Boulder Canyon Nature Area

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The Boulder Canyon Nature Area is a nature preserve located in Vestavia Hills on U.S. Highway 31 near Round Hill Road.

The Nature Area began as 13 acres donated to the city in 1962 for use as a bird sanctuary by Hortense and Isadore Pizitz. It now covers 20 acres of forest and the Patton Creek watershed. Some portions of the area belong to Vestavia Hills City Schools, including the land around the stream's waterfall.

The first trail through the property was cut in 1989 near Vestavia Hills Elementary Central School by fifth-grade Cub Scout Barney Wilburn. Others cut additional trails and made improvements through the 1990s. In 2006, four Eagle Scout projects took place in the Nature Area, including the addition of a footbridge over the creek, trail signage, benches, and stone steps. Currently there are entrances to the property on Round Hill Road and close to Merry Fox Lane and Elementary Central.

In 2009, a new Vestavia Hills Public Library opened adjacent to the canyon. The building is ecologically-friendly and includes outdoor learning pavillions and its own trail system.

References

  • Goodman, Troy (November 23, 2006) "Vestavia Hills singing happy trails for nature." Birmingham News