OUTDOORS

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is expected to stock roughly thousands of rainbow trout in two San Antonio lakes on Nov. 24 as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program.

A new public hiking trail with eight overlook spots is about to be unveiled at the Canyon Lake Gorge.

A portion of “one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled coastal prairie” in Texas is in the works to become a state park, someday.

You could call it the ultimate road trip, but instead of driving, Michael Collins decided to walk 3,800 miles from San Antonio to Alaska.

The Encino Branch Library on the Northeast Side will soon get an ADA-accessible playground and adult exercise area.

Plant lovers, this one’s for you.

In Central Texas, the "peak" season for fall foliage is mid-November

There are almost a half a million children living in foster care right now across the United States. Some of those are staying with foster parents, others in group homes.

San Antonio residents and visitors looking for a new space to enjoy the upcoming cool weather have a new trail segment to choose from.

SeaWorld San Antonio is adding the “largest attraction of its kind in the world” to its thrills in the spring of 2022.

The world’s steepest dive rollercoaster is in the works for Six Flags Fiesta Texas, just in time for its 30th anniversary.

Now that the kids are out of school, this is a great way to get them involved

Night critters are putting the new Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge to use just months after its completion.

Are you ready to go on an outdoor adventure?

Invasive zebra mussels that are known to harm wildlife have now infested three more lakes -- Lake Brownwood, Inks Lake and Medina Lake -- according to Texas Parks and Wildlife officials.

See the suburbs and city parks have planned Fourth of July parades, races, food events, live music, and, of course, fireworks for this year’s holiday.

In San Antonio it seems like there is always a fishing spot nearby, but which ones have the most luck?

Summer is here and we’re all ready to head outside and have some fun. But before we do, it’s important to get our outdoors spaces ready.

An attraction fit for adults is opening up at SeaWorld San Antonio this summer.

Park rangers at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area are asking all visitors to plan ahead as there will not be water available on the grounds through June.

After all the rain, you can expect the mosquitoes to be biting soon. Consumer Reports put several insect repellents to the test to find the ones that protect your family the best.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is easing its COVID-19 safety protocols following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas officials.

Texas Parks and Wildlife’s community archery program wants to help all Texans learn the different skills necessary to becoming a successful bowhunter.

Just in time for spring and summer outings, a variety of new park amenities and trails have opened in the San Antonio area.

In honor of National Gardening Day, we spoke with horticulturist expert, Andrew Labay, who is the Director of Horticulture at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. He spoke about gardening and the benefits that come with it.

The winter weather and current drought conditions are causing some delays in the wildflower blooms. At least one couple who planned a vacation around the season is a bit disappointed.

A fire at Big Bend National Park that has burned for nearly a week has grown to at least 863 acres.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department partner with education based organizations to increase fishing knowledge and strengthen family bonds and a connection to the outdoors.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has announced that traditional camping over Easter weekend will not be allowed for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nirenberg said that while parks will be open to visitors during the daytime, they will not be open for overnight camping. “We do not have the resources to properly enforce public health protocols for overnight camping during Easter.”He did encourage locals to visit parks and “get outside and enjoy some recreation.”Last year, the parks were almost entirely closed to the public for Easter weekend as COVID-19 began to spread in the community. If people do plan on celebrating Easter with people outside their household, the CDC says to gather outdoors and at least six feet apart from others. Earlier in the briefing, Nirenberg announced an increase of 159 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total case count to 205,258 since the pandemic began.

SAN ANTONIO – You’ve booked your spring camping trip, so what kind of gear do you need? Good Sports Outdoor Outfitters, a locally-owned San Antonio business, shares essential spring camping gear. Jordan Lauterstein, general manager and buyer for the store, said Good Sports specializes in lightweight and packable gear for campers, which is great for spring campouts. Watch the video above for his seasonal recommendations. The local business has two locations in San Antonio: its main store at I-10 and De Zavala Rd.

Invasive zebra mussels that are known to harm wildlife have been detected at Medina Lake and could spread to nearby waterways, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

SAN ANTONIO – After February’s winter weather decimated many plants, many people are wondering if it will affect the wildflower season in Texas. Experts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center say bluebonnets can handle the cold. “Our Texas bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) and many other native wildflowers are adapted to cold temperatures,” Director of Horticulture Andrea DeLong-Amay was quoted on the center’s website. “The native range is primarily the Hill Country and Blackland Prairie Ecoregions of Texas, although citizens of Texas have seeded it well beyond,” Singhurst said. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, some redbuds, Texas mountain laurel and native plums may not bloom this year because of the February freeze.

