Arbor Hills Nature Preserve: A Bit of Nature in the City

In the middle of suburban Plano, Arbor Hills offers an escape into the rejuvenating quiet and solitude of three distinct ecological regions – Riparian Forest, Upland Forest, and Blackland Prairie. With aerobically-challenging mountain bike trails, soft trails for hiking and trail running, and more than four miles of paved walking trails, Arbor Hills guarantees the outdoor enthusiast an inexhaustible combination of paths to explore. From open and easy to heavily treed and ruggedly cut, the trails offer something for every athletic level. The preserve boasts a beautiful variety of flora and fauna. In the spring and summer, a confetti of wildflowers such as bluebonnets, buttercups, and coreopsis bloom, and oak trees bud along Indian Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River’s Elm Fork. During the fall, the leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, and the color and cool air invite photographers and artists to capture the brilliance of the changing seasons at Arbor Hills. Squirrels, rabbits, mice, hawks, snakes, lizards, and even bobcats make their homes amongst the grasses and trees of the preserve and are frequently seen by visitors to the park. Arbor Hills even has a biofilter located near the parking lot to clean runoff before it enters the ground water tables.

In addition to the attraction of biking and hiking trails and myriad photographic opportunities, Arbor Hills has three picnic pavilions, including a hilltop overlook, made from native limestone, and a large playground area. The park is an excellent place to relax with a book, host a party, train for a hike, or fly a kite. Conveniently located, Arbor Hills provides a peaceful change of pace to the rush of the crowded city. In addition, Arbor Hills hosts an annual Family Campout, a Fun Run, evening concerts, and other community events, and one of the pavilions is available for reserving for your next family reunion or birthday party. Come break a sweat, enjoy a picnic, or soak up the sights and sounds of nature on the shady banks of a crystal-clear creek at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve!

Located just west of the Dallas North Tollway at 6701 W. Parker Road in Plano, between Midway and Marsh, Arbor Hills is sponsored by Whole Foods Market and is open from 5a.m. to 11p.m. daily. Boating is prohibited at the preserve. For more information on Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, call 972-941-7250 or visit the City of Plano’s website at http://www.plano.gov/Departments/ParksandRecreation/Parks_Facilities/arbor_hills.htm.