Bear Creek Pioneers Park551

In the ever-expanding sprawl west of Houston, Bear Creek Pioneers Park remains a wonderful greenspace, with several playground areas, a wildlife habitat, and hiking/nature trails, among other attractions.

The main entrance off of Eldridge Parkway takes visitors to the Park Office, the Harris County War Memorial, and the wildlife habitat and aviary. Among the wildlife roaming the fields are bison, emus, deer, and more, while the outdoor aviary houses owls, hawks, parrots, cockatoos, and peacocks. A pond is home to ducks and geese, and is surrounded by shaded picnic tables.

The playground near this entrance has several picnic tables with barbecue pits around it, as well as a gazebo for shade, restrooms, and water fountains.

Baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, and four lighted tennis courts are also available - no reservations needed for the tennis courts. Plenty of open space is good for kite-flying, when the weather cooperates.

The other entrance, off Clay Road, is closer to Bear Creek Golf World, which has three 18-hole courses. This part of the Park has several more playgrounds, along with eight covered pavilions for which reservations are required. Pavilions contain picnic tables; seating capacity ranges from 88 to 256 people. The pavilions or the many picnic-and-barbecue areas are great for parties.

Bear Creek is also home to a 2-mile jogging trail, 3-1/2 miles of nature and equestrian trails, and the adjacent Houston Farm and Ranch Club.