With a wide-ranging collection of prairie and forest trails, Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) also boasts a historical farm site from the late 1800’s as well as a broad bayou which is ideal for paddling and fishing. Situated in Pasadena (within the Houston/Woodlands/Sugar Land metropolitan area), along the Texas Gulf Coast, the ABNC is home to two extensive trails which follow the forest around the bayou. The Karankawa Trail winds through the center of the forest out to the shore of the bayou. The Lady Bird Trail commences in the forest and then proceeds to skirt the edge of the prairie back to the farm on the property. And aside from the boardwalk component, which is nearest the visitors’ center, these two trails are relatively primitive.
Things to Do
Essential Ways to Enjoy Armand Bayou Nature Center
Photo: Facebook/Armand Bayou Nature Center Official Page
The historic farm site consists of the Martyn family farm house which was built in the 1890s. It’s fully furnished, features vegetable and butterfly gardens, a shed filled with antique farm implements, and a beautiful little pond. If visitors have questions regarding the property, there are ABNC volunteers on hand to respond and provide further information. The Nature Center complex has a great schedule of educational programming and tours for guests to the area. You can enjoy a three-hour guided paddling tour through the backwaters of Armand Bayou (for a nominal fee) which covers two to three miles and begins at 8 a.m. at Bay Area Park. There are also pontoon boat cruises, for those that want to enjoy the bayou without the effort of making their own way through it, one of which includes breakfast! And there’s also sunset and moonlight cruises for a lesser fee. Visit their website for further details and scheduling.
Photo: Facebook/Armand Bayou Nature Center Official Page
The Armand Bayou Nature Center also features their famous Owl Prowl tour, which happens monthly and entails a moonlit walk through the forest to watch for owls, deer, and other nocturnal wildlife that may inhabit the area. And although the bayou isn’t considered much of a birding destination, despite being a great wetlands area, it does host a variety of songbirds along with a diverse grouping of woodlands and wetlands animal species including reptiles, insects, amphibians, and small mammals. Visitors can also enjoy a Prairie Wildflower Tour which includes a guided hayride through the property’s prairie section, identifying the various natural flora to the area. Their educational classes consist of topics ranging from insects to birds to ecology of the area, which children can enjoy and learn a great deal from, and they host some great winter and summer EcoCamps to teach more in a hands-on, fun setting and atmosphere. Make plans to visit the Armand Bayou Nature Center and see what the Texas Gulf Coast has to offer in Pasadena. Their wetlands, forest, and prairie properties are all waiting for you and your family to explore and learn!
