The San Marcos River Walk

The San Marcos River Walk

The San Marcos river provides the most abundant source of recreational water in this community, although the drought in the summer of 1996 has local folks worried about the San Marcos springs and, its source, the Edwards acquifer.

Site #1--
The San Marcos River Walk, through the city park, is a wonderful birding adventure. The river path is just a short distance from the parking lot behind the Chamber of Commerce (on CM Allen Pkwy) where a birder can walk to IH 35. (This walk takes 30 minutes one way without birdwatching.)
Parking is also available at the Children's Playscape on C. M. Allen (farther east down the river, on the same side of the street as the Chamber, across the railroad tracks and next to Rio Vista Park)where birders have a choice. They can walk east (facing the river, east is to the right) to the Rio Vista Dam, cross Cheatham Street and continue through the park all the way to IH 35.
To the west from the playscape walkers take the footbridge across the river (near what locals call the "old fish hatchery," a pale-green shingled house with a green roof). Paths end at the Recreation Center and the Lion's Tube Rental, (birders could also park there and do a round trip walk) near the SWT campus.
Belted Kingfishers frequent this varied habitat (thickets, tall trees, open grass). Green Kingfishers occasionally flit around the Hopkins Street bridge. In the Spring warblers appear after a fall-out. Hawks nest near the pavilion at Rio Vista. This is a pleasant walk in an easy-to-work spot.