On the way to this easy find, you will pass through a spectacular trail of native plants that are often alive with dancing butterflies. Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is a Monarch waystation. Many Monarch butterflies stop here on the way to hibernate in Mexico for the winter. Tempting as it may be as you try to get a closer look or snap a photo, be careful not to leave the trail, as it can damage the habitat of these and the many other species of butterflies that decorate this native plant garden. As you are strolling towards the cache, also keep your eye out for the many feathered-friends who come to snack at the bird-feeders scattered along the trail.
Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is located just 15-minutes south of downtown San Antonio. Mitchell Lake is an important stop along the Central Flyway, a migratory bird route that stretches from the Arctic to South America. Although it once served as a sewage disposal site, this natural lake was designated as a Wildlife Refuge in 1973. Hundreds of species of birds visit the lake and the grounds of the Center every year. But Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is not just for the birds! With over 7-miles of hiking trails, more than 1,200 acres of habitat for birding, native plant gardens, guided birding hikes, and programs and activities for the entire family, you, too, can enjoy Mitchell Lake.
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 7 am-2 pm. Closed Mondays and most major holidays.
Admission: Adults-$5, Children (6-16)- $3, under 6-free. Memberships available.