Pearsall Park is located on the southwestern side of San Antonio, Texas. The park has many outstanding amenities for those seeking fun in the sun. In fact, Pearsall Park promotes improved health and activity among families in the Alamo City. Most amenities are enjoyable and capable of making you move more.
Things to Do at Pearsall Park in San Antonio, TX
- Cool off in the largest splash-pad in San Antonio
- Grab your board and hit the largest skate park in San Antonio
- Play in multiple areas around the splash-pad
- Eat at the pavilion, or one of the picnic areas
- Walk your dog
- Bring your furry friend to the dog park
- Walk or bike the 1.5 mile paved trail which crosses no roadways
- Play disc golf
- Use the kids zip-line
- Use the outdoor basketball courts
- Climb the hills for exercise, or take in views of San Antonio
From the list of amenities you can tell Pearsall Park is geared toward families. In fact, it may be the best park to take your family in San Antonio. If I were a kid, I would love nearly everything this park has to offer. However, it’s not the best park with hiking in mind. There is a shaded loop trail and short stretch of the Leon Creek Greenway. The total distance is less than three miles even though Pearsall Park is larger than 500 acres.
How to Get to Pearsall Park in San Antonio
Address: 4838 Old Pearsall Rd, San Antonio, TX 78242
Fees: None
Hours of operation: 6am – 11pm
You can access everything from Old Pearsall Road. Pearsall Park is just south of Lackland Airforce Base, and Military Drive. If heading south from Military Drive, you will come to the trailhead entrance first, the playground second, and the dog park third. Each entrance will be on your left.
If coming from the direction of I-410, the order will be reversed and the entrances will be on your right. I expected there to be a few more park entrances after seeing the size of Pearsall Park, but was unable to see any on the road or map.
The Splash-Pad
No matter which direction you come from, the splash pad will be the second entrance and is the most popular aspect of Pearsall Park. I admit, the splash pad is a sight to behold, offering hours of fun to the children of San Antonio. Sadly, I am no longer a kid and dogs are not allowed.
The View from Pearsall Park
We headed up one of the hills north of the splash pad. The morning sun was already beating down on us and there are no trees around to provide shade. There was one piece of art on the hill providing shade to its picnic table. We stopped there to get a photo of Abbey on another one of her dog friendly adventures.
My better half asked where downtown San Antonio is located. I pointed at the Tower of the Americas, but could hardly see it beyond another tower. There is a much better view of the water tower at Lackland. Downtown San Antonio is difficult to see in a photo, but you should be able to spot it in the distance. If not, you can always bring binoculars!
The Zip Line
As we headed west, I continued to look for the zip-line I heard about. I expected to see one tower connected to another atop the hills. People would be flying from one to another having the time of their lives.
I couldn’t see it because it did not exist. The zip-line at Pearsall Park is nothing more than a kiddie activity. It’s approximately six feet high and 15 feet long. The clothesline-like appearance was a bit of a letdown, but kids probably find it enjoyable.
The Dog Park
After passing the splash-pad and continuing west, we stopped at a fountain for water. We hiked up another hill beyond the skatepark to find Pearsall Dog Park. The distance is only about a quarter of a mile, but the lack of shade was a concern. We found the dog park after coming downhill. The dog park was the real draw for us because we visit as many as possible.
I already wrote about this dog park in another article and will not go into much detail here. We used the dog friendly fountains and some of the obstacles. The park is incredibly green, although much of it is unshaded. We met a husky pup before we left the park. We love huskies!
After a march through the sunlight and briefly playing in the dog park, Abbey was in need of some A/C. We returned to the car which I had parked near the splash-pad. We rehydrated, cranked the A/C and drove over to the trailhead.
Pearsall Park Trailhead
Once we got onto the trail, we knew we would not be hiking too far. The concrete walkway would be too hot for Abbey’s paws. The Leon Creek Greenway is not well-shaded, and will be uncomfortable in the hot sun. However, there is a half-mile loop trail nearby that offers some shade. The loop was easy and did not offer much to see, but at least it has shade.
We returned to the car after hiking the loop because Abbey wasn’t going to handle much more heat. Unfortunately, we did not get to venture down the Leon Creek Greenway. The trail appeared far too open and may be better to walk in the winter.
A Free Park with Fun Activities
Most of the amenities at Pearsall Park are primarily geared toward children. There is plenty of room to roam, and enough things to do for most of the day. The park is greater than 500 acres, but doesn’t have much in the way of trails. Most of the park is dog friendly, but there isn’t much shade.
Pearsall Park is great for families and children, but may not be great for everyone. It’s a great place to go if you are trying to have fun with your kids, or make exercise more enjoyable. Some kids may even liken it to a water park. It has a nice dog park, but isn’t one of the best places in San Antonio to hike with your dog.
If you are interested in dog friendly hiking, wooded trails and zip lines, Pearsall Park may be disappointing. However, the splash-pad, playground, skate park, sports fields and hills will appeal to many residents nearby. Pearsall Park has a tiny theme park feel, and the best part is the cost. It’s free! If only I were a kid again Pearsall Park, what fun we could have.
