Trails Information
Many ways to play by the bay.
- Roseate spoonbill
There’s always something to do at Galveston Island State Park. Hike, bike or paddle your way along the trails. Bring your tackle for bayside fishing. And don’t forget your binoculars for the great wildlife viewing the park offers throughout the year.
Borrow a beach wheelchair to use in sandy areas of the park. These chairs are not self-propelled. Contact the park for more information.
Trails
All trails and roads can be used for hiking and biking unless otherwise indicated.
This list may not include all trails in the park.
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eskimo Curlew Loop | 0.5 mi. | Easy | Walk this path and see the results of our wetlands restoration work from ground level. Along the way, notice how the slightest rise or fall in the elevation dramatically affects the plants. |
| Jenkins Bayou Paddling Trail | 3.3 mi. (round trip) | Moderate | For close-up views of many shore and wading birds, it’s hard to beat. |
| Oak Bayou Paddling Trail | 5.4 mi. (round trip) | Challenging | From secluded bayous to open coves and seagrass beds to wetlands restoration, this trail offers it all. |
| Dana Cove Paddling Trail | 2.8 mi. (round trip) |
Moderate | Paddle across wide expanses of open water where seagrass beds once covered the floor of Galveston Bay. |
| Swale Trail | 1.3 mi. | Easy | The Swale Trail will get you up close to the water impoundments behind the dunes that support an amazing variety of flora and fauna between the sand and the prairie. |
| Clapper Rail Trail | 1.2 mi. (round trip) | Moderate | This route offers a good walk for seeing wading birds feeding along the bayous or roosting in trees, including the chicken-like Clapper Rail. |
| Heritage Trail | 0.3 mi. (round trip) | Easy | Convenient, short and loaded with information, this short interpretive trail takes you through another section of our prairie. |
| Alligator Loop | 1.0 mi. | Easy | Let this trail take you all the way around one of our large freshwater ponds, and be sure to keep an eye out for alligators. They like the ponds, too. |
| Prairie Trail | 3.3 mi. | Easy | Hike through a little of what Galveston Island once looked like. The prairies this trail goes through on its way to the large freshwater ponds are about all that is left of what was once the main habitat type on the island. |
| Oak Mott Loop | 0.4 mi. | Easy | As you follow this trail around the oak mott, keep an eye out for birds, including the Crested Caracara. |
| Jenkins Trail | 1.1 mi. | Easy | Take this out-of-the-way route for a quiet survey of the park's restored marshes. |
Points of Interest
GPS coordinates shown in decimal degrees.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | 360° Views | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Como Lake Access Point | 29.2132° | -94.9532° | View of Como Lake Access Point | The site provides a kayak launch point and access to the park’s best route for exploring the bay on foot. It's also a good fishing spot. |
| Oak Bayou Access Point | 29.2048° | -94.9570° | No photo available | Bring your gear! Here you will find some of the park’s best crabbing and fishing. It’s also an excellent place to launch your kayak. |
| Observation Tower | 29.2013° | -94.9630° | View from the Observation Tower | The tower gives you a fine view of the entire park and beyond. Birders delight in the opportunities it provides to observe water birds. From this vantage point, you can even see barge traffic on the intercoastal canal. |
| Jenkins Bayou Access Point | 29.1973° | -94.9662° | View of Jenkins Bayou Access Point | This spot offers another kayak launch point to one of the park's paddling trails. Find more information on the park's paddling trails. |
| Duck Lake Viewing Area | 29.2007° | -94.9551° | View of the Duck Lake Viewing Area | This site offers great wildlife viewing at a freshwater pond. |
| Observation Tower | 29.2068° | -94.9654° | View from the Observation Tower | This observation tower provides excellent views of ongoing marsh restoration projects and West Bay. |
| Eskimo Curlew Sculpture | 29.2033° | -94.9623° | No image available. | Sculptor Todd McGrain created this memorial to a native bird, now thought to be extinct, which was last seen on Galveston Island in 1962. |
Staying Safe
- Know your limits. Prepare for sun and heat. Wear sunscreen, insect repellent and appropriate clothing/hiking shoes.
- Drink plenty of water. Your body quickly loses fluids when you’re on the trail. Bring a quart of water per hour of activity.
- Tell others where you’ll be. If possible, avoid exploring alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Wear a helmet. When mountain biking, check with park HQ to match the trail to your skill level. Wear a helmet to protect yourself in case of a crash.
- Wear a life jacket. The law requires that all children under age 13 wear one with adult supervision while boating.
Trail Etiquette
- Trash your trash. Keep the park natural. Pack out all of your trash and Leave No Trace.
- Leave feeding to nature. Feeding wild animals will make them sick and more likely to harm people.
- Don’t Pocket the Past. Help preserve Texas heritage. Leave artifacts where you find them and report their location to a ranger.
- Keep pets on leashes for their safety, and to protect wildlife.
- Campfires are permitted only in designated rings due to potential for ground scarring and wildfires.
- Use only your muscles. To protect park resources, no motor vehicles are allowed on the trails or beach.