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday said state parks will return to normal capacity in time for spring and summer camping seasons. Texas State Parks “have begun a strategic and thoughtful process of expanding capacity statewide” as Gov. “We’re excited to welcome more visitors to our parks,” Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks, said in a news release. “We want Texans to know that the safety of our visitors and our park staff is our top priority as we increase visitor capacity. Texas State parks closed at the beginning of April 2020 as the state began shutting down due to the first wave of coronavirus cases.

Bob Hall Pier is closed until further notice due to construction. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will temporarily close some saltwater fishing spots along the coast — including some on Padre Island and near Rockport, Fulton and Aransas Pass — due to freezing weather. The 21 fishing sites will close at midnight on Monday and stay closed until 11:59 p.m., TPWD said in a news release on Saturday. During that time, fishing will be off-limits in these areas in an effort to protect the wildlife and resources. You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices.

SAN ANTONIO – While it looks like a winter wonderland, the staff at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area say it is “dangerous” to visit the park during icy conditions that are hitting Central and South Texas this week. Staff said that the weather has knocked out power to the park, therefore the phone lines are down. Another clip of a cold, ice covered park and the poor frozen trees & grasses in and along Sandy Creek. Posted by Enchanted Rock State Natural Area - Texas Parks and Wildlife on Thursday, February 11, 2021Ice accumulation is possible on roads in Central and South Texas as the storm sweeps the area this week. A winter weather advisory in Texas will plunge temperatures into next week.

This month starts the 35th season of the Toyota Sharelunker Program, which is a coordination effort with Texas Parks and Wildlife to increase the production of trophy-sized fish in Texas reservoirs. The year-long program offers four levels of participation for catching bass over 8 pounds or 24 inches in Texas. During the first three months of the year, anglers who reel in a 13 pound bass or larger can loan it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Sharelunker selective breeding and stocking program. Once a lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota Sharelunker mobile app. For more information on this program or to report a fish, anglers can call the Sharelunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5-foot-long alligator found outside San Antonio home, ACS saysAl, a 5-foot-long alligator, somehow made his way to a home on the far East Side of San Antonio on Aug. 3, according to the Animal Care Services. Mystery creature washes up on beach at Padre Island National SeashoreA mystery sea creature washed up on the beach at Padre Island National Seashore on Oct. 5. Thousands of moon jellyfish are washing up along the Padre Island seashoreThe Padre Island National Seashore on Oct. 23 said moon jellyfish were “washing up by the thousands” in the area. According to Padre Island National Seashore officials, these jellyfish have been “washing up by the thousands." Cannibalistic fish washes up on Padre Island National SeashoreOfficials with the Padre Island National Seashore on Nov. 1 posted a photo of a sargassum fish that washed up on the beach and was discovered by a visitor.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Botanical Garden is offering two days of free admission to teachers, school administration and support staff during the season of giving. The Botanical Garden said the staff can redeem the offer on Dec. 28 and 29. They must work in Bexar County, and the offer is for teachers in kindergarten through 12th grade. The offer is available online only. The Botanical Garden said the offer is a “thank you to the teachers and faculty who are working tirelessly to educate children and keep them safe during these challenging time.”Admission for adults is normally $15.

Consumer Reports can help with ways to keep your loved ones warm and safe with fire pits, patio heaters, and more. And if you want even more flexibility, consider a patio heater. CR says if you have outdoor outlets, you may want to consider a few strategically placed space heaters. But never use a space heater outdoors with an extension cord, because that poses a fire risk, just as it would inside. The Comfort Zone CZ499R Space Heater for $55 performed well in Consumer Reports tests for spot-heating.

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are expected to stock roughly 10,336 rainbow trout in four San Antonio-area lakes as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program. Earl Scott Pond, Live Oak City Park, Miller’s Pond and Southside Lions Park (Hi Lions) will be stocked on select days from November through February. An estimated 3,792 rainbow trout will be stocked in Miller’s Pond and 4,744 will be stocked at Southside Lions Park, according to TWPD officials. However, licenses and endorsements are not required when fishing in a Texas state park. The rainbow trout stocked at the lakes will be big enough to catch and eat for anyone who wants to keep their catch.

SAN ANTONIO – Halloween may be over, but the “chh chh chh ahh ah ah” is still echoing at the Mission Outdoor Theater. Jason Vorhees, or at least an actor who played him, will be at a meet-and-greet for a double feature of “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives" and “Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan." Additional movies are playing at the Mission Outdoor Theater this weekend. Fred Reyes, the owner of the Mission Outdoor Theater, previously told KSAT that “there’s a lot going on” at the theater right now as the drive-in concept becomes more and more popular. Mission Outdoor Theatre is located at 8069 Challenger Blvd.

