Field Trips

Enjoy a guided barge ride through the heart of downtown San Antonio and along the scenic Museum Reach. Participants will experience the vibrant mix of art, architecture, and history that line the river’s banks, from the lively River Walk core to the serene stretches connecting to the San Antonio Museum of Art and Pearl District. Along the journey, guides will share stories about the river’s transformation, public art installations, and the cultural landmarks that make this urban waterway one of San Antonio’s most iconic destinations. Enjoy a special discussion just Rally participants about invasive Apple Snail removal projects! Participants should anticipate being seated outdoors for roughly 2 hours, without access to a restroom.  

Discover the story of San Antonio’s origins and revitalization on a guided tour of San Pedro Creek Culture Park. Participants will explore the beautifully restored waterway that blends public art, local history, and native landscaping to celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage. Along the walk, guides will highlight key artworks, interpretive features, and the creek’s role in flood control and urban renewal. This tour offers an engaging look at how art, nature, and community come together in the heart of downtown San Antonio. Participants should anticipate walking or rolling on ADA compliant trails for roughly 2 hours. 

Experience an in-depth look at the environmental and ecological initiatives that make the San Antonio River Basin a thriving habitat. This guided educational tour at Confluence Park will highlight the park’s sustainable architecture, native landscaping, and its role as a living classroom for watershed education. Participants will also learn about the San Antonio River Authority’s ongoing Mission Reach Avian and Mussel monitoring projects—efforts that track bird and freshwater mussel populations to better understand ecosystem health and biodiversity along the river. This immersive tour connects science, design, and stewardship to showcase how conservation and community engagement come together at the confluence of San Pedro Creek and the San Antonio River. Participants will rotate through stations on ADA accessible trails and surfaces. Water and bathrooms are available throughout the duration of this trip.  

Join staff of the Edwards Aquifer Authority for learning & discussion about water management in Texas Hill Country. The Field Research Park is the Aquifer Authority’s hub for groundwater research: staff are actively researching how the health of the land and soil contribute to recharge, water quality, and water quantity.  Participants should anticipate discussion at the headquarters building, followed by a walking tour to some of the demonstration sites in the research park.  

Join River Aid San Antonio at Olmos Basin Park: we’re getting our hands dirty! Participate in a litter clean up and learn how to analyze what you pick up using the Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol (ETAP). Learn about initiatives to install in-stream litter booms and learn what it takes to effectively capture litter in our waterways and move data to action to prevent and manage litter. Gloves, grabbers, bags, and snacks will be provided. This site has a slope to the banks, which is at times quite steep: this site is not considered ADA accessible. Participants should wear close-toed shoes that may get wet or muddy on the stream banks.  

Join River Aid San Antonio to learn about the Texas Stream Team Water Quality Monitoring program, and get your hands dirty practicing it yourself! Learn the basic parameters of water quality monitoring and the power of community science: take field observations and sample observations from the San Antonio River at Brackenridge Park, learn about ongoing water quality efforts in the San Antonio River, and dive deep into understanding how quality data from community science can drive change. All surfaces and activities on this trip are ADA accessible. There are seating options, shaded pavilions, and restrooms available.  

Join Cultural Bearers of the Pakahua Peoples of Northeastern Mexico and Texas for a guided walking tour in Brackenridge Park, where you will walk the Earth and sky together as San Antonio River mirrors the constellation of Eridanus. Learn how this Celestial knowledge and Earthly waterway are central parts of Indigenous Creation Stories, and how they inform cultural and ecological knowledge. Participants might consider downloading Stellarium App to follow along on their phones. All walkways are ADA accessible, and restrooms are available throughout the park.  

Travel north to San Marcos to experience the Sacred Springs (also called Spring Lake) at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (a program of Texas State University). In this place, considered the oldest persistently inhabited place in North America, enjoy hearing the Aheuac Yana Creation Story, view the Springs from a glass-bottom boat, spot wildlife on a wetlands walk, and learn about endangered and invasive species in Discovery Hall. Depending on conditions, this trip may also stop at a location to view wild rice growing in the San Marcos River and feature a discussion about the protections and cultural significance of this plant. All locations are ADA accessible. Bathrooms and water will be available for the duration of this field trip.  

EARLY DEPATURE: 7:30 am departure from The Westin Riverwalk.  

Experience the San Antonio River like never before on this guided biking tour along the Mission Reach. Participants will bike through a beautifully restored stretch of the river that connects to San Antonio’s historic missions. Along the way, guides will share insights about the river’s restoration, local wildlife, and cultural landmarks that make this section so unique. This relaxed ride offers a mix of recreation, education, and scenic beauty, perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors while learning about one of San Antonio’s signature projects. All bikes are e-assist, and the ride is 90 minutes with departures at either 8:45 or 10:15. This tour departs at 8:45 am. 

Experience the San Antonio River like never before on this guided biking tour along the Mission Reach. Participants will bike through a beautifully restored stretch of the river that connects to San Antonio’s historic missions. Along the way, guides will share insights about the river’s restoration, local wildlife, and cultural landmarks that make this section so unique. This relaxed ride offers a mix of recreation, education, and scenic beauty, perfect for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors while learning about one of San Antonio’s signature projects. All bikes are e-assist, and the ride is 90 minutes with departures at either 8:45 or 10:15. This tour departs at 10:15 am.  

Join us for a guided paddling adventure along the scenic Mission Reach of the San Antonio River. Participants will explore this restored stretch of the river by kayak, experiencing firsthand the balance of nature, culture, and recreation that defines the area. As you paddle through the winding waterways, you’ll learn about the river’s ecological restoration, its connection to the San Antonio Missions – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and the wildlife that now thrives along its banks. This immersive experience combines light recreation with insight into one of San Antonio’s most significant environmental and cultural projects, offering a new perspective on the city’s historic and natural landscapes. Participants should anticipate roughly 2 hours of slow / intermittent paddling, with stops for discussion. Kayak launches are not ADA accessible. 

Spend the morning on the San Antonio River with River Network, American Rivers, and San Antonio River Authority staff learning about integrated river management: a collaborative, community-focused process that defines a common vision for the community’s river corridor through integrated planning.

This field trip is complementary to the integrated river management learning session (Tuesday @ 3:15 pm) that highlights the importance of uniting diverse interests to create an integrated approach to floodplain management. Participants should anticipate roughly 2 hours of slow / intermittent paddling, with stops for discussion. Kayak launches are not confirmed to be ADA accessible.