Headwaters Sanctuary's Labyrinth at UIW - San Antonio, TX
N 29° 27.966 W 098° 28.206
14R E 551379 N 3259744
A small labyrinth is found at the entrance onto the St. Brigid's Path of the Headwaters Sanctuary from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) campus.
Waymark Code: WM1249K
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/24/2020
Views: 4
The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is a private collage that was founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1881 on acreage formerly owned by George W. Brackenridge. The Headwaters Sanctuary is a nature preserve of 53 acres (also owned by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word) that is adjacent to the UIW property. Part of the Headwaters Sanctuary branch off into two narrow strips of land that protrude into the UIW campus to include the main natural spring, known as the Blue Hole, which is the headwater source of the San Antonio River and to include a drainage ditch or creek along which a 600 year old oak tree grows. By agreement between the managers of the Headwaters Sanctuary and the directors of UIW, the public is granted access to both the UIW campus and the Headwaters Sanctuary in order to visit the Sanctuary's features like the ancient tree or the source spring of the San Antonio River, or access onto the acreage of the sanctuary lands. The parking on campus is restricted for student's use during the week days, but on weekends the parking near the Headwaters Sanctuary is free to the public. The free parking for the sanctuary access is not conveniently close to where this labyrinth is found, but there are easy walking paths that are part of the trails in the sanctuary that guests can follow to get to the sites desired, including this labyrinth.
NOTE: The labyrinth is not near the Trailhead of the Headwaters Sanctuary's parking area allowed by UIW or the Heritage Loop Trail. But, following the walking trails is the easiest way to get to the labyrinth without wandering around the whole campus looking for the end of the Path.
This small labyrinth is formed by rocks of the native limestone in this area of San Antonio, TX. The entrance into the labyrinth is accessed from the St. Brigid's Path, which forms one of the fingers of land that goes into the UIW campus, but is technically land owned by the Headwaters Sanctuary. A link to a map of the seven trails within the Headwaters Sanctuary is provided below. Follow the Heritage Loop Trail to the Great Oak Trail, to the St. Brigid's Trail, and finally, continue on to the St. Brigid's Path. At the far end of the St. Brigid's Path is found the labyrinth. The path ends several yards past the place of meditation wit two benches and the dark stone marker with the Prayer to St. Brigid enscribed on it. Past the tree a few yard is the end of the Path where the college campus begins.
The labyrinth's entrance is beside a large oak tree that has a large cavity in its main trunk. Within the cavity is a painted plywood sign with a symbol painted on it and the words: "A Naoimh Bhrid, qui ordain." The labyrinth is in a classic circular shape that wends around itself until you reach the center point. To return you can rework the path back to the beginning or you can step over the rocks and return to St. Brigid's Path in a few short steps.
Link to biography of George W. Brackenridge:
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visit link)
Link to the Headwaters Sanctuary's Trail System:
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visit link)