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.
The shared efforts of many volunteers and staff have contributed greatly to conserving and improving access to the Uplands. 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
What you Will Experience
Begin at the Boardwalk
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.
Ahrns Grove
Ahrns Grove 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.
Bird Blinds
The Uplands trail system includes two bird blinds designed for quiet wildlife viewing. Murphy 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 savanna, feeders, water features, and surrounding vegetation.
Prairie Loop
As the trail continues, visitors move through Westcave’s prairie restoration area, where conservation management such as reseeding, invasive species management, and prescribed burns are used to support the return of native grasses and wildflowers. These efforts help restore habitat for pollinators, grassland birds, and other wildlife that depend on open prairie and savanna landscapes.
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.
