to double-check our position in the preserve a few times.

The meadow on the northeast side of the preserve was full of yucca plants, butterflies and dragonflies. We also saw Texas bull nettles with their white flowers (look but don’t touch!). We also saw bluebonnets throughout the meadow and some of the trails, we timed out visit perfectly to see them at their peak.

We wound our way to the northwest side of the preserve to the North pond, where we ran into turtles sunning themselves on branches and rocks. Well, at least until we scared them and they dove back into the water. Here we had nice views of the hill where the bluff is, so after wandering around the pond we headed back into woods and went up.

The elevation wasn’t difficult. The rocky bluff was fun wander about on, the views are likely better in the winter with less foliage from the trees, but you can see how high you have come, by looking over the side. Be careful!

At this point we wandered back to the parking lot to check out the southern side.

Southern Section

The Southern Section of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve is very different from the Northern side. As you head past the signs, you’ll notice a section with picnic tables in case you want to take a break or eat. Just beyond that, the sidewalk will bend back into the preserve. This is a wide winding path that eventually will open along the South Pond.

Along one side of the pond is an Outdoor Classroom (we thought it was an amphitheater). This spot is under shade, and offers a nice view of the pond. Honestly, this spot makes for better scenery if you plan to eat something or hang out, vs the picnic area.

Along the southern edge of the South Pond is the boardwalk, and a fishing pier at the eastern side of the pond. Arlington did a great job here, it’s a lovely area. While we were there we saw a few people fishing, according to the Friends of Sheri Capehart website, fishing is allowed here and is catch and release. After we hung out here for a bit, we headed back to the parking lot to head out.

Summary

I’m glad I finally got out to explore Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve. The ponds were beautiful, the trails were well maintained and we saw a lot of wildlife there from butterflies and dragonflies to turtles and birds. Depending on the time of year you go, will definitely impact what you may encounter, especially when it comes to the wildflowers.

Again, this is not a huge place, but it didn’t feel small to us. I would say this is a spot to get out and take your time in. Take some photos of the plants and wildlife here and just enjoy being outdoors. This is ideal for a family with young kids, although again be cautious at the bluff, because you are never too far from the parking lot. It’s also ideal for people with mobility issues or difficulty getting around, as the trails aren’t on the extreme side, although for those I would avoid the bluff.

I definitely recommend Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve, it’s a beautiful spot for those looking for a more relaxed adventure.