On a recent trip to New York and Washington, D.C., FOBCNWR Board President Elizabeth Gardner made herself a promise: no matter how packed the schedule, she would find her way to nature.

She found it in Central Park, sitting on a bench while watching an aggressively charming squirrel. She found it at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, arriving just in time for peak cherry blossom season — petals reflected in the still water, a moment of pure stillness in the middle of one of the busiest cities on earth.

“Those were the best moments of my whole trip,” she told the crowd gathered at Shin Oak Observation Deck on March 27, 2026. “And they reminded me of something important: those places exist because someone cared enough to create them. Someone looked at this busy world and said, ‘We need somewhere to breathe.’”

That’s exactly what has been created at the Shin Oak Observation deck at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge — and on Friday, March 27, 2026, we celebrated it together.

A Place to Breathe in the Texas Hill Country

Shin Oak Observation Deck has long been a beloved birding destination in Austin, near the small town of Bertram, TX. Uniquely situated near the intersection of Burnet, Travis, and Williamson Counties, it sits in the heart of some of the fastest-growing communities in Texas. It’s the kind of place where, in spring, you can hear the incessant, high-pitched phrases of the Black-capped Vireo echoing across the landscape — a sound that draws birders from across the country to check this once-threatened species off their life lists.

But until recently, the site lacked some essential amenities: there was no nearby restroom, no accessible path for visitors, and no structured invitation to slow down and simply be present in this remarkable place.

That has changed.

The Trail Is for Everyone — And We Mean It

The new Shin Oak Mindfulness Trail features a 0.4-mile accessible connection loop surfaced in crushed granite, with benches for rest and reflection installed at regular intervals. Mindfulness signage guides visitors through walking meditation and sensory awareness activities — inviting you to notice the birdsong, feel the breeze, let the natural world draw you back into the present moment. No meditation experience required.

But the most important thing about this trail isn’t what’s on it. It’s who it’s for.

"What makes this trail especially meaningful to me, what sets it apart, is that when we say anyone, we mean it. This trail is accessible, which matters more than I can state. The peace that I found under the trees in Central Park, the stillness that I found in the cherry blossoms, it shouldn’t just be accessible to people who can do a rugged hike or get up our limestone hills. It should belong to everyone — to someone who’s recovering from surgery, to someone who is pushing a stroller, to anyone who has felt like the outdoors wasn’t designed for them. Today, what we’re saying with this trail is: this place is also for you."

— Elizabeth Gardner, FOBCNWR Board President, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, March 27, 2026

Since the trail opened, we’ve seen this vision come to life. On a recent visit, a staff member observed an older couple making their way along the loop with a cane, a young family with children barely old enough to walk, and a motorcyclist who pulled over and sat quietly for a while, taking a break from the road. That is this trail working exactly as intended.

This Trail Is Medicine

Science backs up what most of us already know in our bones: time in nature is good for us. Research shows that spending just 20 minutes outdoors can significantly reduce stress hormone levels. The integration of mindfulness with time in natural environments leads to measurable cognitive restoration, lower anxiety, better sleep, and improved emotional resilience.

Elizabeth put it simply at the Ribbon Cutting: “This trail isn’t just a luxury. It is also medicine.”

That matters everywhere — but it matters especially in rural communities like the ones surrounding Bertram and the Texas Hill Country. Teens and families in rural areas face documented barriers to accessing mental healthcare. A free, accessible, beautiful outdoor wellness space in their backyard is not a small thing. 

Thank You to Our Funders and Partners

This trail exists because of the community. It took many hands, many hearts, and many generous partners to bring it to life.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service professionals at Balcones Canyonlands, who maintain this refuge season after season with dedication and care, were essential throughout. They ensure that the Shin Oak Observation deck is a beautiful viewing area, and that the surrounding habitat is ideal for the Black Capped Vireos. Additionally, the USFWS fire crew provided the critical trail clearing work to set the stage for the trail.

The Lago Vista Women’s Club provided a foundational $5,000 grant that made the essential early improvements possible: repairs and upgrades to the Observation Deck, planning and construction of the accessible loop path, expanded parking and the addition of restroom facilities — a critical amenity, since the nearest public restroom had previously been 2.5 miles away. The Women’s Club’s investment in Shin Oak reflects their deep commitment to this community and its connection to the natural world.

Athletic Brewing Co.’s Two for the Trails Foundation, administered through the Public Lands Alliance’s America’s Wildlife Refuges initiative, provided a $5,000 grant that took the project to the next level — funding the accessibility improvements, benches, and mindfulness signage that define the trail experience today. Balcones Canyonlands is proud to be one of two pilot sites in the National Mindfulness Trails Network at Wildlife Refuges, alongside Stewart B. McKinney NWR in Connecticut. Athletic Brewing’s commitment to connecting people to the health benefits of spending time in nature is beautifully embodied in this trail, and their drinks were raised in celebration at the Ribbon Cutting.

And the Good Water Master Naturalists — who showed up in May 2025 and laid the crushed granite that makes this loop accessible to everyone — contributed an estimated $7,000+ in volunteer labor, and more than that in community spirit.

Elizabeth closed the Ribbon Cutting with a poem by Martha Postlewaite, and her words carry the spirit of this whole project:

“Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. Only then will you know how to give yourself to this world, so worthy of rescue.”

— Martha Postlethwaite, “Clearing” (read by Elizabeth Gardner, March 27, 2026)

Come Find Your Clearing

Shin Oak Observation Deck is located at 24518 Ranch Rd 1431, Marble Falls, TX 78654, near Bertram, TX — about an hour northwest of Austin. The site, one of four Public Sites, is open to the public and free to visit, Sunrise to Sunset, 365 days a year. No membership, no special equipment. Just show up.

Whether you come for the birds, the peace, or simply because you need somewhere to breathe — welcome. This place is for you.

To learn more about Friends of Balcones Canyonlands NWR and to partner with us in supporting the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, visit friendsofbalcones.org