San Antonio may not be seeing “chilly fall temperatures” anytime soon, but at least the scorching summer is finally behind us. Now that it’s possible to go outside without baking to a crisp, the outdoors are looking a lot more alluring.

With amenities from walking trails to skate parks, these public spaces in and around San Antonio are great destinations to grab a breath of fresh air this fall.

Confluence Park 310 W. Mitchell St., (210) 224-2694, sariverfound.org Confluence Park features winding riverside trails that are perfect for biking, walking and jogging. Along the riverbanks, you can find various works of art and educational plaques. It also has a sweet, Instagram-worthy pavilion. Photo via Instagram / theredatom
Guadalupe River State Park 3350 Park Rd. 31, Spring Branch, (830) 438-2656, tpwd.texas.gov It’s all in the name — Guadalupe River State Park, located west of 281 in Spring Branch, features four miles of river frontage, where visitors can swim, canoe, fish and tube. There’s plenty to do for those that want to stay dry, though. On certain sections of the 13 miles of the park’s trails, you can even ride your horse! Photo via Instagram / guadaluperiverstatepark
San Pedro Creek Culture Park 715 Camaron St., (210) 302-3652, spcculturepark.com If you want to get some fresh air but aren’t feeling like a trek into one of the more rugged parks on this list, San Pedro Creek Culture Park might be just the place for you. Located on the western edge of downtown, culture, art and nature come together as a tribute to the birthplace of San Antonio. Murals, tiled benches, ceramic art and historical texts and poetry can be seen along with the creek’s natural flora and fauna. Photo via Instagram / julensphotogallery
Denman Estate Park 7735 Mockingbird Ln., sanantonio.gov Denman Estate Park may very well have one of the most unique features on this list. It features a traditional South Korean pavilion, styled similarly to the Gwangju Democracy Bell in South Korea. Gwangju, South Korea and San Antonio, you may be surprised to learn, are sister cities. Denman Estate Park is a beautiful place to visit, not only for the pavilion, but for the pond and garden as well. Photo via Instagram / doc_grunt
Brackenridge Park 3700 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 207-7275, brackenridgepark.org Brackenridge Park is located near Alamo Heights, the Witte Museum and the San Antonio Zoo. It’s also home to the Sunken Garden Theater and the Japanese Tea Garden, the latter of which also made this list. If you’re short on time, its convenient location makes it the perfect place to stop for a picturesque picnic lunch. Photo via Instagram / happy.mood.2021
Eisenhower Park 19399 NW Military Hwy., (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Eisenhower Park features paved trails more suited for strolls, as well as more natural and rugged trails that are more suited for an experienced hiker. Since it’s designated as a natural area, bikes, roller blade and skateboards are prohibited at the park, so strap on your hiking boots if you’re down for an afternoon of nature. Photo via Instagram / who_dat_hud
Enchanted Rock Natural Area 16710 Ranch Road 965, Fredericksburg, (830) 685-3636, tpwd.texas.gov Climbing Enchanted Rock is a local rite of passage. “What makes Enchanted Rock so special?” you may ask? It’s a pink granite mountain, that’s what, and it’s the biggest one in the United States. If you’re looking to make a weekend of it, you can camp at the park, or stay in nearby Fredericksburg if you don’t want to leave civilization completely behind. Photo via Instagram / noeld_d
Pearsall Park 4838 Old Pearsall Road, (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Pearsall Park is definitely one of the most kid-friendly parks on this list — but in reality, it’s perfect for almost everyone because it basically has it all. With two dog parks (one for big mutts and small pups), a skate park, multiple sports courts, a golf course, open areas, and paved and unpaved trails, you’re basically in outdoor heaven. Photo via Instagram / ivanolivo_81
After years of neglect, the Japanese Tea Garden is again a beautiful place to visit. Photo via Instagram / insanejester17
Appreciate the beauty of the Cibolo Nature Center 40 City Park Rd, Boerne Although the Cibolo Nature center is packed with outdoor activities, make sure you seek out the dinosaur tracks, which were discovered after a 1997 flood. The 100 million-year-old tracks were apparently left behind by a massive, lumbering reptile called the acrocanthosaurus. Credit: Cibolo Nature Preserve / Instagram
Comanche Lookout Park 15551 Nacogdoches Rd., (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Though it encompasses 96 acres, Comanche Lookout Park is best known for having one of the highest elevation points in the city. In addition to beautiful views of SA, in early 2021, the park debuted new public artwork at the peak that honors the city’s indigenous heritage. Photo courtesy of City of San Antonio
