Oak Motte Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Oak Motte Trail is a flat, relatively easy, 2.1-loop trail that takes you through open prairie and wooded area. It is a singletrack for a bit, then joins up to the actual trail loop; you can go either direction. This trail is secluded and partially shaded with plenty of rest stops.

Hiding among the many trees and the grasses are all forms of wildlife. During spring and fall migration, migrants such as warblers, orioles and others take advantage of this trail to refuel with food, rest and relax during their long flights. Keep your eyes open for our native reptiles disguising themselves, such as Western Coachwhips, Texas Spiny Lizard and more. The Oak Motte Trail takes you to the Prairie Dog Town.

Through the fence, you can capture glimpses of our social rodents as they are busy eating, playing, and barking. During the winter months, you'll find them insulating their tunnels with vegetation to keep themselves warm. In the spring and summer months, they can be spotted playing under the sun. During the year, the bison are rotated throughout the refuge in a series of pastures.

Since the Oak Motte Trail is diverse with grasslands and wooded areas, a variety of flora and fauna await visitors. In the prairie areas, many species of grasses are found, including Little Bluestem, Yellow Indiangrass and more. If you are interested in wildflowers, this is a great trail to see Winecups, Two-leaf Senna, Engleman's Daisy and much more. Proceeding on the trail takes you through wooded areas with spiny trees such as the Hercule's Club, Honey Mesquite and Honey Locust. Trees adapted to the Cross Timbers habitat, such as Blackjack Oak, Cedar Elm and Western Soapberry can be found as you traverse this trail.