Falcon State Park (Blog Hike #1109)

Trails: Roadrunner, Verdin, Desert, Woodlands, and Whitebrush Trails
Hike Location: Falcon State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Roma, TX (26.58277, -99.14269)
Length: 2.8 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: A sunny desert-like loop around a peninsula in Falcon Reservoir.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/falcon
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 15, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: Northwest of Roma, take US 83 to FM 2098.  Drive FM 2098 to FM 2098 Spur, then continue north on FM 2098 Spur, which dead-ends at the park entrance.  Pay the entrance fee, and park in the parking lot beside the park entrance station.

The hike: Straddling the United States/Mexico border nearly 150 miles upstream from the Gulf, 83,654 acre Falcon International Reservoir is the largest lake shared by the United States and Mexico.  The lake was formed in 1953 by the construction of Falcon Dam, which provides flood control, water for irrigation, and hydroelectricity to the Rio Grande valley.  The dam is maintained and administered by the International Boundary and Water Commission, an organization established in 1889 by international treaty between the United States and Mexico.  The lake and dam are named for the submerged town of Falcon, which in turn was named for Maria Rita de la Garza Falcon, an early Spanish settler in the area.

            Perched at the southern end of the huge reservoir is 576-acre Falcon State Park, which occupies a peninsula that juts northwest into the reservoir.  Land for the park was leased by the State of Texas from the International Boundary and Water Commission in 1949 before it was purchased in 1974.  Fishing is a major activity at the lake and the park, and the park also offers 3 developed campground for a total of 98 sites, some picnic shelters, and a boat ramp.  For hikers, the park offers 5 short trails, and combining those trails forms the round-the-park hike described here.

Start of Roadrunner Trail at park entrance station

            There are several places where you could start this hike, but I chose to start at the entrance station because it is easy to find and, of course, close to the park entrance.  Head south from the entrance station to find the signed start of the Roadrunner Nature Trail.  The wide and dusty Roadrunner Nature Trail descends moderately and curves right to begin heading west through shrubby/grassy terrain with a few mesquite trees.  At 0.2 miles, the trail levels out, and the rest of this hike has only minor undulations until you get to the very end.

Hiking the Roadrunner Trail

            At 0.55 miles, you reach an unmarked trail intersection.  The shortest loop goes right here, but unsure of which way to go I angled left and made my hike a little longer then necessary.  Either option takes you to the park road that accesses the Roadrunner Campground, and in either case you want to continue west from that road to begin the Verdin Trail, the second leg of our loop.

Hiking the Verdin Trail

            The Verdin Trail passes through more shrubby/grassy desert scenery, and this was a hot and sunny desert-like hike on the near 90-degree mid-February day that I came here.  Near 1 mile into the hike, you reach a sequence of picnic shelters.  Some of these shelters offer nice views west across Falcon Reservoir into Mexico, and all of them offer welcome shade on a sunny day.  This part of the trail also passes through the parking lot that serves these picnic shelters; this parking lot is an alternate starting point for this hike.

View across Falcon Reservoir from picnic shelter

            At 1.35 miles, you reach the end of the Verdin Trail where it intersects the boat dock access road.  Angle right and climb slightly to begin the Desert Nature Trail.  Quickly you reach the Black Bass Campground Loop, where you need to turn right to stay on the Desert Trail, soon crossing the Black Bass Campground access road.  Again, this intersection is not signed, and a trail map can be very helpful even though this hike's route forms a single loop.

Hiking the Woodlands Trail

            1.8 miles into the hike, you reach another unsigned trail intersection.  Turn left to continue our loop, now on the Woodlands Trail.  True to its name, the Woodlands Trail features more and larger mesquite trees.  Nevertheless, this hike maintains its dusty desert feel.  I saw a roadrunner on this part of the trail even though wildlife was not plentiful when I came here at midday.  A steep hill descends to the left to reach the reservoir, but no further reservoir views emerge.

