Greer Island Trail (Fort Worth Nature Center) Hiking Guide
Greer Island is where the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge started. In 1964 members of the Fort Worth Audubon Society worked with the park board to open the Greer Island Nature Center here, and the land around it grew into today's refuge, renamed in 1972. The trail crosses a willow-lined levee onto the island and loops through its woods, a flat, shaded walk that suits kids and anyone who wants birds more than miles.
Permit: Entry to the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is paid at the gatehouse: $6 for adults 13-64, $3 for seniors 65+, $2 for children 3-12, free under 3, plus $2 per dog. Veterans with ID are free and active-duty military get $1 off per person.
Length and Surface
The refuge describes the Greer Island Trail as 1.5 miles; AllTrails maps its loop at 1.1 miles with about 20 feet of gain. Either way it is close to level. The tread alternates between loose sand laid down by the ancestral Trinity River and compacted soil, with a few scattered steps. AllTrails notes plenty of tree cover, which makes this one of the better refuge walks for a warm afternoon.
History on the Island
The log archway at the trailhead once framed the sign for the Greer Island Nature Center, back when the levee was wide enough for cars. In the middle of the island stands a pavilion built in the 1960s to shelter early tour groups. Look for large rocks that marked old parking areas and wooden signs still pointing the way to the "Audubon Nature Trail."
Wildlife to Look For
Black willow and buttonbush line the levee path. Great blue herons and great egrets work the shoreline, cricket frogs click from the edges and you can hear turtles splashing into the water. In summer hundreds of dragonflies hunt over the open spaces, and patient walkers can spot funnel web spiders and ant lion pits, better known as "doodlebugs."
Facilities and Hours
Benches, picnic tables and a portable toilet are at the parking area; there are no benches or tables on the island itself, only the pavilion. The refuge opens at 8 a.m. from October through April and 7 a.m. from May through September, closes at 5 p.m., and stops admitting visitors at 4 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Dogs and High Water
Dogs are welcome on a leash of 6 feet or less for a $2 fee, and owners must pick up solid waste. Alligators live in the refuge's marshes (state game wardens investigated the shooting of three there in August 2026), so keep your dog close and away from the water's edge. The trails are walking-only, so leave bikes at home. Heavy rain can push Lake Worth over its limits, and the refuge closes its canoe launch whenever the lake reaches 595 feet above sea level. If storms have been heavy, call the Hardwicke Interpretive Center at (817) 392-7410 to ask about the island.
Hiking tips for Greer Island Trail (Fort Worth Nature Center)
- Pick up a map at the gatehouse when you pay admission.
- Bring binoculars for herons and egrets along the levee.
- Use the portable toilet at the lot; there are no facilities on the island.
- Combine it with the Canyon Ridge Trail for a longer refuge day.
- Call (817) 392-7410 after big storms to check conditions on the island.
Nearby trails to explore
- Canyon Ridge Trail (Fort Worth Nature Center)
- Arbor Hills Outer Loop
- Talala Trail (Cedar Hill State Park)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Greer Island is the easy refuge walk for a first outing with a new group. Use TrailMates to find Dallas-Fort Worth hikers heading to Greer Island. Download the TrailMates app to connect.