Edith L Moore Nature Sanctuary

I went last Saturday for a tour of the park with friends. Our tour guide was Jo who did an excellent job showing us around. I was not only impressed with her knowledge but also her delivery of facts and information which was well done. The tour took about 45 minutes and included going through the cabin and following the trails through the lush vegetation. The cabin can be rented out for functions. It also contained bot live animals and skeletons.
Walking through the park you see many different types of trees and plants along with birds and other wildlife. A bayou flows through the property that adds to its scenic beauty. One tip is if it is a sunny day you won’t need sunglasses. The overhead trees and vegetation provide a lot of shade. If it is a dark and cloudy day it can actually be dark in some parts of the park.
Both adults and children will enjoy visiting here. I parked next to the church and entered the park there. There was plenty of parking available. I believe the suggested donation for a tour is $ 2 per person which is well worth it and probably be scheduled in advance.
If you want to get out of the city for an hour or two and experience country life, this is your place. I recommend!

Hmmm… I have very mixed feelings about this place. I so want to love it. I grew up in the «country» and after 10 years of big city livin’ in Houston, I love to find these gems in the area. I was excited to check out this hidden treasure after reading the reviews.
I don’t know if my expectations were just too high, but I wasn’t that impressed. While the property/​park is nicely hidden and a little inner-​city sanctuary, I kept thinking to myself how easily city folks are amused if they consider this a big deal. First off, this is totally out of the parks control, but there was a very large amount of litter in the creek, creek bank area. I know, it’s the slobby people that ruin this, but it was a little overwhelming to me.
We spent about two hours exploring the various paths. My little nature lover was really hoping to see a snake — or at least something besides a squirrel. No such luck!
The plus side is there were very few people there at the same time, so we basically had the park to ourselves.

This place is surprisingly cool! Lots of beautiful nature close in to the city. The log home is pretty cool too. Worth a stop by if you are in the area. They occasionally have story telling nights, which is really fun!

Right in the middle of the city there is this wonderful sanctuary and it’s FREE!
First note that it is pretty hard to locate off of Memorial. The hidden entrance is just a block off Memorial on Wlichester. Look to your left for the little entrance sign. Parking is limited but we were there on a Monday afternoon and seemed to be the only ones around. I understand there is additional parking on the church parking lot that backs up to it as well.
There’s 17.5 acres of trails to explore. I got a bit turned around a few times and the maps available on the trail weren’t a lot of help. But I had a compass on my smartphone and finally wound my way back to the cabin. There are a lot of nice benches to plop down on along the trials too.
On many of those trail signs you will find a list of some of the plants among which you are walking. I’m not big on what plants are what, so that was a nice touch.
Along the trails we found many rabbits, squirrels, turtles in the ponds and some water birds in the creek that runs through the property. Up near the cabin was where a lot of the bird action was happening. Many new birds to add to my life list and I can only imagine how many more songbirds we’ll see when the Spring migration brings them through the sanctuary. On the side of the cabin they keep a list of sightings from other birders who popped by to check them out.
Once the bugs start coming back out I highly advise bug spray if you go. Bring binoculars and wear comfy shoes. No bikes, pets on a leash only and I would not recommend strollers but if you are determined to bring them don’t head off on the little side trails. They can get narrow and bumpy.
The cabin stays locked but I understand they have classes in there occasionally. And the board up by the main bird feeders has a lot of info on those and the property.
What a lovely place to escape the city noise and hustle. I certainly will frequent this spot more often. Seriously, why would you not want to come here and sit and eat your lunch or read a book or hide from the world?

4 ½ stars. The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is my family’s favorite place to hike in Houston. It’s a beautiful, clean, quiet 17.5 acre park with diverse flora, fauna, & scenery. This includes mixed wooded areas & clearings punctuated by rickety wooden bridges that kids love running across; a few man-​made ponds; gardens, & a 1930s log cabin & dairy barn. It’s located just southwest of Memorial Dr. & Rt. 8, & is open 365 days a year. Access is FREE.
In contrast to the Arboretum, who’s trails are buried in dense vegetation, the Sanctuary’s main trail is high-​enough above the creek to afford views of the surrounding area, making it an excellent place for wildlife-​spotting, birding, & casual hiking. It’s also comparatively less bug-​ridden than the Arboretum.
The main trail is an easy ~1 mile long loop, accessible for all, & clearly signed throughout. There are benches & a few tree stands scattered around the circuit, which are great for reading or quiet contemplation, as well as for wildlife spotting, birding, or taking in the scenery. Biking is prohibited. Dogs must be kept leashed. Lightweight strollers can easily be used on the trail.
The Sanctuary is tricky to find. The main entrance is on Wilchester Blvd., a small residential street off Memorial Dr., just west of the traffic light at Brittmoore & over the bridge. The turn off (on left-​hand side of Wilchester when coming from Memorial) is marked with a wooden «Houston Audubon» sign. Parking is just beyond. Alternatively, there’s a second entrance on the west side of the Memorial Drive United Methodist Church parking lot. Visitor parking is available right near the gate. Parking is plentiful near both entrances.
Wildlife abounds at at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary – we’ve seen turtles, frogs, pike, mosquito fish, heron, green anole lizards, raccoon, mourning doves, cardinals, woodpeckers, & various songbirds & butterflies – lovely wildflowers too. Antiquated but legible signs show basic line drawings of common animal tracks (inc. bobcat, coyote, & skunk), trees, birds, vines, & freshwater wildlife.
The sanctuary’s focal point is the log cabin, built by former owners Edith & Jesse Moore in 1932. This is the only remaining in-​situ log cabin in Houston, & is a designated state historical site. It’s been nicely restored & is definitely worth a look, but be aware that it’s normally kept locked when not in use for classes, meetings, or events. The barn just beyond houses the Houston Audubon Society’s offices. For more info on the Moores’ homestead, visit:
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See the Sanctuary’s website for more info on events, including evening Owl Prowls, a Halloween night hike, nature walks, birding walks, a PK junior ed club, an after school nature club, a summer camp, school programs, & field trips.
In short, the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary is a charming old-​time rural retreat that offers plenty to do in a blissfully calm sylvan setting. A true oasis hidden within an affluent suburban Houston subdivision. Still reading? What are you waiting for? Scram! Go take a hike!

