River Ranch Interpretive Center
Open daily from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, the River Ranch Interpretive Center orients visitors and introduces them to the park’s many amenities and activities. Trail maps, park brochures and handouts describing suggested hike routes are available. The IC Library features helpful reference materials. Interactive LOOK, LISTEN and FEEL stations encourage visitors to learn about the park’s flora, fauna and geology. Through the WOODLANDS, RIVER and SAVANNAH displays, visitors become familiar with the park’s terrain and three habitat areas. OUR LAND/OUR HERITAGE, a series of historic photographs and maps, provides insight into the history of the Liberty Hill area.
FRRCP volunteers assist park management by staffing the IC at various times during the week. Long-time hiking buddies and outdoor enthusiasts Vivian Kirkbride and Mary Raymond are among the loyal group of FRRP volunteers who staff the Interpretive Center at RRCP. During an hour-long orientation session, IC volunteers like Vivian and Mary become familiar with the Center’s display area, office, library and classroom. They are then prepared to welcome visitors, distribute park information and answer questions about the interactive educational exhibits. Note that the FRRCP office is open whenever a volunteer is on duty.
Many members of the IC team take advantage of their 2.5 hour shifts to review the wealth of reference material available in the IC Library. For information on assisting with this vitally important visitor service, email us at friendsofriverranch@gmail.com.
Bird Blind Project
When visiting the park, check out the new Bird Blind located in a grove across from the Interpretive Center. Funded entirely by donations, the 8’ x 12’ wood blind features viewing windows on the front and sides, a solar-powered recirculating water feature to attract wildlife and a bird feeding station. FRRCP Board Member Wayne Collins and FRRCP Sponsor John Kendall coordinated the effort in collaboration with River Ranch staff, including FRRCP member Richard Powe.
Birding Station Maintenance
Birding Station Team Maintains Blind and Feeder Stations
Human Friends are the key to keeping our "feathered" friends at River Ranch happy and healthy. Funded entirely by donations, three feeder stations have birds flocking year-round to the Day Use Area. Two stations provide great viewing from either inside or outside the Interpretive Center. Across the driveway, a third station attracts birds to feeders located adjacent to a stand of stately oaks near our new Bird Blind.
The Birding Station Team is actively seeking volunteers to help refill and maintain these feeders. For Texas Master Naturalists, this task counts towards volunteer hours. (Please note that it is necessary to become a member of the Friends group in order to participate in its Birding Station Team activities.)
To take part in Birding Station tasks, simply click on the link below. Select the date(s) you want to volunteer, then Save & Continue, then Sign Up Now. On the date you select, you may come anytime between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM that is convenient for you. Note that the park admission fee is waived for FRRCP members who are there to handle a specific volunteer task on that date. Training for Birding Station Team members will be provided on site.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BABA623AAF8C25-54206230-volunteer
Barbed Wire Removal Project
TEAM REMOVES MORE BARBED WIRE FENCING THIS SPRING
One of the park’s most popular nature paths, Horseshoe Trail, is safer for both hikers and equestrians thanks to the efforts of the Barbed Wire Removal Team. On April 17, five of those volunteers – wearing safety goggles and heavy gloves and armed with wire cutters and loppers – removed the final strands of barbed wire and fencing panels from a particularly thorny stretch of old fencing along the northern half of Horseshoe Trail. As a result, only wooden fence posts remain. Damaging strands of wire were also removed from two of the smaller oak trees that surround the majestic Bell Oak on Highland Trail.
In May, the team will tackle the final stretch of the Horseshoe Trail before moving on to other areas of the park where barbed wire presents a hazard. Project coordinator Scott Korcz will be scheduling monthly work sessions throughout 2025, with the goal of eliminating the trail system’s remaining interior fences. Five work sessions have taken place since December of 2024.
Hikes & Nature Walks Offered
Volunteers with FRRCP’s Guided Hike Team are available to lead both leisurely nature walks and interpretive hikes along trails within the River Ranch County Park trail system. Outings can vary in distance and difficulty level. Some are scheduled in advance and open to FRCP membership and/or general public. Private guided outings may be arranged for local groups and organizations upon request at friendsofriverranch@gmail.com.
For hikers wishing to explore the park on their own, FRRCP and RRCP provide turn-by- turn directions for the 11 suggested trail routes listed below. Refer to the RRCP Trail Map when following these instructions. Routes vary in distance from 1.5 miles to 10.5 miles and range from “Easy” to “Difficult.”
Click on the individual route below to download and print turn-by-turn instructions. Hard copies of these routes are available at the park’s Interpretive Center.
ROUTE
MILES
DIFFICULTY
TRAILHEAD
