Hike the Sundew Trail

Walk through a garden of ferns on the Sundew Trail.

NPS Photo / Mary Kay Manning

Take a walk through a wetland pine savannah on the Sundew Trail to look for birds, longleaf pines, and carnivorous plants. The pavilion at the trailhead is a great place to have a picnic in the park!

• Distance: 0.3 to 1 mile roundtrip
• Type: Loop
• Location: Hickory Creek Savannah Unit
• Trailhead: Parking lot on County Road 1910
• Lat/Long: 30.548225, -94.409754

Overview

From the trailhead, follow the paved path clockwise to reach a boardwalk through a small bog. In spring and summer, look for carnivorous plants here: tall, funnel-shaped pitcher plants and coin-sized, red sundews.

Continue along the boardwalk to an open pipeline right-of-way. Sundews grow abundantly among the mowed grasses on the right-of-way during winter and spring. At the right-of-way, go right to continue on the inner loop or cross the pipeline and go left to follow the outer loop through a longleaf pine forest.

Both loop options return to the trailhead.

Picnic Area

Bring lunch! The trailhead has a shaded pavilion with 4 picnic tables, 2 metal grills, and a vault toilet.

More Information

• Download a trail map
• Explore the Hickory Creek Savannah Unit

Details

Duration

1-2 Hours

Activity

Hiking

Pets Allowed

Yes

Pets must be on a 6-foot leash at all times. Please pick up your pet's poop!

Activity Fee

No

Free admission to Big Thicket National Preserve

Location

Hickory Creek Savannah Unit | Warren, TX

The trailhead is about 4 miles south of Warren and 14 miles north of Kountze. From US 69/287, head west on FM 2827, then turn left (south) onto County Road 1910. Follow the signs to the Sundew Trail parking lot.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Sundews produce their small pink blooms from April into early summer. Sundews are most abundant in winter and spring, becoming much harder to find through the summer and fall.

Time of Day

Day

Go in the morning to see sundews sparkle in the morning sunlight.

Accessibility Information

The Sundew Trail is generally flat. The inner loop is a mixture of pavement and wooden boardwalks. The outer loop is a wide dirt path covered in leaves that crosses a few small bridges and boardwalks; there are several sections with exposed tree roots.

Sundew Trail

17 Images

The Sundew Trail is a 1-mile loop in the Hickory Creek Savannah Unit of Big Thicket National Preserve.