By Brandt Mannchen
On March 14, 2026, the Houston Sierra Club (HSC) hiked 2 miles in Jones State Forest (JSF). This 1,700-acre state forest was created in 1926 and is managed by Texas A&M University (Texas Forest Service) as a demonstration forest that provides technical assistance to private landowners about forest management. Recreation is allowed in JSF and includes several hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails.
I want to thank Taylor, David, John, Emily, Denise, Cindy, and Lisa for the great time we had on this outing. People that come to HSC outings are always enjoyable to talk and hike with.
We focused on the northern part of JSF and hiked through pine uplands and over time walked down to the Sweetleaf Nature Trail along Rice Branch with its scary swinging bridge. It was a glorious day that was sunny, with a light wind, and partly cloudy skies.
Right at the beginning, after we distanced ourselves from the noise that came from FM 1488 in The Woodlands, we saw a federally threatened Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) cluster with several cavity trees.
Because those who go on HSC outings are curious and observant, while I was talking about the RCW, they were taking pictures of one of these rare birds at its cavity as it pecked resin wells to keep Texas Rat Snakes from climbing up to dine on RCWs. Nature is always interesting. Besides the RCW, we heard Carolina Wrens calling and David saw a hawk on a tree.
We saw several plants greening out for Spring. Some were blooming, including Carolina Rockrose, Ohio Spiderwort, Crow Poison, violet species, Yaupon Holly, Crossvine, Carolina Jessamine, Bull Thistle, and Southern Dewberry. I particularly liked the Carolina Rockrose with its beautiful yellow and orange flowers. Quite showy and dazzling in the sunlight.
It was neat to see how the vegetation changed from the dryer uplands down to the streamside where we measured a 32-inch diameter Loblolly Pine. We also saw some Shortleaf Pines, Southern Red Oaks, Sweetgums, White Oaks, Water Oaks, Southern Magnolias, and Swamp Chestnut Oaks.
When we finished hiking, we had a great lunch at a nearby restaurant and talked and learned more about each other. After we left the restaurant several of us went back to JSF and looked at an area that had been prescribed burned in January of this year. The fire looked like it burned significantly in some places and in other places had hardly had any affect.
I always enjoy JSF and particularly I like the people on HSC outings. They make the outing. I’m blessed to meet and spend time with them. Who could ask for anything more?