Hiking the Whitebrush Trail

            At 2.3 miles, you reach the end of the Woodlands Trail, where you need to angle left to begin the Whitebrush Trail, the final leg of our loop.  The Whitebrush Trail passes through more of the same desert scenery, but the mesquite trees are thin enough that you can see the park's entrance station ahead and to the right well before you get there.  A brief ascent over a rocky area returns you to the entrance station to complete the hike.

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (Blog Hike #1108)

Trails: Rio Grande, Tram Road, and Resaca Vieja Trails
Hike Location: Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Mission, TX (26.18550, -98.37944)
Length: 4.1 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: A barbell-shaped hike through flat mesquite forest.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/bentsen-rio-grande-valley
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: On the west side of Mission, take I-2 to US 83 BUS (exit 134).  Exit and go west on US 83 BUS.  Drive US 83 BUS west 1.5 miles to FM 2062 and turn left on FM 2062.  The parking lot is 2.4 miles ahead on the left.

The hike: For my introduction to the World Birding Center and the lower Rio Grande valley's collection of Texas state parks, see my hike at nearby Resaca de la Palma State Park.  Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is the western-most of the 3 Texas state parks in the lower Rio Grande valley, and this hike is the final of the 3 hikes I did in those parks.  The park came to be in 1944 when Lloyd Bentsen Sr. and his wife Edna Bentsen, parents of the long-time United States Senator and one-time candidate for Vice President Lloyd Bentsen Jr., donated 586 acres to the Texas Parks Board.  That donation stipulated that the park bear the name it does today.  The park opened to the public in 1962, making it the oldest of the 3 lower Rio Grande valley state parks.

            Like every park in the lower Rio Grande valley, birding takes center stage here.  The park has only a primitive campground for lodging; the park's developed campground closed permanently in 2004.  Private vehicles are allowed only in the Visitor Center parking lot, and a tram that runs along the 3.8 mile tram road provides access to the park's hiking trails.  The hike described here uses a walk on the tram road to connect the park's 2 longest hiking trails.  While this hike does not pass the park's best birding area, it is the best option in this park for a hike of significant distance.

Trailhead for Rio Grande Trail

            To avoid a long road walk at the beginning or end of your hike, I recommend riding the tram to the first trailhead.  Board the tram at the Visitor Center, and ride it to the southeast corner of the tram road loop and the trailhead for the Rio Grande Trail.  From the signs that mark the trailhead, the wide dirt/gravel trail heads south and quickly splits to form its loop.  I turned right and used the left arm as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.

Mesquite forest on Rio Grande Trail

            The entire Rio Grande Trail passes through sparse mesquite forest with a dense grassy understory; this will be a hot and sunny hike for most of the year.  The land is persistently flat, and the never-changing scenery makes for a somewhat boring hike.  The bird viewing is decent but not as good as at La Parida Banco in the northwest part of the park.  I saw a wild turkey and some vultures in addition to some common small birds such as cardinals and mourning doves when I hiked here.

Hawk-viewing platform

            This park lies flush against the Rio Grande and the Mexican border, and Border Patrol activity in the park is common even though all was calm on my visit.  Despite this trail's name, the Rio Grande never comes into sight on this hike.  At 1.65 miles, you reach the spur trail that leads to the hawk-viewing platform, which is probably the best view on this hike.  The platform overlooks El Morillo Banco, an oxbow lake that was dry on my visit.  I did see a couple of hawks on my hike, but the real hawk-viewing occurs during mating season in April, not mid-February when I came here.

El Morillo Banco

            Past the hawk-viewing platform, you quickly close the loop and return to the tram road.  You could wait for the tram to take you to the next trailhead, or if you get impatient as I did, you can walk north on the tram road and turn right at each intersection.  0.9 miles of road walking later, you reach the trailhead for the Resaca Vieja Trail on the right.  A blue/green sign board with a park map greets you at this trailhead.

Start of Resaca Vieja Trail

            The Resaca Vieja Trail heads east on another wide two-track dirt/gravel trail.  The mesquite forest along this trail is denser and therefore the understory less grassy than what you saw on the Rio Grande Trail.  Numbered posts indicate the presence of an interpretive guide, but none were available at the trailhead.  Where the trail splits to form its loop, I angled softly right to hike the loop counterclockwise.

