Waco Mammoth Is a Free Walk in the Woods, Mammoths Aside

The fossils get the headlines, but Waco Mammoth National Monument is also a good place to walk. The grounds cover about 108 acres of bottomland woods along the Bosque River. Five short trails fan out from the trailhead, including Eagle Trail, Deer Loop, and Honey Locust.

The trails feel different from the dig shelter. Outside, you are in living Central Texas habitat along the same river corridor that once drew Columbian mammoths. Today it is songbirds, roadrunners, and quiet shade. The walking is gentle enough for kids and grandparents.

The guided shelter tour has its own rules, but the trails and grounds are free to wander. The monument is run by the National Park Service, the City of Waco, and Baylor University.