Written by Rex Vogel, RVing with Rex explores North America one meaningful place at a time through destination guides, history, slow travel, and thoughtful storytelling. Drawing on years of RV travel and firsthand experience, the site helps readers move beyond simply seeing places to truly experiencing them.
Birding in the Rio Grande Valley isn’t something you schedule around RV life—it’s something that unfolds right alongside it. From riverbank forests to coastal wetlands, the Valley’s wild corridors invite RV travelers to slow down, follow the land, and discover birds where daily routines and restored nature naturally intersect.
Birding in the Rio Grande Valley doesn’t feel like chasing birds—it feels like settling into their neighborhood. For RV travelers, that’s part of the appeal. You aren’t racing between distant trailheads or fighting for parking; instead, you move at your own pace across a landscape where restored habitat sits side-by-side with citrus groves, small towns, and RV parks that fill with familiar faces each winter.
After exploring how the Valley was transformed and partially restored in the first article (The Rio Grande Valley: How the Land Was Changed—and Why It Matters Today), it’s easy to see why this region has become a world-class destination for birders: much of what you’re seeing is the result of careful restoration paired with accessible public spaces.
Follow the Rio Grande and you’ll find subtropical riparian forests where green jays, Altamira orioles, great kiskadees, and plain chachalacas thrive. Follow the resacas and wetlands and flocks of waterfowl, waders, and migratory songbirds are easy to observe. Follow the Gulf Coast and estuarine marshes and tidal flats offer rare coastal species like roseate spoonbills and black skimmers.
Each corridor reveals a different side of the region’s subtropical character—and all of them are within easy reach from a central RV base, letting you plan your days with minimal driving and maximum wildlife encounters.
For RVers, the Valley offers a unique rhythm. Mornings can be spent wandering shaded trails through restored brushlands, afternoons photographing herons or hummingbirds along wetlands, and evenings relaxing at the RV park with neighbors who share your passion for nature.
In this article, I’ll explore the network of World Birding Center sites and National Wildlife Refuges that make these experiences possible highlighting what to see, where to park your rig, and how to make the most of each corridor without ever feeling rushed.
For most RVers, birding in the Valley starts near the Rio Grande itself. This narrow ribbon of water once supported vast forests and wetlands and today it anchors many of the region’s best birding sites.
Bentsen–Rio Grande Valley State Park, the headquarters of the World Birding Center, is often the first stop—and for good reason. Well-maintained trails wind through restored brushland and resaca wetlands, and feeding stations bring birds into close view. Green jays, Altamira orioles, plain chachalacas, and long-billed thrashers are everyday sights here even for first-time visitors.
Estero Llano Grande State Park protects seasonal wetlands and thornscrub habitat that attract a wide variety of resident and migratory birds from herons and egrets to warblers and wintering waterfowl. Its accessible trails and observation decks make it one of the most rewarding stops for RVers who want close encounters with wildlife.
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge preserves one of the largest remaining tracts of subtropical woodland and wetlands along the Rio Grande. Its well-maintained trails and observation areas make it a prime spot for spotting green jays, Altamira orioles, olive sparrows, and a variety of migratory birds—all within easy reach for RV travelers exploring the river corridor.
Just down the road, Resaca de la Palma State Park offers a different river experience. Built around a former channel of the Rio Grande, the park feels quieter and less enclosed. Dense vegetation hugs the water’s edge and bird activity is constant but subtle—perfect for slow walks and patient observation.
The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse adds a historical layer to the experience. Once part of the irrigation system that transformed the Valley, it now sits surrounded by restored habitat. For RVers, it’s a reminder that the same water that made farming possible is also what sustains the Valley’s wildlife.
One of the Rio Grande Valley’s delightful surprises is how much birding can happen right in town. Several World Birding Center sites are embedded within urban landscapes making it easy for RV travelers to combine daily routines with time on the trail. These pockets of restored habitat demonstrate that nature isn’t confined to remote preserves—it can thrive alongside city streets, shopping centers, and residential neighborhoods.
Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen is a striking example. This historic adobe mansion is surrounded by lush subtropical gardens that feel almost improbable amid the bustle of the city. For RVers, it’s a convenient stop between errands, appointments, or social commitments. Step inside the gates and the noise of traffic fades; green jays, Altamira orioles, and hummingbirds immediately take center stage. Benches and shaded trails make it easy to linger whether for a quick hour or a leisurely afternoon.
Similarly, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands shows how quickly wildlife returns when water and native plants are restored even in an urban setting. Wading birds, waterfowl, and seasonal migrants respond to shallow ponds and carefully designed wetland vegetation offering easy observation along level, accessible trails. For RVers hosting visiting friends or family, it’s an ideal introduction to Valley birding—short, accessible walks with high wildlife visibility and educational signage.
These urban oases also illustrate a unique advantage for RV travelers: you can park and step into a thriving ecosystem within minutes. Many RV parks in Edinburg, Pharr, Alamo, or Mercedes put these urban birding sites within easy reach allowing you to enjoy morning walks, return for lunch or errands, and still have time to explore additional corridors later in the day. In fact, visiting multiple urban and suburban sites in a single day is often easier in the Valley than in many traditional birding destinations making it possible to see both rare tropical species and common migrants without long drives or complicated logistics.
