Gold Canyon Park is a small wooded area with a great view and a loop trail. This is the perfect place to take a quick hike with your dog in one of the many San Antonio parks. Gold Canyon is directly north of Mud Creek Park and Loop 1604, on the far north side of San Antonio, Texas.
How to Get to Gold Canyon Park in San Antonio, TX
Address: 18402 Corporate Woods Dr, San Antonio, TX 78259
Hours of operation: Open from sunrise to sunset
You will find the entrance to the park off Corporate Woods Drive. Access that road from the Loop 1604 westbound frontage road, or by driving north on Redland Road and making a couple of right turns. You can enter the park any time between sunrise and sunset.
The parking lot is small, but usually uncrowded, and you may find the gate shut after hours. Gold Canyon is dog friendly, but remember to do your duty after your dog does his. Once in awhile it seems like people believe in the dog poop fairy at this park.
Gold Canyon Park Amenities
- Walk your dog
- Sit at the overlook
- Hike or bike a few short nature trails
- Trail run the hill on the north side for a good workout
- Visit the couch in the woods
Gold Canyon Overlook
One of the best parts about Gold Canyon Park is the overlook at the top of the loop trail because it provides a great view of the park below. For a more colorful view visit the park in the fall or springtime. After you enjoy the view, follow the path and loop trail which runs through the woods.
If you walk to the right of the trail map the handicap accessible path will lead steadily downhill. For some reason, the final section of this path is made of mulch instead of concrete. I’m not sure if the developers did this purposefully, or if funds ran low. There is a dry, rocky creek and a steep hill along this section of the trail which may provide a reason.
At the overlook where the loop begins you will notice the path on the right side. However, the overlook blocks the view of the mulch trail to the left. For this reason, most people probably begin the loop heading down the concrete path on the right side. This is what we have done every time we have visited the park. Perhaps we will go left next time!
Gold Canyon Loop Trail
As you head down the path you will also be going down in terms of elevation. There is a consistent drop as the trail winds through the wooded area of Gold Canyon. The surroundings are peaceful and quiet for the most part.
However, we hear barking dogs in nearby subdivisions on occasion. Abbey was startled by this the first couple of times we hiked here, but she’s grown used to ignoring it. Neighborhoods surround Gold Canyon on most sides. We normally see at least one pack of deer as they escape our presence in the park.
Adventurous Nature Trails
The path is a loop, but you may notice a few off-shooting trails. Take some time to adventure and you may find something you did not expect. For example, we saw a couch! You could see anything on these nature trails.
Perhaps people live out here? How did they get this couch out here? We have no idea! We did not see anyone else hiking, biking, or relaxing in the woods. To get back to the overlook you will need to return to the loop, but it’s unlikely to get lost in the woods.
About 2/3rds of the way around the loop you will notice the concrete ends and the mulch begins. The mulch path is easy to navigate, but there is a steep hill which brings you back up to the overlook. If you use a wheelchair, you will most likely have to turn around where the concrete ends. Additionally, the trip back will be a consistent incline and may be much more difficult to navigate.
A Great Hike for Beginners
The Gold Canyon Park trail is perfect for beginners because it’s short and very easy to navigate. I tracked 1,680 steps during one trip around the loop. This is very short in comparison to some San Antonio Parks. Another good thing about the park is that you can simply go around the loop again. Abbey never minds the additional lap around the loop at this dog friendly park!
If you are looking for a short hike with an easy walk and a great view, Gold Canyon Park will not be disappointing. Furthermore, this park has off-shoot trail options for extra adventuring. If you prefer more challenging natural trails, checkout Mud Creek Park which is a nearby neighbor. Let us know if you visited Gold Canyon, and what you saw on your adventure!
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