Hill Country Edge
Cibolo Nature Center & Farm
HikingBirdingNature Watching
Hill Country Edge
The Cibolo Nature Center & Farm, operated by the nonprofit Cibolo Center for Conservation, encompasses over 160 acres in two campuses in the heart of Boerne: a 100-acre nature center open since Earth Day 1990 and the 60-acre Historic Herff Farm, purchased in 1854 by German physician Ferdinand Herff and one of the town's earliest European settlements. More than six miles of trails traverse five distinct ecosystems — marshland, woodland, riparian corridor, native Texas prairie, and creek bank — with the Marshland Trail featuring a boardwalk through a restored wetland that now supports a rich variety of native plants and migratory birds. In 1997, floodwaters uncovered tracks of an Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur at the site; replica prints are placed at the trailheads. The center protects the Cibolo Creek watershed, which contributes over one million gallons per day to both the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers. Admission is free (donations accepted), the trails are open to all skill levels, and more than 100,000 visitors come through annually. The Herff Farm hosts seasonal farm programming, agricultural demonstrations, and educational events tied to the region's Hill Country heritage.
Shade Details
Bald cypress shade along the creek trail; open prairie and marsh sections are fully exposed.
Conditions & Tips
Worth pairing with Boerne's historic downtown. Creek trails close after heavy rain. Spring migration (March–May) is exceptional for warblers.
Cibolo Creek can drop significantly in drought, reducing wildlife activity near the water.
Garden Trail
Monarch Meadow Trail