Resaca Vieja

            At 3.3 miles (including the road walk in the middle), you reach an overlook of the old resaca.  Resaca is the Spanish word for oxbow lake, of which the lower Rio Grande valley has many.  Most of these resacas are dry for most of the year, and this old oxbow lake is no exception.  The loop continues through very flat terrain, and the dense mesquite forest prevents you from seeing many birds.  Just past 4 miles, you close the loop.  Turn right to head back to the tram road, and then either ride the tram or walk 0.5 miles along the tram road to return to the Visitor Center and complete the hike.

Estero Llano Grande State Park (Blog Hike #1107)

Trails: Wader's, Spoonbill, Alligator Lake, Llano Grande Trails et. al.
Hike Location: Estero Llano Grande State Park
Geographic Location: south of Weslaco, TX (26.12711, -97.95808)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: A loop with many water vistas and bird-viewing opportunities.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/estero-llano-grande
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 4, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: In extreme south Texas, take I-2 to FM 1015 (exit 160).  Exit and go south on FM 1015.  Drive FM 1015 south 2.2 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in the only lot.

The hike: For my introduction to the World Birding Center and the lower Rio Grande valley's collection of Texas state parks, see my hike at nearby Resaca de la Palma State Park.  At only 230 acres, Estero Llano Grande State Park is the smallest of the lower Rio Grande valley's 3 state parks, but it is actually my favorite of the 3 because it has the most water and therefore the most wildlife.  The park was formed by assembling multiple pieces of land including some old farm land and an old trailer park; it opened in 2006.

            Like all of the lower Rio Grande valley's parks, bird watching takes center stage at Estero Llano Grande State Park.  The park has only a group lodge for lodging, and it offers only a Visitor Center and some picnic shelters for facilities.  For hikers and birders, the park offers 6 trails, but all 6 of the park's trails measure less than 1.5 miles long.  Because this park packs a large number of short trails into a small area, any route through the trail system will pass through many trail intersections with many route decisions to be made; picking up a trail map at the Visitor Center is advised.  This hike forms a grand loop around the park's central area while passing all of the park's best bird-watching spots, thus featuring the best this park has to offer.

Heading east from the Visitor Center

            After walking in the entrance trail from the parking lot to the Visitor Center, continue east to begin the Wader's Trail, which passes through a narrow strip of shrubby land with Ibis Pond on the right and a dry drainage canal on the left.  At 0.2 miles, turn right to head south on the Spoonbill Trail as it crosses Ibis Pond on a boardwalk.  Immediately the birding and wildlife show begins.  I did not see any spoonbills or ibis in this pond on the warm but windy early February day when I came here, but I did see some ducks and cormorants.

Boardwalk at Ibis Pond

            At the next 4 intersections, turn left, right, left, and left again to begin heading north on the east arm of the Wader's Trail.  Dowitcher Pond sits to your left now, and those long-billed wading birds would be common sights in this pond.  While I did not see any dowitchers here, I did see a large number of egrets.  At 0.7 miles, turn right twice to cross a drainage canal that was dry on my visit, following signs for Alligator Lake.

Egret

            0.85 miles into the hike, turn left to hike the short spur trail to the main overlook at Alligator Lake.  I saw several young alligators here in addition to many egrets.  A small picnic shelter stands in this area, and its shade will be welcome on a warm sunny south Texas day.

Small alligator in Alligator Lake

            Retrace your steps out the spur trail, then turn left to continue south.  Just shy of 1.2 miles, you climb the levee to reach the Llano Grande Hiking Trail, a two-track gravel linear trail that runs along the top of the levee.  Turn right to head southwest on the Llano Grande Hiking Trail, which is the most exposed trail in this park.  The levee's elevation gives nice views across Llano Grande Lake to the south, but you will need binoculars to see wildlife in the water: it is a decent distance away.

