Kid-Friendly Hikes in San Antonio
Updated by Mom's Guide SA
Quick answer
Start at Phil Hardberger Park, where the Oak Loop is 0.84 miles under shady oaks and the 1-mile Water Loop leads to the Skywalk. Strollers and leashed dogs are allowed there. Government Canyon's Savannah Loop is 2.6 miles and rated easy, and kids 12 and under get in free. For pavement, try the Mission Reach trail.
- Short and shady
- Hardberger Oak Loop, 0.84 miles
- Paved
- Mission Reach and Walker Ranch
- State parks
- Kids 12 and under get in free
Quick picks
- Hardberger Park West (NW Military Hwy)
Oak Loop: 0.84 miles, unpaved and shaded. Park at 8400 NW Military Hwy.
- Hardberger Park East (Blanco Rd)
Water Loop: 1 mile, part paved, with the Skywalk. Park at 13203 Blanco Rd.
- Government Canyon State Natural Area
Savannah Loop: 2.6 miles round trip, rated easy. Adults $6, kids 12 and under free.
- Crownridge Canyon Park
A 1.3-mile trail at 7222 Luskey Blvd. No pets or bikes on the trail.
- Mission Reach Hike and Bike Trail
About 12 miles, all paved, with restrooms along the way. There is little shade.
Trails at a glance
Facts from each park's official site. Where a park doesn't post something, the table says so. Paved trails should work for strollers, but only Hardberger names strollers in its rules.
| Park | Distance | Surface | Stroller | Shade | Restrooms | Dogs | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardberger Park West (NW Military Hwy) | Oak Loop 0.84 mi. 3.64 mi of trails on this side | Natural, unpaved | Strollers allowed on trails | Oak Loop is shaded | Restrooms in the park | 6-foot leash outside the dog parks | No fee posted |
| Hardberger Park East (Blanco Rd) | Water Loop 1 mi. 2.84 mi of trails on this side | Decomposed granite, some paved | Strollers allowed on trails | Check the park's site | Restrooms in the park | 6-foot leash outside the dog parks | No fee posted |
| Government Canyon State Natural Area | Savannah Loop 2.6 mi round trip, easy | Rugged trails | Not for most strollers | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Front country trails only | Adults $6, kids 12 and under free. Reservations recommended |
| Friedrich Wilderness Park | About 10 mi of trails | Varied, with one accessible trail | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | At the entrance | No pets | No fee posted |
| Crownridge Canyon Park | 1.3 mi | Pugmill | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Restrooms in the park | No pets | No fee posted |
| Eisenhower Park | Check the park's site | Natural area trails. No bikes or skates | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Restrooms in the park | Check the park's site | No fee posted |
| McAllister Park | Red Trail 1.93 mi. Blue Loop 6 mi | Red: natural. Blue: asphalt and natural | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Restrooms in the park | Fenced dog park in the park | No fee posted |
| Medina River Natural Area | About 7 mi of trails | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | At the north side trailhead | Leashed pets welcome | No fee posted |
| Comanche Lookout Park | 4.55 mi | Asphalt, pugmill and natural | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Portable toilet in the park | Check the park's site | No fee posted |
| O.P. Schnabel Park | 8.22 mi | Natural, pugmill, concrete and asphalt | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Restrooms in the park | Check the park's site | No fee posted |
| Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park | 1.63 mi | Asphalt | Paved, so it should work for strollers | Check the park's site | Portable toilet in the park | Check the park's site | No fee posted |
| Mission Reach Hike and Bike Trail | About 12 mi. Missions are 2 to 3 mi apart | Paved | Paved, so it should work for strollers | Little shade | Along the trail | 6-foot leash | Free |
| Salado Creek and Leon Creek greenways | About 105 mi in all. Leon Creek has 20 mi | Paved: asphalt and concrete | Paved, so it should work for strollers | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | No fee posted |
| Cibolo Nature Center (Boerne) | More than 6 mi. Full loop about 2 hours | Marsh Loop is an ADA boardwalk | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Check the park's site | Leashed dogs OK | Free, dawn to dusk |
| Guadalupe River State Park | Discovery Center Loop 0.3 mi, easy. 13 mi in all | Mixed. Persimmon Path is rocky | Check the park's site | Live Oak trail is shaded | Check the park's site | Leash your pet | Adults $7, kids 12 and under free. Reservations recommended |
Short, easy trails in town
Good first hikes for little legs, all under 2 miles.
Parks & Playgrounds
Hardberger Park West (NW Military Hwy)
The Oak Loop is 0.84 miles and unpaved, with a thick tree canopy for shade. Park at 8400 NW Military Hwy. The park is open sunrise to sunset.
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
Hardberger Park East (Blanco Rd)
The Water Loop is 1 mile of decomposed granite and pavement. From it, the Skywalk climbs 18 feet over 1,000 feet to the Land Bridge. Park at 13203 Blanco Rd.
San Antonio
Walker Ranch Historic Landmark Park
A 1.63-mile asphalt trail on part of an archaeological site, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is also a Salado Creek Greenway trailhead.
