Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is a privately owned forest and wildlife reserve. This sanctuary was established by Edith Moore who was a passionate environmentalist. This hidden gem is a historic property that represented Edith’s preservation efforts. Edith Moore and her husband Jesse lived in this land for 43 years providing education on the natural environment to Houstonians. In 1991 Moore’s family gifted this property to Houston Audubon Society. Today, these 17 acres are a peaceful haven to locals offering a glimpse into what Houston prairie once looked like. You will enjoy lush untamed wilderness that is natural and stunning with amazing wildlife around. In addition to nature, there are plenty of activities and places to visit in the sanctuary.
Address: 440 Wilchester Blvd, Houston, TX 77079
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday from 7 am to 9 pm
Admissions: Open all year for free
Website: https://houstonaudubon.org/sanctuaries/edith-moore/
1. Enjoy the natural stunning views
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is a place to learn and appreciate everything about nature. The lush greenery and tranquil ambiance feel like an escape to a peaceful pristine natural world. This sanctuary boasts a wildlife-rich experience of riparian creek corridor, walking trails, birding spots, and prairie.
The forest in this sanctuary allows you to watch different kinds of wild animals and birds. In addition, the sanctuary has several ponds with tadpoles, turtles, and water snakes. Your kids are allowed to spend time at the ponds observing the turtles but be careful of the snakes.
2. Check out the restored log cabin
If you are planning to visit Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, check out the log cabin. This wooded sanctuary log cabin was constructed to host educational programs. Since 1975, it’s been the headquarters and house administrative offices of the Houston Audubon Society.
The pine logs used to build the cabin were acquired from the sanctuary. Also, the log cabin is beautifully designed with pine log furniture, a chimney, and a fireplace built of sandstones and curbstones.
3. Visit the plant nursery
The plants and flowers found at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary are of indigenous species. This sanctuary has a plant nursery growing grass, plants, and wildflowers to provide restoration for coastal prairie projects.
The mission of Edith Moore Plant Nursery is to specialize in local native prairie grasses and wildflowers with a small portion of understory plants. In addition, you can buy incredible tree plants and flowers to grow them in your home at an affordable price.
4. Attend festivals and events held at the sanctuary
There are entertaining festivals and events to enjoy in the sanctuary. Celebrate one of the unique nature festivals filled with good music, food, and photography. Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary hosts different festivals providing exciting opportunities to visitors.
Take part in festivals such as CreekFest, Houston Botanic Garden Festival, Arboretum at Night, and Native Plant Society of Texas. All these events and festivals provide an opportunity to learn about nature, native plant species, and birds. Apart from the festivals, take advantage of the sanctuary’s guided bird walks for exploration and discovery.
5. Nature Photography
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is suitable for many activities you wouldn’t find in other parks. For photography enthusiasts, this sanctuary is a hidden gem. There is stunning beauty for excellent snaps of photos. Photography around this sanctuary is rich in the diversity of bird species, colorful flowers, and vibrant plants.
Bring your camera and invite your friends and families to capture the majesty of this Houston treasure. Apart from the green areas, several walking trails provide a unique perspective on natural settings perfect for photography.
6. Hiking Trails
Enjoy the popular Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary hiking trail. This 1.6km loop trail is considered the best route to hike and walk from the city. It is a great trail for walking, birding, and biking during the quieter times of the day.
A lot of hikers and bikers enjoy their day on this trail admiring the beautiful nature in the sanctuary. The loop trail is open year-round. One of the rules before heading here, leave your pups at home since dogs are not allowed on this trail.
7. Familiarize yourself with the nature of educational programs
One of the best things about visiting Edith Sanctuary is you will learn a lot about nature. The sanctuary hosts a variety of educational programs taking place throughout the year. People from different parts of the world spend time here discovering about nature and the history of the sanctuary.
Additionally, there are also kids programs. Your kids can engage in the summer camps and owl prowls educational programs or an after-school nature explorers club. As part of the program, kids are offered campsites available at the sanctuary at a fee of $15 per night.
8. Bird watching
The most common activity and Edith’s Sanctuary is bird watching. This historic landmark in Houston is known for over 15 different species of birds. An immense variety of birds populate this place during migratory season.
Some of the bird species you will encounter include American goldfinches, red-bellied woodpeckers, owls, northern cardinals, indigo bunting, red-breasted grosbeaks, and hummingbirds. Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is also a renowned spot for migrant warblers in the spring coming to their breeding grounds.
9. Historic sites to visit
The history of Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary dates back to the early 1990’s. It is a place that offers a great historic wealth of unique stunning spots. Some of the historic sites to visit in the sanctuary include Percy Walker Jr. House. It dates back to 1932 known for native plants and wildlife. In addition, you can visit the sanctuary’s historic log cabin.
10. Accommodations
For dining and accommodation, there are plenty of hotels and restaurants. These include Bodegas Taco House, Mia Bella Trattoria, Brenner’s Steakhouse, and Terrace 54. The restaurants serve delicious food at friendly prices. The menu ranges from seafood, vegan options, wine, cocktails, and margaritas to popular cuisines in the city.