Hiking atop the levee

            After hiking less than 1000 feet on the Llano Grande Hiking Trail, turn right to descend from the levee, then turn left at the next 2 intersections to head around the south side of Ibis Pond on the Wader's Trail.  Turn left twice more to arrive at the Scissortail Loop, the Becard Trail, and my favorite bird blind in this park.  This blind overlooks an area of dense shrubs, and I saw many birds here including a bronzed cowbird and several redwinged blackbirds.  This blind is a popular spot, but the popularity is warranted.  Sit here awhile and see what birds you can see.

Hiking through the old trailer park

Hiking the Green Jay Nature Trail

            Continue west on the Becard Trail, then turn right to head north on the Tyrannulet Trail.  All of the trails in this part of the park are laid out in a grid formation and are paved with asphalt: this is the old trailer park I mentioned in the introduction.  Exit the old trailer park area to the north by passing the park's butterfly garden, then turn left to hike one last short loop: the Green Jay Nature Trail.  This narrow trail passes through dense woodlands, and I saw many more common songbirds here even though I did not see the regionally famous bird for which this trail is named.  After finishing the Green Jay Trail, head back out the entrance trail to the parking lot to finish the hike.

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (Blog Hike #1106)

Trails: Mexican Line and American Line Trails
Hike Location: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Brownsville, TX (26.01538, -97.47966)
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: An out-and-back through an 1846 Mexican-American War battlefield.
Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/paal/index.htm
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 9, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: Northwest of Brownsville, take I-169 to Paredes Line Road.  Exit and go north on Paredes Line Rd.  The signed park entrance is on the right in 0.2 miles.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 is an oft-forgotten page of American history.  The war had its roots in the Texas Revolution of 1835-36, which left 2 disputes between Texas and Mexico unresolved.  First, although the newly-formed Republic of Texas governed more or less autonomously, Mexico never formally recognized Texas' independence from Mexico.  Second, a boundary dispute arose with Texas claiming the Rio Grande as the Texas/Mexico boundary and Mexico claiming the more northerly Neuces River.

            When the United States admitted Texas as its newest state in 1845, those Texas/Mexico disputes became American/Mexico disputes.  The Mexican-American War was fought to settle those disputes.  The war lasted only 2 years, the Americans won a decisive victory, most of the present-day American southwest was ceded to the United States, and the Rio Grande was established as the official border between the United States and Mexico.  The Mexican-American War was also a stepping stone to the American Civil War: slavery was supposed to be illegal in all newly acquired American land, but it was allowed to continue in some of the land acquired via this war.

            One of the first battles in the Mexican-American War was the Battle of Palo Alto, which occurred just north of the Rio Grande near the Gulf coast on May 8, 1846.  American General Zachary Taylor was ordered to march his troops all the way south to the Rio Grande, a move Mexico viewed as an incursion into Mexican territory.  Mexico dispatched General Mariano Arista to engage Taylor, and they first clashed on the prairies known as Palo Alto.

            Due to the flat prairie terrain and the long cordgrass and cactuses that made movement difficult, neither side wanted to risk large losses by charging the other side, so the battle came down to an exchange of cannon fire.  Because the Americans possessed newer and bigger cannons, most of their cannon shots hit their Mexican targets, while most of the shots from Mexico's older and smaller cannons fell short of the American line.  Tired of playing the you-can-hit-me but I-can't-hit-you-game, Arista withdrew his army to nearby Resaca de la Palma at the end of the day.  While the Battle of Palo Alto was only a minor American victory, it set up the Battle of Resaca de la Palma the next day in which Taylor's men stormed the Mexican fort and won decisively.  The Battle of Resaca de la Palma effectively ended all major Mexican military operations north of the Rio Grande.

            Today both battlefields are preserved as Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, which was established in 1978.  An excellent Visitor Center tells the story of the battles, but only the first battlefield has significant hiking trails.  This hike uses every trail at the park, and it is a great way to explore one of the few sites in the United States that preserves Mexican-American War history.

Leaving the Visitor Center

            From the back of the Visitor Center, pick up the concrete trail as it heads northeast past the small picnic area toward the battlefield.  Interpretive signs describe the battle and the people who fought here.  All of this land is pretty flat, but there is no shade almost anywhere on this short hike.  This battlefield sits at the same latitude as south Florida, so this will be a warm and sunny hike on all but the coolest days of the year.