I love nature and with this park being a nature sanctuary, I definitely love it. It’s a true treasure. The entrance can be a little tricky to find but once found, you’ll not want to leave.
The sanctuary is peaceful and lovely and full of the beautiful wildlife that is sorely missed in city life. There are all kinds of adorable critters to be seen of the fur and winged varieties as well as insects. There are rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, glimpse a raccoon or armadillo, turtles, frogs and water fowl. You may also see owls, the occasional hawk, many songbirds and migratory birds during migration season. Actually this is a great bird sanctuary and any birder will enjoy visiting here.
Butterflies and moths and their caterpillars abound here along with many other six-​legged friends and even some eight-​legged ones. It’s nice to observe them in their own habitat. It’s even better to spot species that are not seen everyday.
A renovated log cabin is located within that is also an educational facility. It is a wonderful learning opportunity for kids and adults alike. This is a very good outing for kids not only for education but for appreciation and care of nature.
The trails are a pleasant walk and the benches along the creek provide a tranquil resting place to take in the beauty and serenity of this sanctuary. We always enjoy this place and come away more relaxed and happy every time we visit.

Admittedly we love the outdoors and this review may have been a different experience if we had gone in the heat of summer however this past weekend it was cool and sunny weather so it was perfect. Although the address is correct there is a better entrance at the Methodist Church next door (refer to photo of entrance) which can be clearly seen from the parking lot. The place albeit small does have some very interesting trails and is heavily wooded (which you’d have no idea given Memorial drive is right next to it). There is bridge that goes over a stream and even a historic wood lodge house to be found. Overall makes for a great stroll so highly recommend.

Imagine the Arboretum but more secluded. Even though the Arboretum is a paradise lost in the city the Audubon is a real oasis. It’s set in the middle of a neighborhood but stretches out for acres.
It’s FREE and a bird watcher’s paradise. There is all kinds of wildlife to be seen, and if you’re just wanting to walk there are plenty of paths for strolling and enjoying the outdoors. WIth Houston’s Fall/​Winter around the corner this is great spot to take in the good months in town.

I definitely agree that the entrance is hard to find — it took me three tries! (That’s three separate occasions of hunting.)
However, I’m glad that I finally found it. During my walks here, I’ve seen rabbits, something that looked chipmunk-​like, all sorts of birds, and many different types of butterflies. Despite the fact that the trails back up to busy roads and a school, the paths are quiet. It’s a nice place to lose yourself for a while.
The trails are peppered with benches that overlook the creek, so bring a book and get some fresh-​ish air. Don’t get locked in, though — the gates close kind of early.

Per their website:
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The Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in West Houston is a 17.5 acre wooded sanctuary along Rummel Creek with a restored log cabin that houses a variety of education programs reaching out into Houston and surrounding areas. Open to the public 365 days a year, it also contains Houston Audubon administrative offices.
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Situated around one of Buffalo Bayou’s tributaries, the «Bird Sanctuary», as it is known locally, is a wonderfully serene place to go. Kids love it because it is chock full of the rich bio-​diversity that can be found in the green belts that snake their way through Houston’s urban landscape. There are birds galore: owls, woodpeckers and a host of other species. You can also find snakes, turtles, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, armadillos and opossums running around in their natural setting.
It’s a great place to take family pictures, its trails can provide a brief immersion into nature and help soothe nerves frayed by life’s hectic pace, and the log cabin can be used for parties. One of the coolest activities the Sanctuary provides are evening «owl prowls» where flashlight-​toting groups go out onto the trails playing recordings of screech owl calls. If you’re lucky, you can have a close encounter with this little bird who blends into the well-​forested area very well.
The only thing that makes me sad when I spend time here is the amount of trash that accumulates around Rummel Creek. It’s dumped into the creek upstream and is carried into the sanctuary where it serves as a reminder of how little regard we have for the environment around us.
The entrance is hard to find: it’s a nondescript gravel drive accessed from a road in the subdivision. There is also a gate to the grounds from the West parking lot of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church which borders the property. The gates are open from dawn to dusk.