Spring Creek Greenway
The Woodlands Texas

The George Mitchell Nature Preserve

George Mitchell Nature Preserve

The 1,800-acre portion of the Spring Creek Greenway in The Woodlands George, aka the George Mitchell Nature Preserve is a great place to enjoy undisturbed nature in The Woodlands. The George Mitchell Nature Preserve is part of the Montgomery County, Spring Creek Greenway connecting with some 12,000 acres of forest surrounding Spring Creek, from Tomball to Kingwood. There are three entry points to the George Mitchell Nature Preserve from within The Woodlands. The Trailhead at Flintridge Drive, trailhead at Creekside Park West. The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park (Texas TreeVentures) has a connecting path, and further south is the Montgomery County Preserve Trailhead in Spring, Texas.

Located in one of the most densely populated areas in the country, Spring Creek travels for miles across Texas. Specific to this is the Spring Creek Greenway which provides habitat for gray foxes, bald eagles, salamanders, centuries-old palmettos, sycamores, and bald cypress trees. The nature preserve stretches over 40 miles from Highway 249 in Tomball, to I69/SH59 in Kingwood across some 12,000 acres. Spring Creek in The Woodlands is bordered by Harris County on the south shore and Montgomery County to the north. The George Mitchell Nature Preserve began as a cooperative among The Woodlands Township, The Woodlands Development Co., and Montgomery and Harris counties.

Spring Creek Greenway Nature Preserve Trail Map

A forty-mile nature preserve, open to the public

Spring Creek Greenway Hiking Trails

Construction for the greenway in The Woodlands is expected to be a softer-asphalt trail extending from Creekside Park West to Gosling Road, in The Woodlands. The overall scope of the project is to create a 12-foot-wide asphalt trail that will ultimately become part of the 40 mile greenway extending from Hwy. 59 in Kingwood, to Hwy. 249 in Tomball, and beyond. The sections in Harris County are expected to constructed with a much harder surface.

While the pathway in The Woodlands may be as wide as 12′, the minimum width is reported to be 10′ but all of it is expected to be asphalt, a softer and less expensive option for foot and or un-motorized, wheel traffic. The nature trail can be used for multiple different types of recreation whether you are riding your bike, walking, jogging or rollerblading.

The purpose of the greenway is to use, and maybe even protect land in the floodways and floodplains. To connect and protect the habitat along both sides of Spring Creek, enhancing the corridor’s ability to improve water quality, preserve important wildlife habitat and provide outdoor recreational opportunities for the public. The same concept in building out the Gosling Road Sports Park which is also built out in a floodplain.

Spring Creek Greenway George Mitchell Main Trail Map

Click here for an detailed map of Spring Creek Greenway

AllTrails for additional map detail

A History of Spring Creek Greenway

The Spring Creek Greenway began as the Cypress Creek Parks Project in 1979, when Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay led the effort to buy land along Spring and Cypress creeks. Some of those parcels eventually became parks, including Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, Meyer Park, Mercer Botanic Gardens, and Burroughs Park.
As the project grew, Eversole approached then-Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance about preserving land on the north side of the creek, in Montgomery County. Work began in 2005, after the project received a $1 million grant from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for land acquisition and trail development.

Cypress Creek Greenway

The Spring Creek Greenway will eventually connect to other trail systems, including the Cypress Creek Greenway Trail, another 40-mile greenway project under development. Precinct 4 and other organizations can now build trails along toll roads and utility corridors, thanks to two recent Commissioners Court decisions. This will be essential for trail connectivity and will pave the way for a trail system from Montgomery County to downtown Houston.

Park Facility Reservations

Permits are required to reserve a public-park-pavilion in any park facility in The Woodlands-Township-Facility reservation requests can be made online. Currently, only the pavilions are available for reservations. You must pay for your reservation within 7 days of making said reservation, or it will be deleted from the system.

For reservations and additional information, visit
The Woodlands Township, Facilities and Rentals:
5200 Research Forest Drive
• The Woodlands, Texas • 77381
Call them 281 210-3900

Please note: The Woodlands’ public parks are maintained by The Woodlands Township
Per Woodlands Parks & Recreation Dept. Rules: “Younger Play Areas” suitable for children ages 2-5.
“Older Play Areas” suitable for children ages 5-12+.”
• Read details on park regulations & requirements

Availability is subject to change without notice and is entirely beyond the control of TheWoodlands.Guide