Approaching the battlefield

            At 0.4 miles, you reach a trail intersection with options going straight, left, and right.  The option going left leads to an overflow parking area, but we will go both of the other 2 directions eventually.  For now, turn right to begin the Mexican Line Trail.  True to its name, this concrete trail heads east along the line where Mexican troops were stationed during the battle.

Mexican cannon

Looking north across the battlefield

            As you approach the east end of the Mexican Line Trail, you reach an area with blue Mexican cannons and Mexican flags whipping in the breeze.  If you turn to your left and look north, you will see the battlefield the way the Mexicans saw it.  The American flag in the distance marks the American line; you will be there in a few minutes.  As you look at all of the tall wiry cordgrass and sticky prickly pear cactuses between you and the American flag, you start to see why this battle became a battle of cannon fire as opposed to running and charging: I know I don't want to run through that prairie!

View from battlefield overlook

            When you reach the end of the Mexican Line Trail, backtrack to the previous intersection, then turn right to head for the American Line.  On your way to the American line, you pass through the battlefield overlook pavilion, which is located atop a small knoll.  The overlook provides a nice view of the battlefield, but its roof also provides the only shade available on this hike.  I enjoyed the seating and shade this overlook provided when I hiked here on a warm sunny afternoon in early February.

American cannon

            Continuing north past the overlook, begin the American Line Trail and reach the American line just shy of 1.1 miles.  A simple visual inspection reveals how much newer and bigger these cannons are compared to the ones you saw on the Mexican line, but some interpretive signs give you more details.  The American line is the north end of the trail and of the battlefield.  Retrace your steps past the battlefield overlook and the Mexican Line Trail to return to the Visitor Center and complete the hike.

Resaca de la Palma State Park: Tram Road to Wildlife Viewing Platforms (Blog Hike #1105)

Trails: Tram Road, Mesquite, Mexican Olive, Fly Catcher, and Ebony Trails
Hike Location: Resaca de la Palma State Park
Geographic Location: northwest of Brownsville, TX (25.99577, -97.56897)
Length: 4.7 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: A loop hike passing all 5 of this park's wildlife viewing platforms.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/resaca-de-la-palma
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 1, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: Northwest of Brownsville, take I-69E to FM 1732 (exit 9).  Exit and go west on FM 1732.  Drive FM 1732 west 2.5 miles to New Carmen Avenue and turn left on New Carmen Ave.  The signed park entrance is 1.4 miles ahead on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in the large parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Located in the lower Rio Grande valley just northwest of Brownsville, Resaca de la Palma State Park is the southernmost state park in Texas.  9 parks in the lower Rio Grande valley, including all 3 of the region's state parks, combine to form an official area called the World Birding Center.  Indeed, birding is one of the most popular activities throughout south Texas' lower Rio Grande valley: birds that mostly reside in Central and South America come to south Texas but to nowhere else in the United States.  During my February 2026 hiking trip to the lower Rio Grande valley, I hiked in all 3 of the region's state parks, starting with this one.  I enjoyed the birding and wildlife viewing all 3 of these parks have to offer.

            The winding Rio Grande left many resacas, which is Spanish for oxbow lakes, as its course changed over time, and those resacas give this park its name.  This parkland first opened to the public in 1977 as a Texas Wildlife Management Area, and it was converted to a state park in 2008.  True to its birding and wildlife history, Resaca de la Palma State Park is heavy on nature and light on amenities.  The park is open for day-use only, and it features only a Visitor Center, picnic area, and a tram road for amenities.  The park does offer 5 wildlife viewing platforms that overlook the resacas, and my goal on this hike was to visit all 5 of those platforms, thus doing the best wildlife viewing this park has to offer.