Hill Country State Natural Area 10600 Bandera Creek Road, Bandera, (830) 796-4413, tpwd.texas.gov If you’re into rugged terrain, Hill Country State Natural Area is gonna be your jam. It offers primitive camping — so like, without plumbing — as well as horseback trails. The 5,000-acre area has a beautiful landscape, including tranquil creeks and rugged terrain. Photo via Instagram / alexandra_tx_ranger
McAllister Park 13102 Jones Maltsberger Road, (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov McAllister Park has a lot to offer: pavilions, picnic tables, grills, playgrounds, ample parking, dog parks and tons of trails. The park’s five miles of paved trails are perfect for biking, and there’s 10 miles of unpaved trails winding through the 976 acres of the park between Jones Maltsberger and Wetmore roads. Because McAllister Park has so much to offer and so much parking, don’t expect to be alone too much. Photo via Instagram / mcallisterpark
O.P. Schnabel Park 9606 Bandera Road, (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Once dubbed “the cleanest little park in Texas,” O.P. Schnabel Park was originally named Bandera Road Park, but the name was changed in honor of an insurance salesman by the name of Otto Phillip Schnabel, who dedicated his life to raising awareness for making San Antonio a beautiful city by encouraging people to clean up trash and not to litter. The park itself features abundant natural vegetation and woods, you’ll be surprised how untouched this section of San Antonio is. Photo via Instagram / avloel_the_dummy
San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston Pl., (210) 536-1400, sabot.org More like a carefully curated living museum than a natural area, the San Antonio Botanical Garden is a gorgeous place to get some fresh air (and take some pictures for Insta). In addition to both outdoor and greenhouse spaces filled with beautiful flora, the garden plays host to all sorts of events, including movie screenings, plays and classical music concerts. Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden
McClain Park 15700 O’Connor Road, (210) 207-3000, sanantonio.gov Brian McClain Park, named for a student who was killed in the Texas A&M bonfire collapse of 1999, is one of the lesser-known parks in SA. What it’s most known for, actually, is the 18-hole disc golf course, perfect for a fun day out with your buds. Photo via Instagram / itsemilyschmitty
Woodlawn Lake Park 1103 Cincinnati Ave., (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Picture this: an idyllic park is located close to St. Mary’s University. The sun is shining but there’s a cool breeze. You’re eating a raspa on the lakeshore. You can hear the sounds of San Antonio in the background, but they feel far off, even though you’re in the middle of the city. Sound perfect? Then go to Woodlawn Lake Park. Photo via Instagram / bridgetmwillard
Phil Hardberger Park 13203 Blanco Road, (210) 492-7472, philhardbergerpark.org At the end of 2020, Phil Hardberger Park opened its new land bridge, allowing for both native wildlife and human visitors to cross back and forth between the two sides of the 330-acre park over the top of Wurzbach Parkway. This new addition joins the park’s other amenities, including massive dog parks and plenty of trails for hiking and biking. Photo via Instagram / arun91dasan
Government Canyon State Natural Area 12861 Galm Road, (210) 688-9055, tpwd.texas.gov Government Canyon State Natural Area covers a gargantuan 12,000-acres and has a whopping 40 miles of trails. If you’re looking to hoof it, the 2.5 mile hike to see the park’s famed 110-million year old dinosaur tracks is well worth it. But at 5 miles round trip, be sure to strap on appropriate footwear and bring plenty of water. Photo via Instagram / photos.by.nikkie
Crownridge Canyon Natural Area 7222 Luskey Blvd., (210) 207-5320, fosana.org Crownridge Canyon has around 200 acres and has a variety of hiking terrain — from level 1 ADA-accessible trails all the way up to level 4 difficulties. If you’re into birding, it’s also a pretty cool spot since the golden cheeked warbler nests there. Photo via Instagram / ope_itsheather
Mud Creek Park 16875 Jones Maltsberger Road, (201) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Yeah, Mud Creek park doesn’t have a sexy name, and the first leg of the trail isn’t particularly picturesque. But once you get past the first hurdle, you can go down into a beautiful area surrounded by hills. A large part of the park is located at the bottom of a cluster of hills, so be careful if it looks like there might be any flash flooding. Photo via Instagram / peach_the_mini_doxie
Friedrich Wilderness Park 21395 Milsa Dr., (210) 207-3781, fosana.org A favorite for bird-watchers, Friedrich Wilderness Park is an internationally-known bird watching destination, and is home to two endangered species: the black-capped vireo and the golden cheeked warbler. It also has about ten miles of hiking trails of varying difficulties, and includes steep hills and deep canyons. Photo via Instagram / ldubb41 Credit: Instagram / ldubb41

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