Garth Nature Area

About Garth Nature Area

Garth Nature area has 1.6 miles of gravel trails around the wetlands, a fenced leash-free dog park, restroom, and is a trailhead for the Bear Creek Trail. An abundance of birds and other wetlands wildlife make the wetland trails an interesting walk. Trail users can travel west on the Bear Creek Trail from Garth Nature Area to Cosmo Park (2.5 miles) or travel east on the Bear Creek Trail from Garth Nature Area to Albert-Oakland Park (2.3 miles).

A gravel trail loops from Bear Creek Trail to the north encircling a wetland area. The north wetlands loop trail is 0.5 miles in length. The distance between points where the wetlands loop leaves and re-connects to the main trail is an additional 0.2 mile making the total loop 0.7 miles in length. From the parking lot around the north wetland trail and back is 1.1 miles.

The fenced, 3-acre leash-free area for dogs encompasses a pond and has picnic tables on site.

Park amenities

Dog – leash free area

The 3-acre dog park at Garth Nature Area is fenced all around and has a pond and picnic tables. Parking is available and a port-a-pot is on site. Dog owners may also enjoy taking their dogs on leash for a walk on the 1.6 miles of wetland trails nearby or getting on the 4.8-mile Bear Creek Trail

Read more about our dog parks and leash free areas.

Features

  • Approximately 3-acres with pond
  • Dog wash station
  • Drinking fountain with pet bowl (not available during winter months)
  • Fenced

Outdoors

Parking  (40 spaces, includes 2 ADA)

Picnic areas

Restrooms (open year-round)

 Trails

Park history

This area was constructed in 2006/2007 and funded by a Recreational Trails Grant in the amount of $42,000 and $28,000 from the Park Sales Tax. Another $14,400 funded by the Park Sales Tax was used to construct the fenced leash-free area for dogs.

The site of the Garth Nature Area was initially used as a sewage treatment facility for the City of Columbia.  A portion of the trail in the nature area was developed from an access road to the old wastewater lagoons. One of the former lagoons was transformed into a wetlands located in the north portion of the nature area.

Park dedication

Capital improvement projects and council items

year completed project description council items
2007 Garth Nature Area Improvements:  Trail, wetlands, signage, and dog park  View Council Item
2009 Park Lot Expansion View Council Item
2015 New Trailhead Restroom View Council Item