            The wildlife viewing platforms are reached by hiking the short bird watching trails that are connected by the 2.8 mile paved tram road loop.  Private vehicles are allowed nowhere in the park except the Visitor Center parking lot.  Thus, to see anything at this park, you will have to either rent or bring a bike, ride the tram, or hike.  The tram was not running on the day I came here (it only runs seasonally), so I ended up hiking the tram road to get from one short birding trail to the next.  Such is the design of this hike.

Start of the tram road

            2 of the 5 wildlife viewing platforms are accessed by the short Ebony Trail, which starts near the Visitor Center.  You could hike that trail either at the beginning or at the end of this hike; I chose to do it at the end.  To start this hike, I headed down the asphalt tram road where it starts to the left (north) of the Visitor Center, thus heading clockwise around the tram road's loop.

Dry resaca near the tram road

            At 0.3 miles, the tram road crosses the resaca on a bridge.  Looking into the resaca here will give you your first hint as to how much wildlife viewing you will be doing on this hike.  The water in the resaca is what attracts the wildlife, so if the resaca is dry, as it was when I came here in early February and is most of the time, your wildlife viewing will be limited.  In spite of the dry resaca, I still saw an armadillo, some cardinals, a green jay, some vultures, and a hawk when I came here.

Start of Mesquite Trail

            At 0.5 miles, where the road curves sharply right, get off of the road for awhile by continuing straight to start the Mesquite Trail.  True to its name, the Mesquite Trail follows a wide dusty track lined with mesquite bushes and a grassy understory.  Almost all of this hike is in at least partial sun, and this will be a hot and sunny hike in the summer with water available nowhere except the Visitor Center.

Hiking the Mesquite Trail

            Just past 1 mile, you reach a trail intersection where the Mesquite Trail continues straight.  To head for the first wildlife viewing platform, turn left to begin the Mexican Olive Trail.  When you reach the next intersection at 1.4 miles, turn left to quickly arrive at the first wildlife viewing platform.  All of these wooden platforms overlook the resaca, so your wildlife viewing fortunes will depend on the water levels.  Even if you don't see any wildlife, the bench at the platform makes a great shady place to sit, rest, and rehydrate.

1st Wildlife observation platform

            To continue, backtrack to the previous intersection, then continue straight to get back to the tram road at a tram stop with some nice picnic tables.  Continue straight across the tram road to hike the short Kiskadee Trail and reach the 2nd wildlife observation platform at 1.8 miles; it offers a view similar to the first platform.  Next backtrack to the tram road, then turn right to walk south 0.4 miles on the tram road to reach the Flycatcher Trail.  Turn left on the Flycatcher Trail to head for the 3rd observation platform.

View from 2nd wildlife observation platform

            Just shy of 2.5 miles, turn left to begin the Hog Trail.  This short spur trail ends at the 3rd wildlife observation platform just past 2.6 miles.  The view from this platform is similar to the first 2.  Next backtrack to the tram road, then continue straight to stay on the Flycatcher Trail.  Staying on the Flycatcher Trail allows you to both avoid another segment of the tram road and cut through the middle of the tram road's loop.

View from 3rd wildlife viewing platform

            At 3.2 miles, you intersect the west side of the tram road; another tram stop with some nice shady benches is located here.  At this point, you cannot delay walking a long segment of the tram road any further: the only option without significantly extending this hike is to turn right and walk north on the asphalt tram road.  The tram road was a warm and sunny hike on the mild day I came here in early February, but the expansive grassland/savannah offers nice scenery and potentially offers good wildlife viewing.  I saw the hawk I mentioned above while walking the tram road.

Hiking the tram road

            At 4.3 miles, you get back to the Visitor Center.  All that remains to complete your visits to this park's wildlife viewing platforms is to hike the short Ebony Trail, which takes you through a dense mature ebony-anacua forest.  The denseness of this forest makes off-trail travel difficult for us today just as it did for Spanish explorers in the 1500s, and it is one reason the lower Rio Grande valley was sparsely settled for a long time.

View from final wildlife observation platform

            The final 2 wildlife observation platforms sit only a couple hundred feet from each other.  You reach them at 4.5 miles, and they offer final views across the resaca.  Retrace your steps to the Visitor Center to complete the hike.

