Honey Creek State Natural Area - Texas Parks & Wildlife

10/19/2026

🚨And the Winner Is🚨

Chonky!

It was a acorn-biter ending 117 - 120 😬
Congrats to Chonky! Fiona will always have a place in Village Creek folklore.

🐿️🍂 FAT SQUIRREL WEEK IS HERE 🍂🐿️

Fat Squirrel Week 2026 is here, and Village Creek SP is facing off with Guadalupe River SP/Honey Creek SNA, in the elimination round today!

Before you meet our contestants, here are
instructions on how to vote:
👍🏻 Like, comment, or tag a friend under the PHOTO of your favorite squirrel! Each reaction or comment counts as a vote.
👎🏻 Votes made in the main comment section of the post WILL NOT count unless you mention the squirrel you're voting for!
⏰ VOTING CLOSES AT 6PM TONIGHT! Check back later in the evening after voting closes to see the winner.

Meet your candidates:
👣 The cutest cryptid in the Big Thicket, Fiona Fluff-Squach, is showing its Sasquatch cousin how to pose for photos at Village Creek State Park!
✋🏻 Senior Acorn Acquisition Specialist, Chonky, is spending his time conducting snack "quality control" at the Woodland Blind in Guadalupe River & Honey Creek Complex.

✅ Vote for your favorite and may the best squirrel win!

10/17/2026

Fat Squirrel 2026 is just around the corner! 🐿️

We're going head-to-head with Village Creek State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife in the second round of voting brackets!

Mark your calendars for Monday, October 19th, from 9 am to 6 pm - it's time to get your vote on! 🗳️ Look for our first post to go live 9 am Monday morning. 👀

Here's how to vote:
👍🏻 Like, comment, or tag a friend under the PHOTO of your favorite squirrel! Each reaction or comment counts as a vote.
👎🏻 Votes made in the main comment section of the post WILL NOT count unless you mention the squirrel you're voting for!
⏰ VOTING CLOSES AT 6PM! Check back later in the evening after voting closes to see the winner.

Vote for your favorite

10/08/2026

UPDATE: Registration for the 10/09 offering is officially closed!

Join Ranger Gil for an evening hike on the new trails at Honey Creek State Natural Area. Two offerings are currently scheduled for 10/09 and 11/06!

Experience approximately 1.5 miles of the natural area under the stars and moonlight while learning about the fascinating animals that become active after dark. You may even catch a glimpse of some of Honey Creek's nighttime wildlife. This family-friendly hike is open to all ages.

When: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Honey Creek State Natural Area
Meet: Kiosk at 558 Park Road 31, Spring Branch, TX 78070
Please note: Apple Maps is not accurate for this location. Use an alternate map service for directions.
What to Bring: Sturdy walking shoes, water and a flashlight or headlamp (red lens preferred).
Cost: Free with admission; Adults: $2, Children 12 & under: Free

Registration is required. To reserve your spot, email [email protected] with:
-Your name
-Number of people in your group
-The date you'd like to attend

Space is limited to the first 15 registrants and registration closes at 3:00 PM on the Thursday before each hike, so be sure to sign up early.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/guadalupe-river/night-hike-at-honey-creek

10/01/2026

🤠

Did you know that many Texas state parks have adaptive devices and other technology to support accessibility for park visitors? In this presentation, you will learn more about the history of accessibility in Texas state parks, as well as accessibility plans for our local Guadalupe River State Park. After the presentation attendees will have the opportunity to view two accessibility devices that are available right here at the Guadalupe River State Park!

Registration is encouraged, visit the link below to learn more!
https://mammen.librarycalendar.com/event/accessibility-and-community-tech-demo-59006

10/01/2026

UPDATE: As of 12:30 PM on 10/7/2026, all trails are re-opened!

📣Trail Status as of 8:30 a.m. on 10/01/2026:
Due to recent rainfall, portions of Honey Creek State Natural Area are temporarily closed. Additional rainfall is expected today, and trail conditions remain wet and potentially hazardous.

⚠🥾Open Areas:
-Box Turtle Trail
-Picnic Areas

Please use caution when visiting, as surfaces may be muddy and slippery.

Closed Trails:
-Karst Loop
-Road Runner Trail

Why do we temporarily close trails?
Wet soils lose structural strength, making them extremely vulnerable to erosion, compaction and long‑term ecological damage. When saturated, especially in clay‑rich soils, the ground deforms under pressure instead of springing back. Even a small amount of foot or bike traffic can create deep ruts that trap water, slow drying and turn the trail into a channel that accelerates erosion.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to protect the natural area. Please check for updates before your visit, stay aware of changing conditions and help us preserve Honey Creek for everyone to enjoy.

Stay safe, stay dry and plan ahead!

09/30/2026

In honor of Raccoon Appreciation Day on October 1st, today’s Wildlife Wednesday brings you the sometimes loved, sometimes hated, but always resourceful North American raccoon (Procyon lotor)! 🦝

If you’ve ever had cat food gobbled up by a raccoon, or been camping⛺only to wake up and find your cooler open and half your food gone, you’ve experienced the cleverness and persistence of the raccoon! They are very common here at Guadalupe River State Park, so much that we try to warn campers about their antics! One of our photos shows a raccoon here at the park who has gotten himself into an unfortunate predicament in a park dumpster. They are such an iconic wildlife species here at the park that they have made it onto our “Guad Squad” shirts, and onto one of our stickers, too!

Raccoons are native to North and Central America, where they are widespread. They are normally nocturnal, 🌙 but sometimes can be seen during the day looking for food – so if you see a raccoon out during the day and it is acting normal, most likely there is nothing wrong with it. But as with all wildlife, please give them their space, for their sake and yours!

❌ Contrary to popular belief, raccoons do not wash their food before eating it. In fact, raccoons wet and rub an object before eating it to get a better “picture” of their food. They have extra sensitive paws compared to most other mammals – in fact, raccoon paws have 4 to 5 times more sensory cells in their paws, compared to other mammals! Wetting their paws makes the nerve cells more sensitive.

Do you have a raccoon story? Share it with us in the comments! And remember, although they might seem pesky sometimes, raccoons have their place in nature, just like all wildlife. 🌎

📷 Photo credits:
Photos 1 and 3: Trent Reed, GRSP Ranger
Photos 2 and 4: Texas Master Naturalist Lucy Spade

09/27/2026

Want to see Honey Creek? Join us for a guided walk!

Follow a trail through the Hill Country to a creek sheltered by bald cypress trees. Along the way, our guides share the stories written into this landscape: its geology, plants, wildlife and human history. The walk gives you time to slow down, look closely and see why this place is protected. Guided walks are offered on most Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Registration is required, and access to the creek is by guided walk only. To sign up, email [email protected] with your name, the number of people in your group and the date you’d like to attend. Meet your guide outside the Rust House inside Guadalupe River State Park. The walk is about two miles and takes approximately 2½ hours, so bring water, sturdy shoes and sun protection.

Check the Honey Creek events calendar, https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/honey-creek/park_events, for available dates. Guadalupe River State Park entrance fees apply.

Exploring the new section of trails? You won’t see the creek from those trails. In that area, Honey Creek flows underground through the cave system beneath your feet. To visit the visible creek, reserve a guided walk that starts at the Rust House.