San Antonio
Crownridge Canyon Park
A 1.3-mile pugmill trail at 7222 Luskey Blvd. open sunrise to sunset. No pets or bikes on the trail.
San Antonio
Paved trails for strollers and bikes
Long paved trails you can walk in short pieces. Turn around whenever the kids are done.
Nature & Wildlife
Mission Reach Hike and Bike Trail
About 12 miles, all paved, open sunrise to sunset. Water fountains and restrooms are along the trail, but there is little shade, so carry water. Pets need a leash 6 feet or shorter.
San Antonio
Museums
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
The missions are free and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They close on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Each mission has a bike share station, and the paved Yanaguana Trail near Mission San Juan is 0.3 miles.
San Antonio
We don't have a page for these yet. The link goes to the official site.
- San Antonio greenway trails About 105 miles of trails along Salado Creek, Leon Creek and more, open sunrise to sunset. Some stretches are closed for construction, so check the city closures page first.
Bigger nature parks
More miles and rougher ground. Most are better for kids who already like to hike.
Nature & Wildlife
Government Canyon State Natural Area
The Savannah Loop is 2.6 miles and easy. Dinosaur tracks are about 2.5 miles up the Joe Johnston Route, a 5-mile round trip, so start early with little ones. Adults $6, kids 12 and under free.
San Antonio
Nature & Wildlife
Friedrich Wilderness Park
About 10 miles of trails of different difficulty, including an accessible trail. Restrooms and water are at the entrance. No pets, and trails close after rain until they dry.
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
Eisenhower Park
Natural area trails at 19399 NW Military Hwy. No bikes, skates or skateboards on the trail. The playground is closed for construction.
San Antonio
Nature & Wildlife
Medina River Natural Area
About 7 miles of trails on 511 acres, with restrooms by the north side trailhead. Leashed pets are welcome.
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
McAllister Park
The Red Trail is 1.93 miles of natural surface, and the Blue Loop is 6 miles. The park has a fenced dog park and is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
San Antonio
Comanche Lookout Park
The fourth highest point in Bexar County, at 1,340 feet, with a four-story stone tower. 4.55 miles of asphalt, pugmill and natural trails.
San Antonio
Parks & Playgrounds
O.P. Schnabel Park
About 8 miles of trails, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. at 9606 Bandera Rd. It is also a Leon Creek Greenway trailhead.
San Antonio
Worth the drive
Two easy outings north of town. See our day trips guide for more.
Cibolo Nature Center
Free and open dawn to dusk in Boerne, about 40 minutes away. More than 6 miles of trails, an ADA boardwalk on the Marsh Loop and dinosaur track replicas at the trailheads. Leashed dogs are OK.
Boerne
Guadalupe River State Park
About 55 minutes away. The 0.3-mile Discovery Center Loop is an easy walk for young kids. Adults $7, kids 12 and under free, and reservations are recommended.
Spring Branch
Dog rules at a glance
From each park's own page. If a park isn't listed here, it doesn't post a dog rule.
- Leashed dogs are OK at Hardberger Park, Medina River Natural Area, the Mission Reach trail, the Cibolo Nature Center and Guadalupe River State Park.
- At Government Canyon, dogs can only go on the front country trails, not the backcountry.
- No pets at Friedrich Wilderness Park or on the Crownridge Canyon Park trail.
Tips for hiking with kids
A few things that make the day easier.
- Bring water. Government Canyon says to bring a quart per person for every hour on the trail.
- Wet trails get muddy and can close. Friedrich closes its trails until they dry out.
- State park day passes go on sale 30 days ahead, and parks can close to drop-ins when they fill up.
- Government Canyon closes some days from November to January for hunts. Check its alerts before you go.
- Go early in warm months. The Mission Reach trail has little shade.
We post new weekend picks on Instagram. Follow @momsguidesa.
Questions parents ask
What are easy hikes for kids in San Antonio?
The Savannah Loop at Government Canyon is 2.6 miles round trip and rated easy, and the park calls it a good pick for kids. At Phil Hardberger Park, the Oak Loop is 0.84 miles under shady oaks, and the 1-mile Water Loop leads to the Skywalk. Crownridge Canyon Park has a 1.3-mile trail.
Which San Antonio trails work with a stroller?
Hardberger Park allows strollers on its trails. The Mission Reach hike and bike trail is fully paved, and Walker Ranch has a 1.63-mile asphalt trail. Government Canyon says its trails are rugged and not accessible for most strollers.
Can I bring my dog on these hikes?
Leashed dogs are allowed at Hardberger Park, Medina River Natural Area, the Cibolo Nature Center, the Mission Reach trail and Guadalupe River State Park. At Government Canyon, dogs can only use the front country trails. Friedrich Wilderness Park and Crownridge Canyon Park don't allow pets.
Do I need a reservation to hike Government Canyon?
It's not required, but the park often fills up and highly recommends reserving a day pass. Adults are $6, and kids 12 and under are free. You can book a day pass up to 30 days ahead.
Where can kids see dinosaur tracks near San Antonio?
At Government Canyon, the tracks are about 2.5 miles up the Joe Johnston Route, a 5-mile round trip, so start early with little ones. The Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne has track replicas at its trailheads, and it's free.