The City of New Braunfels is has officially opened Willard Canyon, the city’s newest park, offering a peaceful and natural wooded hiking experience. The latest addition to the City’s Parks & Recreation System, Willard Canyon’s trailhead is located at 616 Beverley Lane, just off of North Walnut Avenue and Wood Road. The new park was made possible through the generosity of Dr. Fred and Mrs. Colleen Willard who donated the 10-acres of land to the City, so it could be used as parkland.
“Willard Canyon is truly a gift to our community, and we are all thankful for the Willard’s generosity,” said New Braunfels Mayor Neal Linnartz. “This new park offers residents a quick escape into nature, right in the heart of the city, adding to the growing number of greenspace options offered in New Braunfels.”
Thanks to the support of the New Braunfels Parks Foundation, which provided nearly $20,000 in funding for the development of the park’s trails, visitors to Willard Canyon will now be able to explore three different trail segments, totaling nearly a mile of interconnected trail loops:
- Canyon Trail – 0.4 miles – Easy, wide trail
- Ledges Trail – 0.35 miles – Moderate, rocky, shady, tree-top experience
- Cactus Trail – 0.25 miles – Moderate, rocky, winding along a dry creek bed
Willard Canyon is open from 6am to midnight daily, and features on-street parking at the trailhead, a trailhead sign & map, and a shaded picnic area to relax before or after a hike.
To learn more about the hike and bike trails offered in the City of New Braunfels, visit http://www.newbraunfels.gov/trails.