Padre Island National Seashore: Grasslands Nature Trail (Blog Hike #1104)

Trail: Grasslands Nature Trail
Hike Location: Padre Island National Seashore
Geographic Location: south of Corpus Christi, TX (27.47255, -97.28633)
Length: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: 0/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: A short, flat, asphalt loop through grass-covered sand dunes.
Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 26, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: On the north end of Padre Island, take Park Road 22 south to the national seashore entrance.  Pay the entrance fee, and look for the roadside parking area for the Grasslands Nature Trail on the right just inside the entrance station.  Park here.

The hike: At 113 miles in total length, Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world, and it is also one of the most popular vacation and recreation destinations on the entire 367-mile Texas Gulf Coast.  Despite the City of Corpus Christi at its north end and the City of South Padre Island at its south end, most of the island is sparsely populated and undeveloped.  The island is named for Father Jose Nicolas Balli, who owned the island in the early 1800s and started several Catholic missions in south Texas.

            Today the core central 70 miles of Padre Island are protected as Padre Island National Seashore, which was established in 1962.  The national seashore's main attraction is its 65.5 miles of Gulf beach, all but 4 miles of which are open to 4-wheel drive vehicles.  True to the island's character, the national seashore is lightly developed: its amenities include only a Visitor Center and 2 small campgrounds with a total of 82 sites.

            A good time at Padre Island National Seashore can still be had by people without a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  The Visitor Center offers stairs leading down to the beach, and you will definitely want to visit this beach: it is my favorite beach on the entire Texas Gulf Coast.  Also, the parking lot for the Grasslands Nature Trail is located on the paved main park road just inside the park entrance station, which makes it a popular add-on before or after a day at the beach.  This trail forms the only hiking option in the national seashore (except for the beach, of course), and it offers a short, flat, and easy introduction to the barrier island's grasslands.

Trailhead for Grasslands Nature Trail

            From the roadside parking area, pick up the asphalt trail as it heads northwest into the grasslands.  A shelter with an information board that introduces you to the grasslands habitat stands at the trailhead.  Very quickly the trail splits to form its loop.  For no particular reason, I turned right and used the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.

Hiking through the grasslands

            The asphalt trail continues north on a meandering course through the grasslands.  Other than a few benches under small wooden shelters, there is no shade anywhere on this hike.  Fortunately, the close proximity of the Gulf somewhat moderates the south Texas heat, and a nice breeze is often present.  Bluestem is the most common grass in these grasslands, but blazing star, mistflower, and globe sedge also appear.  As you approach the north end of the loop, Laguna Madre and the Texas mainland can be seen across the grasslands ahead and to the right.

Heading into the dunes

Hiking along the dunes

            At 0.5 miles, the trail curves left and heads into the dunes portion of the hike.  The trail remains rather flat, but grass-covered dunes rise 20 feet high on the right.  These dunes add some interesting depth and vertical scenery to what is otherwise a very flat landscape.  At 0.8 miles, you close the loop, and only a short walk remains to finish the hike.  If you haven't already done so, make sure you take the short drive down to the Visitor Center and check out Padre Island's beach.

Padre Island beach

Lake Corpus Christi State Park (Blog Hike #1103)

Trails: Longhorn, Catfish Point, and Kiskadee Trails
Hike Location: Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Geographic Location: west of Mathis, TX (28.05877, -97.88200)
Length: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2026
Overview: A barbell-shaped hike with views of Lake Corpus Christi, a bird blind, and the old CCC refectory.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-corpus-christi
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 20, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: Between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, take I-37 to SR 359 (exit 36).  Exit and go west on SR 359.  Drive SR 359 west 6 miles to Park Road 25 and turn right on Park Road 25.  The entrance to Lake Corpus Christi State Park is 1.5 miles ahead on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, then follow signs to the CCC Pavilion, where this hike begins.

