Living in a large metroplex like the one surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth means that it’s sometimes hard to ‘get out of town’ and out into nature. So it’s always pleasant to find those hidden areas in the middle of the hustle and bustle of city life, just like this one I’ve found down the road in Mansfield, Texas. As the closest nature park to my home, you’ll often find me hiking at Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park.
Accessing Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park is easy as it’s right off of Matlock Road in Mansfield. There’s plenty of parking – even more so as they just added another level of parking spaces this past summer. The park hosts multiple water features (including two ponds and a river that runs along the south side of the grounds) and a wide array of trails.
Wildlife
I tend to stick to the wider trails during the summer as the park is teaming with wildlife, so you’ll want to watch your step. In my time hiking at Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park I’ve run into all sorts of animals: ducks, turtles, armadillos, and even a copperhead snake! But I do explore some of the smaller off-shoots during the winter when the local wildlife is quieter, including the river bed when the water level isn’t too high.
Blue Bonnet Season
Another benefit to hiking at Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park is the abundance of blue bonnet flowers each spring – the area towards the east side of the park is full of meadows of blue bonnets, making it a go-to location for photographers.
Variety of Sights
Even though this park has a relatively small footprint compared to the sprawling state parks I usually write about, Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park has such a wide variety of winding trails that it’s easy to get a good amount of steps in while varying your views on each trip. Don’t forget to walk along the raised wooden flood plain trail, or to take a trip down to the amphitheater after passing by the old windmill.
