BNC Activities
Activities Overview
The Baytown Nature Center is a great place to enjoy many outdoor activities. The more popular activities include fishing and crabbing, nature observation, walking or jogging for exercise, photography, picnicking and family gatherings.
Fishing and Crabbing
Fishing and crabbing are permitted in at the San Jacinto Point Recreation Area and in the bays along the entrance road to the point. There is a long fishing pier located at the end of San Jacinto Point and two smaller fishing piers on Burnet Bay in the recreation area. Fishing and crabbing are also popular in Burnet Bay, Crystal Bay along Bayshore Drive from the entrance to San Jacinto Point. Fishing and crabbing are not permitted inside the designated natural areas. These areas are posted with no fishing signs at the entrance to these areas.Bird Watching & Nature Observation
Over five miles of marked nature trails of varying lengths are available in the natural areas of the nature center for the observation of nature. The nature trails start at the Butterfly Garden parking lot. Trail maps are available and the trails are marked with trail sign markers. The nature center is host to over 200 different species of birds that are regularly present, sometime during the year. The mix of wetland marsh, woodlands, and tall grass and weedy areas and the surrounding bays provide habitat for a wide variety of birds. The mix of birds present varies with the season and is constantly changing. Many migratory birds stop at the nature center, 
each spring and fall, to rest and re-fuel as they make their way to their breeding grounds or winter homes. Many waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, woodpeckers, and songbirds make their home at the nature center during the fall and winter months. Many of the large wading birds and some of the woodland birds are present all year long. The surrounding bays provide important habitat for pelicans, gulls, terns and bay ducks. The Baytown Nature Center is listed as a birding site on the Great Texas Birding Trail map. The nature trails are also a great place to observe animal wildlife, plants and wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies. 
Raccoon, rabbits, skunk, opossum, squirrel, nutria, and river otter are regularly seen animals at the nature center. More than 30 species of butterflies have been identified at the nature center. A good place to see butterflies is at the Butterfly Garden, but butterflies are seen throughout the nature center in proper season. Wildflowers are in bloom at the nature center much of the year. In the spring, there is a profusion of wildflowers blooming all along the nature trails. Pamplets are available at the Visitor Center and trail head boxes to help visitors identify the more common birds, animals, butterflies, and wildflowers.
Walking, Jogging, Bicycling for Exercise
Walking, jogging, and bicycling are permitted on the nature trails in the natural area. In addition, there is a nearly one-mile long loop paved walkway that runs from the Butterfly Garden The walk follows along the shoreline of Burnet and Crystal Bays. This is a scenic location to walk or jog. The road from the entrance to San Jacinto Point is also a safe place to ride bicycles.Picnic and Family Outings
The San Jacinto Point Recreation Area has picnic tables and benches close to parking and restrooms that are great for a family picnic or outing. The Children’s Nature Discovery play area is also in this area to keep the younger children entertained. Mowed lawns and shade trees make for a good play or rest area with excellent views of the bays, ship channel, and San Jacinto Monument.Nature and Landscape Photography
The Baytown Nature Center provides plenty of opportunities for nature or landscape photography. Birds, butterflies, and wildflowers along the nature trails provide great subjects for the nature photographer. Observation blinds on Duck Pond and Turtle Pond are good locations for bird photographs. The views of the marshes, bays, Fred Hartman Bridge, and San Jacinto Monument are made for landscape photography. Sunset views from San Jacinto Point with the right cloud conditions can be fantastic. Previous page: BNC Facilities
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