The Remote Hike Through Cullinan Park Winds Through A Forest Grove, Boardwalk, And Abandoned Graveyard
By Katie Lawrence|Published March 24, 2020
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Who doesn’t love the opportunity to get some fresh air, especially when it involves a history lesson? At Cullinan Park in Sugar Land, you can hike through towering groves of trees to a cemetery dating to the 1850s. Bring the whole family and leave feeling rejuvenated with nature and knowledge.
Spanning 750 acres, Cullinan Park offers a much-needed escape from big city life. Round up the whole family and come enjoy a full day of hiking, picnicking, fishing, birding, and other outdoor activities.
An easy, 2.9-mile trail winds through the park, traversing an extremely diverse landscape. Lush grasslands, towering trees, and bodies of water that glisten in the sunlight make each step an entirely new adventure.
Two lakes encourage hikers to pause and revel in the blissful stillness. As the leaves rustle and a gentle current pushes the stream along, a wave of peace will wash over you, as well.
Eventually, you'll come upon a second grove of trees with a boardwalk stretching through them. Embark on this fairytale footbridge and step into an enchanted forest in which the magic is palpable.
Keep trekking along, and the landscape opens up into a breathtaking waterfront scene. It's an almost meditative experience to watch ducks swimming along as other birds fly overhead. You might even see a few alligators!
Taking a side trail leads you to Hodges Bend Cemetery, the land for which was granted to Alexander Hodge by Stephen F. Austin in 1828. You'll see about 75 graves, with most of the headstones dating back to the 1850s.
Nobody has been buried here since 1942, but many of the headstones are still fully legible. A large percentage are descendants of Hodge and other early settlers.