The hike: Located about 40 miles northwest of Corpus Christi, 21,000-acre Lake Corpus Christi was formed by damming the Neuces River, a waterway with a much bigger role in Texas and American history than most people realize.  After the Texas Revolution of 1835-36 formed the more or less autonomous Republic of Texas, a boundary dispute with Mexico, their former government, emerged.  Texas claimed that the Texas/Mexico boundary was the Rio Grande, while Mexico claimed it was the more northerly Neuces River that flows through this park.  After Texas joined the United States in 1845, the United States and Mexico fought the Mexican-American War in part to settle this dispute.  The war lasted only 2 years, the Americans won a decisive victory, and the Rio Grande was established as the official border between the United States and Mexico.

            Lake Corpus Christi itself has its own interesting history.  The La Fruita Dam was built on this part of the Neuces River in 1929, but that dam failed less than a year after it was built.  In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal provided money for the dam to be rebuilt, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked here in 1934 and 1935 to build the park.  By the 1940s, the lake was silting in at an alarming rate, and a new and larger dam was completed in 1958.

            Today Lake Corpus Christi State Park is one of the best state parks in south Texas.  In addition to activities on the lake, the park offers a 108-site developed campground, some picnic areas, and 3 hiking trails.  The hike described here uses every trail in the park, and it offers a nice combination of wildlife viewing, lake scenery, and CCC history.  I wasn't sure I would be impressed by this park when I drove in, but I had a pleasant hike on the Saturday morning I came here.

CCC refectory

            There are several places from which you could start this hike; I started at the old CCC pavilion/refectory.  Either before or after your hike, you will want to check out the beautiful stone refectory.  A stone stairway takes you up to an observation platform that provides a fantastic southwest view across Lake Corpus Christi.  This would be a great place to watch a sunset, but the view is nice any time of day.

Refectory observation platform

Trailhead for Longhorn Trail

            When you are ready to start the hike, head northeast across the park road for the signed start of the Longhorn Trail.  The Longhorn Trail forms a horseshoe-shaped route through the western part of the park, and a colorful sign with a trail map marks the trailhead.  The dirt Longhorn Trail heads northeast through dense shrubby forest with some juniper and a dense grassy understory.  The short stubby trees provide little shade, making for a hot and sunny hike.

Hiking the Longhorn Trail

            At 0.2 miles, you pass the picnic shelter area restroom building and cross a park road.  0.3 miles into the hike, you cross a campground access road as the trail angles right through a sunny grassy area before heading back into the woods.  There are a few larger trees in this part of the park, but this hike remained mostly warm and sunny on the 80-degree morning in early February that I hiked here.

Larger trees on Longhorn Trail

            Just past 0.6 miles, you cross the main park entrance road, after which the trail curves right again.  At 0.85 miles, you reach the south end of the Longhorn Trail at another signed trailhead near the entrance to the Catfish Cove Campground.  To continue this hike, turn left to begin the Catfish Point Trail, the start of which is marked by another colorful trailhead sign.

Start of Catfish Point Trail

            The Catfish Point Trail forms a lollipop loop around its namesake point, and quickly you reach the fork that forms the loop.  As directed by some wooden signs, I turned right and used the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.  The trail traces a meandering course over mostly level terrain; the difference between maximum and minimum elevations on this hike is only about 40 feet.  Some interpretive signs identify common plants in the shrubby forest.

Lake Corpus Christi, as seen from Catfish Point

            At 1.3 miles, you reach the Catfish Point Trail's best lake view: a southeast facing view that looks downstream toward the dam that forms Lake Corpus Christi.  Some benches offer nice places to sit, rest, and enjoy the scenery.  More winding brings you to the close of the loop at 1.8 miles.  Angle right twice to retrace your steps along the Longhorn Trail back to the picnic shelter area restroom building.

Green jay at birding area

            At the restroom building, angle softly right to begin the short Kiskadee Trail, which takes you through the park's birding area.  Birding is a popular activity in south Texas: birds common to Central and South America can be seen here but nowhere else in the United States.  I took my time going through the birding area, and I saw the regionally famous green jay in addition to the more common cardinal, mourning dove, redwinged blackbird, starling, and woodpecker.  The Kiskadee Trail deposits you on the park road near the CCC refectory, thus marking the end of the hike.