Lantern Hikes

Fall Lantern Hikes

Friday, October 2

Hike Time: 7 - 9 pm


Friday, November 6

Hike Time 6 - 8 pm


All hikes are schedule to begin after sunset. Please note the start time of your hike.


If the date you wish to attend is sold out,  you may fill out our waitlist form.

Cost: $18 / person

Ages 12+ only. Minors (ages 12 - 17) must be accompanied by an adult.


Gate opens 30 minutes before program start. Program begins promptly at noted time. No late entries. No exceptions.


Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. We are a pack-in/pack-out facility - please plan to take your trash with you.


Come along on a nighttime adventure! We'll explore the woods at night by lantern light, listen for the sounds of nocturnal animals including owls, coyotes, crickets and frogs, and share stories about the history of Owl's Hill. 


This program is for adventurers who are looking for a longer hike than our typical evening programs. The route is 1.5 miles of moderately challenging natural surface trail. Participants can expect moderate uphill and downhill hiking as well as areas of uneven terrain. Once the hike departs, participants are expected to stay with the group for the duration of the hike. 


Closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking are strongly recommended.


For the safety and comfort of all participants, participants are not permitted to carry additional sources of light (headlamps, flashlights, etc.). Lanterns will be provided. 


REGISTER

Note: To protect the wildlife, we do not permit pets on the Sanctuary grounds.

 

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY:

  • REFUND POLICY: There are no refunds for programs you cannot attend, however you may transfer your ticket to a friend, colleague or family member by calling us in advance of the program date.
  • CANCELLATION: Programs are rain or shine. We will, however, cancel a program if Williamson County is under a severe weather warning issued by the National Weather Service. Participants will be notified of cancellations by email. If a program is cancelled, you will receive a credit (valid for 30 days) toward Day Pass admissions.


FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY:

  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well or have recently been exposed to someone with a respiratory illness.
  • Our outdoor portable toilets each have hand sanitizers inside.
  • Please bring refillable water bottles. We do not have a communal water fountain.
  • Insect repellant and sunscreen is recommended (depending on the season).
A brown bat curled up in a dark cave, its ears and snout visible.

Wild About Creepy Critters

By Mary Catherine Mousourakis • July 20, 2024
Saturday, September 19, 2026 10 am - 12:30 pm $40/ group of 2 (includes one bat box kit) $30/ individual adult (includes one bat box kit) $10/ additional child (Under 12. Does not include a bat box kit - must be purchased in conjunction with a group or individual registration) Children 2 and under FREE! We're kicking off spooky season with a celebration of all things creepy and crawly! Meet our slithering and skittering wildlife ambassadors and find out why bugs, snakes and bats are important, fascinating, amazing, and maybe not so scary. Learn how to live in harmony with (and even attract) some of our spookiest, coolest wildlife. Nature Conservancy Cave Program Director, Cory Holliday will be onsite for a special presentation on bats. Registration includes a bat box to build and take home. (We'll provide the tools and guide participants through the project. No experience necessary!)
Silhouette of an owl perched on a tree branch against a dark blue twilight sky.

Family Firefly Hikes

April 27, 2022
The July 17 program has been rescheduled to July 24 due to severe weather. If you have tickets to this program, please check your email for information about the new date. 

Wild About Fungus

By Thomas Conner • June 19, 2021
Saturday, August 22, 2026 Program Time: 10 am - 12 pm Cost: $40 Includes: - Up to 2 people per registration - One (1) mushroom cultivation kit - Guided hike Pre-registration is required. Learn the basics of mushroom cultivation for edible oyster mushrooms, and a bit about the biology and ecology of fungus. Participants will learn how to get started growing mushrooms at home and will assemble an easy to care for oyster grow kit to take home. The program concludes with a short mushroom identification and appreciation hike. This program is designed with adults and teens in mind. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

Knee-High Naturalist

By Thomas Conner • June 9, 2021
Kids Ages 3 to 5 and Parents
Silhouette of an owl perched on a tree branch against a dark blue twilight sky.

Full Moon Hikes

June 5, 2021
2026 Full Moon Hikes Strawberry Moon: June 26 Buck Moon: July 31 Sturgeon Moon: August 28 All Hikes: 7:30 - 9 pm All hikes are sold out. Please fill out our waitlist form if you would like to be notified if tickets become available. $15/person Age 12+ (minors must be accompanied by an adult) Gate opens 1 hour before program start. Program begins promptly at 7:30. No late entries. No exceptions. Pack dinner and arrive early to picnic on the grounds. We are a pack-in/pack-out facility. Join us as we explore Owl's Hill at sunset and enjoy the sights and sounds of day turning to night. We'll listen for owls, coyotes, and night-singing insects. As the stars come out, we'll look for constellations, planets, and even meteors. Meet our non-releasable owl ambassadors and learn about the adaptations that help nocturnal animals survive. Find out what we can expect to see in the sky that night. After that, we'll head out on the trail to look and listen for the wonders of the night. No flashlights, please! Owl Prowl programs include an easy one-mile hike with some gentle uphill and downhill hiking. Our trails are natural surface, and hikers can expect a few spots with uneven terrain. Wear shoes suitable for hiking. Insect repellent is strongly recommended.