North SA
Panther Springs Park
HikingCyclingTrail RunningBirdingNature Watching
North SA
Panther Springs Park stretches 282 acres between Blanco Road and Wilderness Oak just north of Loop 1604, making it one of the larger natural parks on San Antonio's north side. The trail system combines 3 miles of paved concrete path linking two trailheads with an extensive network of single- and double-track dirt trails — including the switchbacking Trails of Redundantness loop — for roughly 4.2 miles of total route options with about 200 feet of elevation change. The park sits on Edwards Aquifer karst geology, and cave openings (gated for safety) dot the landscape, offering a glimpse into the underground water system that supplies San Antonio. Panther Springs Creek historically flowed year-round but now runs only after heavy rains; the creek corridor still divides the park into a live-oak motte on one side and a wildflower grassland on the other. The park opened in 2015 after the land was donated in 2014, and it remains relatively uncrowded compared to better-known north-side parks like Friedrich and McAllister. Mountain bikers enjoy the hardpack dirt trails, which include small drops near an old dam, while trail runners use the paved connector for easy mileage. Birders find the wooded creek bottom productive for migrating songbirds and resident Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and hawks are regularly spotted overhead. The northern trailhead includes a 1.5-acre off-leash dog park with separate large- and small-dog areas. Shade is limited on the open grassland sections, so early-morning visits are strongly recommended from May through September — water fountains at both trailheads help, but carry extra water in summer.
Shade Details
Mostly open terrain — oak mottes and brushy meadows offer scattered shade, but much of the trail system is exposed grassland. Avoid midday in summer.
Conditions & Tips
Spring wildflowers peak March–April. Summer visits require early start — little shade on open sections.
Low — trail conditions unaffected; creek dries up but trails remain open
