The Woodlands Guide

Explore The Woodlands, Texas

An independent guide to parks, pools, public art and the villages

The Woodlands Guide is an independent, unofficial guide to The Woodlands, a master-planned community about 27 miles north of Houston along I-45. George P. Mitchell’s development opened in 1974 and covers about 44 square miles, most of it in Montgomery County and a small part in Harris County. The 2020 census counted 114,436 residents.

Where to start

  • Paddle Lake Woodlands or walk The Woodlands Waterway in Town Center.
  • See a concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
  • Ride the pathways from one village park to the next.
  • Find the sculptures and art benches along the Waterway and at Hughes Landing.

The Woodlands at a glance

Master-planned community in south Montgomery County

  • Parks: more than 150 Township parks.
  • Pathways: more than 220 miles of hike and bike pathways link the parks.
  • Pools: 14 community pools, including the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, plus six spraygrounds.

  • Wheel-friendly parks: 9, among them Bear Branch, Cranebrook and Terramont.
  • Public art: nearly 90 outdoor pieces.
  • Local government: The Woodlands Township, which took over local services in 2010, runs the parks and pools.

The villages

The Woodlands is laid out as villages, each with its own village association. Grogan’s Mill opened first, in 1974. Creekside Park sits in Harris County. Town Center is the commercial core, home to The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, Hughes Landing and the Waterway. The village guide has a page for each one.

Village entrance signs in The Woodlands, Texas
More village entrance signs in The Woodlands, Texas

Parks, pools and pathways

Township parks are open from dawn to dusk. Lighted sports fields and courts stay open until 11 p.m. The speed limit in every park is 10 mph, and swimming in the lakes and ponds isn’t allowed.

Park pavilions, pools and sports fields can be reserved through The Woodlands Township. The guide’s public parks and swimming pools pages list them by village.

Pathways

More than 220 miles of hike and bike pathways connect the parks across the villages. The Township publishes a pathway map, and the routes are also in TheWoodlands311 app.

Dragon Boat Races on Lake Woodlands

Swimming Pools

14 community swimming pools, including the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center, plus six spraygrounds.

Art Bench Project

Art benches line the Waterway and Hughes Landing in Town Center.

Wheel Friendly Parks

9 parks with skate, bike or open-wheel areas, including Bear Branch, Cranebrook and Terramont.

Sports Activities

Sports fields, tennis and pickleball courts, and the disc golf course at Bear Branch Sports Fields.

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Where

Where to go in The Woodlands?

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event and activity Time schedule

When

When is the next event in The Woodlands?

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Public Park

Over 150 Public Parks in The Woodlands!

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Things to do in The Woodlands Texas

Things To Do

Things to do in The Woodlands!

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The Woodlands Village Guide

The Village of Alden Bridge The Woodlands Texas
Village Alden Bridge

The fifth village to open in The Woodlands.

Alden Bridge Village
The Woodlands Village of College Park
Village College Park

The sixth village to open in The Woodlands.

College Park Village
Cochran's Crossing Village
Village Cochran's Crossing

The third village to open in The Woodlands.

Cochran's Crossing Village
The Village of Creekside Park The Woodlands
Village Creekside Park

The eighth village to open in The Woodlands.

Creekside Park Village
Grogan's Mill Village The Woodlands Texas
Village Grogan's Mill

The first village to open in The Woodlands.

Grogan's Mill Village
The Village Indian Springs
Village Indian Springs

The fourth village to open in The Woodlands.

Indian Springs Village
The Village of Panther Creek The Woodlands Texas
Village Panther Creek

The second village to open in The Woodlands.

Panther Creek Village
The Village of Sterling Ridge The Woodlands
Village Sterling Ridge

The seventh village to open in The Woodlands.

Sterling Ridge Village
Town Center Retail District The Woodlands Texas
Town Center

The Woodlands retail district - Woodlands Mall, Market Street, Waterway Square.

Town Center The Woodlands

Public art in The Woodlands

Nearly 90 outdoor pieces across the villages

Sculptures, mosaics and art benches across the villages

See the public art

The Woodlands Development Company counts nearly 90 public art pieces in the community and calls it one of the largest outdoor collections in the nation for a community its size.