The Uplands

Photo by Matthew Guthrie

A relaxing stroll and escape into the Texas Hill Country

The Uplands is a 45-acre property acquired by Westcave in 2008. Conservation efforts on the Uplands are essential to the overall health and functioning of the preserve, protecting a live oak and Ashe juniper savanna that supports wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding canyon ecosystem. As part of ongoing prairie restoration, portions of the Uplands have received prescribed burns and reseeding efforts to support native grasses, wildflowers, and long-term habitat health.

The shared efforts of many volunteers and staff have contributed greatly to conserving and improving access to the Uplands. The Uplands trail system was established in 2014, followed by Murphy Bird Blind in 2014, Leif’s ADA-friendly Bird Blind in 2018, and ADA-friendly trail improvements to a prairie viewpoint in 2021. Today, the Uplands also includes the Homestead Site, where visitors can experience the historic cabin space and learn more about the human history of the land.

Open field with dry, yellowish grass and a dirt path leading into a wooded area with green trees under an overcast sky.

Photo by Matthew Guthrie

A wooden signpost with multiple directional signs in a natural outdoor setting. The signs read 'Ahrns Grove,' 'Prairie Loop,' 'Juniper Loop,' 'Exit,' and 'Please Stay on Trails.' Surrounding the signpost are green trees and grassy fields under a cloudy sky.
Open grass field with trees in the background under a blue sky.

What You Will Experience

Visitors can explore a mile and a half of unimproved hiking trails that wind through a dynamic live oak and Ashe juniper savanna. In spring, the savanna comes alive with wildflowers, later transforming into tall grasses during the drier seasons. During your visit, you can enjoy bird watching at either of our two bird blinds, rest in the Ahrns Grove and pollinator garden, glimpse native prairie restoration, visit the Homestead Site, and take in expansive views of the surrounding Texas Hill Country. Benches are placed throughout the trail system, offering quiet spaces to pause, reflect, and enjoy the sounds of nature.

The portion of the trail system from the Visitor center through the Ahrns Grove past ADA-accessible Leif's Bird Blind to a viewpoint of the prairie restoration area is ADA-friendly.

  • $5 per person

  • Members are free! (enter your code at checkout)

  • Open when Preserve is open for public offerings

A hummingbird perched on a thin tree branch with a blurred green background.
A small wooden outdoor shelter with a slanted roof, benches, and a water tank, surrounded by trees and natural vegetation.

Photo by Tom Hausler

A brown bird perches on a rock in a natural setting.

Photo by Matthew Guthrie

Photo by Tom Hausler