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

The Woodlands at a glance

Master-planned community in Montgomery and Harris counties

  • 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: more than 90 outdoor pieces.
  • Local government: The Woodlands Township, created in 2010, runs the parks and pools.

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

Pathways

The pathways link the parks across the villages. The Township publishes a printable Parks and Pathways Map and an interactive version, also in TheWoodlands311 app. The League of American Bicyclists rated The Woodlands a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community in 2024, and PeopleForBikes ranked it first in Texas in its 2024 Best Places to Bike list. Motorized vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters included, aren’t allowed on the pathways.

A hike and bike pathway curving past trees at sunset in The Woodlands, Texas

Swimming Pools

Themed village swimming pools, like the Bear Branch whale and the College Park gator, all on one pool pass.

Art Bench Project

33 art benches by The Woodlands Arts Council along the Waterway, at Town Green Park, The Woodlands Mall and Hughes Landing.

Wheel Friendly Parks

Skate areas and ramps, the Bear Branch skate park, and BMX dirt tracks at Ridgewood and Cranebrook.

Sports Activities

Sports fields, tennis and pickleball courts, and disc golf at Bear Branch Sports Fields (18 holes) and Terramont Park (9 holes).

location marker

Where

Parks, pools, the Pavilion, Town Center and public art.

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event and activity Time schedule

When

Seasonal events, festivals and the Activity Guide.

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Public parks icon

Public Parks

Township parks, listed by village.

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Things to do in The Woodlands Texas

Things To Do

Live music, disc golf, tennis and pickleball, arcades.

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The villages

The Woodlands is laid out as villages, each with its own village association. The eight villages opened between 1974 and 2007: Grogan’s Mill, Panther Creek, Cochran’s Crossing, Indian Springs, Alden Bridge, College Park, Sterling Ridge and Creekside Park, in that order. 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

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

Sculptures, mosaics, murals and art benches

The Woodlands Development Company calls it one of the largest collections of outdoor public art in the country.

Where to see it

See the public art
Secret Link