Activities Available:
Birding and Bat Watching, Hiking Trails, Pet Friendly, Wildlife and Wildflowers
The 463-acre Purgatory Natural Area currently is a great place to go walking, hiking or birding. The San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance has constructed miles of trails out here and if you are not careful you could get lost so be sure to take a map with you. Please remember to stay on the trails because this is an environmentally sensitive area siting on top of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. A portion of the reserve includes upland meadows and canyon bluffs of 40 feet or more, dense juniper thickets, and champion oaks. Several areas within this greenspace are habitat for golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos. Be sure to go over to the City’s website because it has directions to this location and a number of other greenbelt sites that are open to the public.