Landscape Information
Located south of downtown San Antonio, this eight-mile-long extension of the River Walk, completed in 2013, connects four eighteenth-century Spanish Colonial missions (Mission Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada, together comprising the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park) via hiking and biking trails. The park derives from the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project, which is meant to restore the river to a thriving ecosystem while providing additional recreational activities for the community.
The extension begins on the river border of the King William Historic District, which is indicated by a quatrefoil-shaped flower bed. Several quatrefoil pavers along the trail mark connections to historic sites including the four missions, parks, and streets. The entrance to Concepción Park is distinct due to its shaded overlook of low, semi-circular, limestone walls. Mission Reach includes hundreds of acres of native grasses and trees including the Texas bluebonnet, big bluestem, Engelmann’s daisy, Texas lantana, and dwarf palmetto. To restore the environment, over 20,000 young trees were planted along the trails; two historic river segments were reconnected; natural backwater habitats were restored; and the natural pool, riffle, and run sequences were reestablished.
Trails were laid out to take full advantage of the site’s natural and cultural assets. For example, several routes were sited along increased elevations providing panoramic overlooks whose viewsheds were oriented toward historic sites, such as the overlook pass by the Hot Wells resort ruins. Others were laid out alongside the acequia, irrigation ditch, of Mission Espada and San Juan. Further enhancing the visitor experience, water flowing down the dam and aqueduct of the Espada Acequia creates other points of interest farther along the extension.
