Balcones Canyonlands Preserve shapes the west side of Travis County

That long green break on the west side of Travis County is not vacant land waiting its turn. The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve covers more than 33,000 acres, about 50 square miles, in more than 140 tracts. Created in 1996, it is managed in perpetuity as preserve land, not as a future subdivision map.

Habitat is the point. The preserve was built for eight endangered species, including the golden-cheeked warbler, the black-capped vireo, and six karst invertebrates. The vireo came off the federal endangered list in 2018, but the preserve still carries habitat for that rare bird, seven species that remain endangered, and 27 species of concern.

Public access is real, just limited. About 3,500 acres are open on regular terms, with familiar names such as Hamilton Pool, Wild Basin Preserve, Barton Creek Greenbelt, Emma Long Park, and Westcave Preserve. Other tracts take a guided hike or a volunteer day; Travis County and its partners run more than 500 guided hikes each year.