But some experts say watching nature shows on TV can help cure boredom and sadness. Most of us have resorted to binge-watching TV shows and movies as a result of quarantine from the pandemic. According to a new study by researchers are the University of Exeter in the UK, watching nature shows can help reduce feelings of boredom and sadness. They also found virtual reality technology to have an impact on a person’s mood. And the virtual reality experience not only relieved boredom, but increased positive feelings and strengthened connection to nature.

SAN ANTONIO – Texans needing a day of rest and relaxation after the chaotic election season can get into any state park for free on Sunday. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is waiving fees at all of the state parks in honor of Veterans Day. “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas State Parks are proud to honor the men and women that serve our country in the military,” Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks, said in a news release. “What better way to celebrate their service and dedication than by spending the day at a beautiful Texas State Park.”Veterans Day lands on Wednesday, Nov. 11. TPWD is reminding happy campers that parks have capacity limits, and it is recommended that they reserve a day pass online or by calling 512-389-8900.

This summer, many of us turned to the outdoors as a safe space to relax and get together with others. And as we head into fall and winter, they can still be a safe and cozy space to use with the help of a patio heater. Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angie’s List says gas heaters use either propane or natural gas and are a very effective way to quickly warm your space. Propane heaters come in many portable options, while natural gas heaters do require professional installation. Keep in mind that the average electric heater or fire table won’t be able to warm as large of an area as a gas heater.

Invasive zebra mussels that can harm wildlife are overwhelming a North Texas lake, according to officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Big Bend National Park is expanding its campsite options and recreational offerings after they were forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Rio Grande will be available for overnight river trips, both commercial and private, too. The Chisos Basin Lodge and Restaurant, park visitor centers, Rio Grande Village campground, the Cottonwood campground and the Rio Grande Village RV campground remain closed at this time. Big Bend National Park's phased re-opening continues. The next stage will occur on Tuesday, September... Posted by Big Bend National Park on Wednesday, September 23, 2020Read also:

Hues of yellow, orange and red will soon begin to paint over the Hill Country and Texas state parks now that the fall season has officially arrived. Images from last year show Lost Maples reached peak fall foliage by Nov. 26. A 2020 fall foliage prediction map by the website, Smoky Mountains, states the Hill Country will begin to see minimal fall foliage by Oct. 19. (Smoky Mountains)The Fall Foliage Map serves a planning guide for those wondering when changing leaves are coming. Here are some of the Texas state parks where fall foliage is common.

But regardless where you’re located or what types of weather your region regularly experiences, it’s always best to remain vigilant. When it comes to hurricanes and big storms, there’s always so much talk about how to prepare the insides of our homes. Therefore, it’s always better to err on the side of caution, he added. “There’s nothing wrong with being too careful.”So, the next time a big storm’s coming to town, walk around the exterior of your house, your property or your yard. You could even turn this into a project, moving just a few belongings a day, leading up to the storm.

SAN ANTONIO – A drive-in movie theater with on-site food trucks is slated to open at Brooks City Base as more people hang outdoors due to the pandemic. The Mission Outdoor Theater will have its opening day on Sept. 4, according to a news release. It’s the creation of Electric Fiesta, which hosted the city’s first-ever EDM drive-in in June. San Antonio Drive-In at Fiesta Texas adds more dates and movies to lineupDifferent movies will be shown on each screen and they will play between two to four flicks per night. Movie-goers are allowed to bring food but there will be food trucks on site.

Camping, hiking, outdoor gear in high demand during the pandemicPublished: August 19, 2020, 10:50 pmAccording to the Outdoor Industry Association, which tracks information for the industry, more Americans took up new outdoor hobbies between April and June this year. Initial reports show the most popular activities were running, bicycling and hiking.

SAN ANTONIO At least one in 10 travelers would fly right now, with no COVID-19 vaccine or special conditions on safety precautions, if given the chance, according to a survey. Those results are from a survey by The Vacation, which asked 583 adults in the U.S. for their opinion about traveling amid the pandemic. The Traveling and Entertainment in 2020 Amid COVID-19 Survey found that about 14% of people would fly right now with no special conditions, nearly 17% would fly if masks are mandatory for employees and travelers and 34% would fly with mandatory masks plus empty middle seats. Nearly 4% said they would pay for that extra seat themselves just to keep it empty, the survey says. Travelers trust Dallas-based Southwest the most, with 23% of votes from participants.

GALVESTON, Texas Two men were shot when a man fired into a group of people during a Texas event, a police official said. The shooting happened Saturday during Jeep Weekend on Crystal Beach in Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said. A group of men started fighting and it transferred over to females fighting, Trochesset said. Crystal Beach residents started an online petition to end Jeep Weekend after 113 people were arrested last year. Joey Roy and his girlfriend Aloha Flake visited Crystal Beach this past weekend.