The Uplands

Photo by Matthew Guthrie

A Self-Guided Stroll Through the Texas Hill Country

Acquired by Westcave in 2008, the 45-acre Uplands protects live oak and Ashe juniper savanna that supports wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding canyon ecosystem.

Thanks to the efforts of staff and volunteers, visitors can follow an ADA-friendly route from the Visitor Center through Ahrns Grove, past Leif’s Bird Blind, and to a prairie restoration viewpoint. Beyond this point, the trail continues as an easy, level, unimproved hiking path.

Admission

Open when Preserve is open for the Guided Canyon Tour. $5 per person for walk-ins, or included with your Guided Canyon tour purchase.

Two movie tickets with perforated edges on a green circular background.
Silhouette of binoculars with the text 'Wildlife Views Bird Blinds & Hill Country Views' below.
Map icon showing a 1 mile loop trail with two location markers connected by a dotted trail line.
Outline of a park bench with the words "Benches Throughout the Trail" below it.
Illustration of a hiking boot with text 'Trail Type' and 'Unimproved Hiking Trails' indicating trail classification.

What You Will Experience

Begin at the Boardwalk

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Your Uplands experience begins at the boardwalk, where visitors can pause before entering the trail system. Nearby, the Chimney Swift tower provides nesting and roosting habitat for a species that increasingly depends on human-made structures. This area introduces visitors to the ways Westcave supports wildlife through both habitat protection and conservation design.

Learn about Chimney Swift Research
A wooden path running through a lush green area lined with trees and bushes, with a tall chimney swift tower visible in the background under a clear blue sky.

Ahrns Grove

Green circle with a white number 2 in the center.

Ahrns Grove, named in honor of the Ahrns family and their longstanding dedication to Westcave, offers a shaded place to rest, gather, and observe seasonal changes across the Uplands. Nearby blooms support butterflies, bees, and other pollinators by providing nectar and habitat throughout the growing season. These plantings help strengthen the surrounding ecosystem while creating a quiet space for visitors to slow down and notice the smaller forms of life that depend on native vegetation.

Learn about Anything With Wings Surveys
A dirt pathway in a garden with a yellow diamond-shaped sign reading 'Butterfly Crossing' featuring illustrations of butterflies. There are trees and flowering plants along the path, with informational boards and a wooden fence in the background.

Photo by Kirstin Boyd-Farmer

Bird Blinds

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The Uplands trail system includes two bird blinds designed for quiet wildlife viewing. Murphy’s Bird Blind was established in 2014, and Leif’s ADA-friendly Bird Blind was added in 2018 to expand accessible birding opportunities at Westcave. From these spaces, visitors can sit, listen, and watch for resident and migratory birds moving through the feeders, water features, and surrounding vegetation.

Learn about FeederWatch Surveys
A winding gravel pathway surrounded by green bushes and trees, leading to a small wooden structure with steps. Signage with "Leifs bird blind" and plaques are posted near the path, under a partly cloudy sky.

Photo by Kirstin Boyd-Farmer

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Prairie Loop

As the trail continues, visitors move through Westcave’s prairie restoration area, where conservation practices such as reseeding and prescribed burns are used to encourage the return of native grasses and flowering forbs. These efforts help restore habitat for pollinators, grassland birds, and other wildlife that depend on open prairie and savanna landscapes.

Learn about Prairie Restoration
A prairie with trees and dry grass under an overcast sky.

Photo by Matthew Guthrie

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Homestead Site

Near the former cabin, new trail additions are helping visitors better understand the human history of the Uplands. Recent work has opened the area for future interpretation, native seed planting, and continued restoration around the preserved chimney and surrounding landscape. As this space develops, Westcave will share more about the cabin’s history and the people connected to this part of the Preserve.

A dirt pathway through a garden with trees and bushes on either side. Large rocks border the path, and various plants grow along the ground. The scene is sunny with a clear blue sky visible through the tree branches.
A rustic outdoor fireplace made of stacked irregular stones with a firebox at the bottom and a chimney above. There are trees in the background and a partially cloudy sky.