Wildcat Bluff Nature Center
Just a few minutes from downtown Amarillo is a place to step out of the daily routine and imagine a different time. More than 600 acres of rolling grasslands are threaded with nature trails offering a sense of isolation and tranquility. Discover delicate wildflowers amidst knee-high grasses, huge cottonwoods, and a magnificent bluff. Slow down enough to spot a horned lizard cross the trail, a hawk circling overhead, or a quail's nest hidden beneath a bush. Picture the native people who camped here for centuries before settlers came through on their westward trek.
There is a place where you can reconnect with the timeless rhythm of the natural world and ponder the impact of civilization. At the same time, consider whether your great grandchildren will be able to experience first hand these same wonders of nature.
The place is Wildcat Bluff Nature Center. Named by early cowboys for a den of wildcats that lived under the bluff, it is also the site of a branch of the historic Gregg-Marcy Wagon Trail from Santa Fe to Fort Smith where wagon ruts are still visible today. It is a place of inspiration, a place for people to embrace the spirit of the land by exploring the natural magic of the Texas Panhandle.
Custom Tours - For those who are interested in a specialized tour such as birding, deer watching, insect hunting, plants or even historic sites and photography opportunities we can organize a custom tour for individuals and groups. Group size ls limited to ten individuals age 12 and older. Cost is $10.00 per person for guests and half price for members. There is a minimum charge of $25.00 if the group is less than five people. These tours usually begin just before sunrise and average 2-3 hours in duration depending on your requirements.
Custom Tours may be reserved for just about any day of the week depending on our schedule and must be reserved by 5pm the day before you want to go on the tour. Please use the Contact Us form on this site to state what type of tour you are interested in, and the number of people in your group. Leave a phone number if you want your reservation confirmed by phone or just wait for a confirmation via email.
Scheduled Tours - These tours are led by naturalists on scheduled dates and times. Scheduled Tours are available on Saturday mornings during warm months and at other times when appropriate for the season. All Scheduled Tours are listed in our Events Calendar. Cost per person is our normal Nature Trail Fee. Use our Contact Us form to reserve your place in a group. Some Scheduled Tours have a limit on the group size as listed for the tour.
Benefits - Since both types of tours are led by trained and experienced naturalists who are well acquainted with our wildlife and their habitats, you will be led to off-trail areas appropriate for the tour. Your guide will be able to train you how to be a better nature observer and help you better understand the natural world around you. Want to learn more? Just Ask!
Self Guided Tours
Visitor's Center and Nature Walks - Simply wander along the sidewalks around headquarters and Libbs Trail to see a small representation in five acres of many of the plants and some of the animals who live on the rest of our 640 acres of wildlife preserve along our designated nature trails. See photographs and information about our residents and the history of our land in the Visitor's Center. Want more detailed information? Use our research library of guides and books to learn more about the natural world in our region. If you are interested in helping us collect observational data, we have several observation report forms available for our citizen scientists!
Published Self Guided Tours - We are currently developing planned Self Guided Tours. Each tour contains a map and specified locations where we feature some of our plants, animals, geology and history.. Each location has a number corresponding to a marker at a physical location, brief description, GPS coordinates and a QR code and a URL for more detailed information on this web site. You can also help us document observational information about each location by filling out a simple report on the tour brochure. Tour brochures are available in the Visitor's Center.
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