2025 City Nature Challenge
2025 City Nature Challenge
Do you like taking pictures of nature on your phone? If so, we could use your help!
Join San Antonio Parks and Recreation staff and Alamo Area Master Naturalists for the 2025 City Nature Challenge for one of our guided observation walks at a park near you! Using the iNaturalist app participants will learn to spot and identify plants, birds, insects, and mammals in our parks and natural areas. Sightings documented during the hike will add information to San Antonio and Bexar County's understanding of what flora and fauna we share space with. Easy to moderate hiking. Please download the iNaturalist app prior to your hike.
What is the City Nature Challenge?
Join the Texas Master Naturalists, San Antonio Parks and Recreation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and many others in a fun weekend long challenge, April 26-29, to see which city can document the most plant and animal species. It's easy and free to participate by joining an event or making observations on your own using iNaturalist! Cities compete with each other to see which location can document the most species in their local area. To find out more about CNC 2025 and how to download the app, visit CNC-SA.org
Observation Walks:
On an Observation Walk you will be led on a guided hike for two hours through one of our parks or Natural Areas to gather identifications for the challenge weekend! Learn about native plants and wildlife with an Alamo Area Master Naturalist and help collect data for citizen science. For all of these walks:
· Pre-download iNaturalist on your smart phone to submit and record your ID's!
· Please wear closed-toed shoes and dress for the weather.
· Bring water to stay hydrated.
· Family Friendly pace and trails.
· Please leave your pets at home.
City Nature Challenge 2025 Weekend Programs
Friday 4/25/25 Observation Walks
• Phil Hardberger Park Natural Area - 1pm to 3pm, 8400 NW Military Rd, Meet at the Urban Ecology Center
• Brackenridge Park - 1pm to 3pm, 3700 N St Mary’s St, Meet at the Joske Pavilion
Saturday 4/26/25 Observation Walks
• Walker Ranch Park Natural Area - 8pm to 10pm, 12603 West Ave., Meet at the Pavilion
Sunday 4/27/25 Observation Walks
• Woodlawn Lake Park - 9am to 11am, 1103 Cincinnati Ave, Meet at the gate near the restrooms
• Medina River Natural Area - 9am to 11am, 15890 Tx-16, Meet at the front office
• Walker Ranch Park Natural Area - 2pm to 4pm, 12603 West Ave., Meet at the Pavilion
Monday 4/28/25 Observation Walks
• McAllister Park - 9am to 11am, 13102 Jones Maltsberger rd., Meet at the Pavilion
• Friedrich Wilderness Park Natural Area - 6pm to 8:30pm, 21395 Milsa Dr., Meet at the Pavilion
Training Walks
We will also host several training walks before the big challenge weekend. If you’d like to visit a park for a slow-paced guided hike to learn about using the app iNaturalist ahead of time, join us for a training walk on one of these dates! Using the iNaturalist app, participants will learn to spot and identify plants, birds, insects, and mammals in this seldom-studied natural area. Sightings documented during the hike will add information to San Antonio and Bexar County's understanding of what flora and fauna we share space with. Easy to moderate hiking. Please download the iNaturalist app prior to your hike.
• Please download iNaturalist on your phone and create user profile before arriving.
• Park in the parking lot by the restrooms. Meet at the gate by the restrooms.
• Please wear closed-toed shoes and dress for the weather.
• This is a good activity for adults and older children.
• Please leave your pets at home.
Training Walk Dates & Locations:
• Saturday, 3/29/25 - Mud Creek Park, 9am to 10:30am, 16675 Jones Maltsberger, Meet at the gate near the restrooms
• Saturday, 4/5/25 - Walker Ranch Park Natural Area, 9am to 11am, 12603 West Ave., Meet at the Pavilion
• Friday, 4/11/25 - Phil Hardberger Park Natural Area, 9am to 11am, 8400 NW Military Rd, Meet at the Urban Ecology Center
• Saturday 4/12/25 - Friedrich Wilderness Park Natural Area, 9am to 11am, 21395 Milsa Dr., Meet at the Pavilion
• Sunday 4/13/25 - Woodlawn Lake Park, 9am to 11am, 1103 Cincinnati Ave, Meet at the gate near the restrooms
• Friday 4/18/25 - Medina River Natural Area, 10am to 12pm, 15890 Tx-16, Meet at the front office
• Saturday 4/19/25 - Crownridge Canyon Natural Area, 9am to 11am, 7222 Luskey Blvd, Meet at the Pavilion