Trail in Review: Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve

One of the things wedding planning really cut into last year was weekend time.  Weekends leading up to the wedding were full of appointments and shopping trips; looking for outfits for the wedding party and crafts for decorations and caterers and florists and such.  And then busy-ness set in.  So, I was rather pleased when MJ suggested New Year's Day that we get a hike or long walk in.  It's in nature where I really feel refreshed and reflective, and it's great to unplug for a few hours.

We decided on Oak Point Park in Plano. The Park and Nature Preserve is run by the City of Plano as part of their parks system and features a large, relatively undeveloped area. Visitors comment on the good birding and diversity of flora. Indeed, a number of birdhouses are placed along the concrete multi-use trails.  Plaques along the path describe the Blackland Prairie environment. In addition to paved walks, there are several miles of natural surface trails woven throughout the site.

Cost: free
Time of hike: January 1, a holiday
Weather: Sunny and mild (about 60 degrees Fahrenheit)

Of course, it being January, the trees were largely bare. But, being Texas, there was still greenery around. The wooded area is dense enough that you feel truly separated from the City, parking lots, and even the open field area. Trails are well marked and easy to follow. My disappointment with the surface trails was that they were really divided into three sections; there are only a few (paved) points that cross the ravine, requiring one to exit one "wilderness area" to get to another.  I would have liked them to be more connected.

We spent about two hours at the park and were not able to walk all the trails. There is a restroom facility at the main entrance, although we found the fountains and lavs there to be turned off. (Perhaps because of the cold snaps on either side of our day hike.) A central feature of the park is a small lake, with paved trails around its perimeter. This looks to be an especially good place to stop and watch for critters and birds. Fishing is allowed. Near a pavilion just off the lake by the main parking area, we observed some cardinals and a yellow finch flittering about trees.

Trail difficulty is easy, whether on paved or surface trails. The only tricky part was navigating fallen trees in the path. There are a number of outlooks over the ravine, so small children will need supervision. Signs warn about all sorts of creatures, including poisonous snakes. We didn't encounter any on our visit, but it was a busy day.

My only complaint about the day is that the park seems to suffer from its accessibility. While it is certainly an escape from the City and even suburbia, we were never really alone. Plenty of families, couples, teens, and dogwalkers were to be found throughout. I wonder a bit how typical this is, although other reviews suggest it's a common opinion. That said, it is a good option for families.

Despite this, we quite enjoyed our day in east Plano and look forward to returning in a different season to try other parts of the trail system and to observe the changing flora.