Lakes and Bayous at a Texas Wildlife Refuge, Liberty, TX

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Southeast Texas, just 45 minutes from Houston and an hour from Galveston Beach. The area hosts bayous, oxbow lakes, privet swamps, and cypress-tupelo swamps. Houston, 5 National Wildlife Refuges are within a 2 hour drive.

Volunteers will help maintain access to the Knobby Knees Day Use Area trails system that winds through bayous, oxbow lakes, privet swamps, and cypress-tupelo swamps! Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is home to 22 actively-managed trails. They are styled as primitive trails to give the visitors ‘a walk in the woods’ type of experience. Paseo de los Patos Trailhead, located at the scenic Champion Lake Public Use area, is home to the newest 2 miles of trails where an interpretive Scat Exhibit can be found along the trails. The Knobby Knees Trailhead located at the edge of Liberty Municipal park is the gateway to 9 miles of rustic trails, including shoreline vistas of the Trinity River. Finally the Great’s Egret’s Ridge Trailhead, 7 miles of trails, leads to mysterious oxbows and meandering bayous.

Volunteers will support maintenance needs including removing fallen vegetation and limbs from the trails and trimming vegetation that has grown into the trails. Other projects will include restoring tree paint and adding new signage where trail markers have faded or degraded over time.

Avg. Temperature:

Typical weather for this area during this season has highs of 71°F and lows of 50°F. Mid-November in south coastal Texas is generally a mild and breezy time, transitioning from warm fall to cooler winter, with comfortable days and cooler nights.

There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.

Sample Schedule:

Day 1: Arrival

Typically meet in the afternoon for check in, introductions, orientation, and camp setup. (Time/place TBD)

Day 2: Work Day

Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pack lunches, and be on the trail between 8 AM and 9 AM

Lunch and plenty of other breaks will be included.

Wrap up the work day in the late afternoon and head back to camp and enjoy a few hours of daylight for free time.

Reconvene at a chosen time for dinner.

After dinner has been cleaned up, evenings offer plenty of  time to relax, sit around the campfire and get to know your fellow crew members, or enjoy more free time.

Day 3: Work Day

Day 4: Rest Day (Specific Day on Trip Will Be Confirmed By Host)

Your choice! Explore the area, take a recreational hike,  tour local attractions, or hang out at camp. Group excursions can be planned or set-out on your own.

Day 5: Work Day

Day 6: Work Day

Day 7: Departure

Break down camp, say goodbyes, and travel home. Please note: This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. Any updates will be communicated to the group.

Land Acknowledgement: AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Ishak (Atakapa) and Akokisa peoples, past and present. We honor the land, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded it for generations, and those who continue this stewardship today. This land acknowledgement is a first step in our commitment to uplift Indigenous voices, and we invite the American Hiking Society community to continue learning about and supporting the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live, work, and recreate on.