Place

Kirby Nature Trail

An iron bridge spans a calm creek in early fall with some trees turning red-orange. — Stroll along Village Creek on the Kirby Nature Trail.
NPS Photo / Scott Sharaga

Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Pets Allowed, Picnic Table, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Wheelchair Accessible

This is a great loop hike to see dense thicket, a bald cypress slough, and Village Creek. Connect with the Turkey Creek and Sandhill Loop trails for a longer hike.

Distance: 1½ to 2½ miles roundtrip
Type: Loop
Location: Turkey Creek Unit
Trailhead: Parking lot on FM 420
Lat/Long: 30.462122, -94.350825

Overview

The Kirby Nature Trail has 3 loops: 1½-mile inner loop, 0.3-mile cypress loop, and 0.9-mile outer loop. Combine them all into one big loop for a 2½-mile loop hike.

The trail begins on Farm to Market Road (FM) 420 next to historic Staley Cabin. Go past the kiosk and down the wooden ramp to reach the first junction at the start of the inner loop. Turn left to go clockwise and descend a gentle slope with a canopy of beech, magnolia, and loblolly pine overhead.

After crossing a few wooden bridges, head left on the cypress loop to see a slough of large bald cypress trees and knees. If the water is high, take the high water bypass to skip the cypress loop.

Continuing clockwise from the cypress loop, the inner loop follows Village Creek. At the next junction, the right fork takes the inner loop back south toward the trailhead. The left fork begins the outer loop and immediately enters a picnic area next to an iron bridge over Village Creek*. Continue past the bridge on the outer loop as it meanders clockwise and eventually meets up with the inner loop and trailhead.

*Extend Your Hike!

Add an extra 3 miles roundtrip: Combine the Turkey Creek and Sandhill Loop trails with Kirby to make a 4½- or 5½-mile loop and out-and-back combination. The Sandhill Loop features a forest of tall longleaf pines, scattered cacti, and solitude.

Cross the iron bridge over Village Creek to begin the Turkey Creek Trail. After 0.8 miles, cross a second iron bridge, over Turkey Creek. The Sandhill Loop Trail begins on the opposite (east) side of the bridge.

Go right or left to begin the 1.4-mile Sandhill Loop. On the north end of the loop, there is another junction with the northbound Turkey Creek Trail, marked with a few benches—go past it to continue on the Sandhill Loop. When you return to the iron bridge over Turkey Creek, cross it and follow the Turkey Creek Trail south to return to the Kirby Nature Trail and the trailhead.

Accessibility

Staley Cabin and the first ¼ mile of the loop (going clockwise) have a mixture of pavement and wooden boardwalk with a downhill grade. Beyond the pavement, the trail is mostly hard-packed soil and leaves with some gravel sections. The trail is wide enough for wheelchairs but the surfaces can be uneven with slight dips, tree roots, and washouts.