Outdoors

In Abilene, each trail beckons with promises of wild adventures, every horizon whispers tales of old, and the golden sunsets paint narratives of days well spent. As you hike up a rugged path or lay under the West Texas sky, you don’t just witness the beauty – you become a part of it. Here, every breeze carries folklore, every meadow dances with history, and every journey on the wild trails brings to life authentic tales that can only be felt in a land that is authentically Abilene.
Abilene State Park

  • Overnight camping reservations are now available for spaces, shelters, and yurts.
  • Day-use reservations can be made online at www.texasstateparks.org or by calling 512-389-8900.
  • Rent kayaks and canoes to use on Lake Abilene at the new rental kiosk.
  • Follow the park's Facebook page for news.

Details
The Abilene Zoo

Discover more than 1,000 animals of 140 species among the walkable zoological gardens. Hand feed a giraffe or book a VIP tour and peek behind the scenes!

Details
Birdwatching

Texas Parks & Wildlife recommends these places to spot different avian species. Grab binoculars and visit:

Details

Getting Started With Birding

Expert Jay Packer has documented more than 289 bird species in Taylor County during a birding “Big Year,” in 2019 and his daily blog of the adventure is a colorful catalog. Here are resources to help get started. You will want to start a digital journal and document your work as a citizen scientist through a free account and smartphone app via eBird.org. Bird fans also can join the Big Country Audubon Society group on Facebook and share findings with other bird lovers.

City of Abilene Parks & Recreation

Take a walk, throw a frisbee or picnic at these parks

Arthur Sears Park

Cal Young Park

Cobb Park

C.W. Gill Park

Grover Nelson Park

Johnson Park

Lake Kirby Park

Coach James Valentine Park

Nelson Wilson Park

Oscar Rose Park

Redbud Park

Reyes Flores Park

Scarborough Park

Sea Bee Park at Fort Phantom Lake

Stevenson Park

Vaughn Camp Park

Vera Hall Minter Park

Will Hair Park
Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture

Abilene is home to the longest-running outdoor sculpture exhibition of its kind in the state of Texas. The city is home to about 20 permanent sculptures by award-winning Texas artists along the N. and S. 1st railroad tracks through the center of town as well as other places around the city. Pick up a sculpture map at the T&P Depot or download it. The brochure features pictures of each sculpture as well as information about the artists who created them.

Every other September, the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council introduces four new sculptures for a two-year outdoor exhibit. These fun, funky designs make downtown culturally vibrant!

Details

Play Disc Golf at These Parks

ACU Wildcat Disc Golf Course

Cal Young Park

Cobb Park

Johnson Park

Scarborough Park

Will Hair Park
Explore Fort Phantom Hill

Standing over a remote grassy plain, the brick chimneys of Fort Phantom Hill aren’t just a ghostly sight; they’re a living piece of history. It was here, in 1851, that the U.S. Army established the fort to protect the Texas frontier as it moved west. Walk around the grounds (admission is free) and you’ll see three of the fort’s original stone buildings, more than a dozen chimneys, and the fort’s original foundations. Take a moment to savor the peace and quiet and you’ll get a sense of what life was like for those stationed at the fort. Keep your eyes open for songbirds and butterflies, like the variegated fritillary and red admiral that are attracted to the area’s colorful wildflowers.

Details

Fishing

Cal Young Park

Kirby Lake

Fort Phantom Lake

Grover Nelson Park

Seabee Park at Fort Phantom Lake

Abilene State Park

Hunting

The Abilene area is a popular place for hunters, with options to hunt exotic game or classic fare. Hunters hit the area's wide-open spaces to find Mourning Dove, White-wing Dove, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Axis Deer, Bob White Quail, Blue Quail, Turkey, Wild Hogs and other options.

Learn More
Stand Up Paddle Boarding — Lake Fort Phantom Hill

  • 9 Cherokee Circle, 5 miles from the Walmart on East Lake Road
  • Rentals open year round.

SUP Abilene Lake Fort Phantom Kayak Rentals

Golf

Miniature Golf

  • Play Faire Park, established in 1947, Play Faire Park is one of the oldest, continuously operated miniature golf courses in the state. Check the calendar to find outdoor concerts this summer.
  • Primetime Family Entertainment Center is open, offering go-karts, miniature golf, bowling, and more.

Outdoor Movies

The Town & Country Drive-In movie theatre is open Thursdays through Sundays. Check the theater's website or FB page for current movies.
Picture yourself in the Storybook Capital

You will find characters of every kind strolling the downtown cultural district, home to the largest public collection of storybook characters in the country, if not the world.

Details
The Swenson House Gardens

Gardens are blooming and families are welcome to social distance and tiptoe through the blooms. A scavenger hunt list is available in the small library in the front yard. Family time!

Details

More Outdoor Activies

Lake Kirby

Lake Kirby is primarily a fishing lake, but it is also a great place to see a wide variety of birds. The Common Moorehen is currently a year-round resident. Other birds sited include: ducks, gulls, pelicans, herons, egrets, desert cardinals, Verdind, Bell’s Vireo, sparrows and other migrating birds. The best place to bird is the east side on the lake, in the early morning, when the sun will be at your back. Other park amenities are: picnic shelter, playground, restrooms, baseball complex, softball complex, practice backstops, public boat ramp and fishing pier. No swimming or camping is allowed.

FISHING:
Aquatic Vegetation: Bulrushes
Predominant Fish Species: Largemouth bass, Channel & blue catfish, White crappie, Bluegill & green sunfish, Common carp
Recreation: Fishing boats only
Water Clarity: Red colored with visibility less than 12 inches

Details

More to Explore