Not every Rio Grande Valley birding site is bustling. Some of the most rewarding experiences await those willing to drive a little farther or linger a little longer. These quieter corners offer space, solitude, and the sense of stepping into a natural world largely untouched by city life.
The Roma Bluffs World Birding Center perched high above the Rio Grande is a prime example. Its elevated trails and observation decks provide sweeping river views and during migration seasons, warblers, flycatchers, and raptors drift through the skies. The relative solitude makes every sighting feel earned—like a personal reward for venturing off the beaten path. For RVers, Roma Bluffs is a convenient day trip from nearby Alamo or Mission RV parks offering a chance to combine scenic drives with birding without long-distance planning.
Similarly, the Harlingen Arroyo Colorado World Birding Center follows a calm waterway through wetlands and riparian forest. This serene corridor is particularly productive for waterbirds and wintering species yet it often goes unnoticed by casual visitors. For RVers who favor quiet trails and slower exploration, it’s an ideal spot to spend a morning or afternoon. Nearby Harlingen RV parks provide easy access so you can park your rig, stretch your legs along the trail, and return without fuss or long drives.
These quieter sites demonstrate the Valley’s diversity: from bustling urban oases to peaceful river bluffs and hidden wetlands, there’s a birding experience for every pace. And for RV travelers, the combination of accessibility, parking convenience, and thoughtful restoration makes planning a day of multiple stops surprisingly simple and highly rewarding.
As RVers travel east toward the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley’s landscape—and its birdlife—transforms. Freshwater resacas and subtropical woodlands give way to brackish wetlands, tidal flats, and open coastal prairies offering a completely different set of species and scenery.
At the Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, elevated boardwalks cross freshwater wetlands just minutes from the Gulf of America. Here, roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, shorebirds, and seasonal raptors gather in open light that photographers adore. The combination of accessible trails, observation decks, and nearby full-service RV parks on South Padre Island makes this site ideal for a day trip or a longer coastal stay. For RVers, it’s a chance to swap subtropical brush for expansive water views all while staying comfortably in a well-equipped park.
Farther north, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge opens onto expansive coastal prairies and tidal flats. The scale is grander, the skies feel wider, and birds like oystercatchers, wintering waterfowl, and soaring raptors dominate the scene. This coastal environment offers a striking contrast to the intimate, densely vegetated brushland parks along the river highlighting the Valley’s ecological diversity in a single journey. RV travelers can easily combine inland and coastal stops planning multi-day itineraries that showcase everything from raucous chachalacas to flamboyant roseate spoonbills.
For those following the Valley’s birding corridors, the transition from freshwater to salt air illustrates a larger truth: the Rio Grande Valley is a mosaic of habitats, each restored and maintained to allow both wildlife and people to thrive. For RVers, it’s not just a series of destinations—it’s a living, evolving landscape you can explore at your own pace.
What makes the Rio Grande Valley especially appealing to RV travelers is how naturally birding fits into daily life. Trails are short, terrain is flat, and most sites are designed for casual visits as much as all-day outings. You can bird in the morning, return to your RV for lunch, and head out again in the late afternoon when activity peaks.
Many RVers arrive planning to stay a week or two—and end up extending their visit. The birds change with the seasons, the light shifts, and familiar trails reveal something new each time. It’s a rhythm that blends exploration, relaxation, and connection to the landscape.
In the final article of this series, I’ll explore why RVers keep coming back to the Rio Grande Valley year after year—examining the RV parks, local communities, daily routines, and the subtle pull of a place where restored nature and a long-stay lifestyle exist in harmony.
Enjoyed this article? Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.
What looks today like a calm patchwork of farms, towns, and wildlife refuges along the Rio Grande hides a far more dramatic story beneath the surface. Understanding how this land was reshaped—and why parts of it are now being carefully restored—reveals why the Rio Grande Valley has become one of the most rewarding places in Texas for birders, RV travelers, and long-stay winter visitors alike.
This three-part series explores how a once-wild river landscape was transformed by agriculture and settlement, how much of it has since been reclaimed through conservation and restoration, and why today the Rio Grande Valley has become one of the most rewarding long-stay destinations for RVers—especially those drawn by birding, nature, and a way of life that keeps people coming back season after season.
Beneath this carefully managed surface lies one of the most dramatically altered—and increasingly restored—landscapes in Texas. Long before levees, irrigation canals, and international bridges reshaped the region, the Rio Grande wandered freely across a broad floodplain, carving oxbow lakes, feeding seasonal wetlands, and sustaining dense subtropical brush.
This river-driven ecosystem supported an extraordinary diversity of wildlife including tropical bird species found nowhere else in the United States. What today appears to be a finely tuned agricultural engine was once a tangled, vibrant corridor of thornscrub, palms, resacas, and riparian forest—alive with sound and motion.
The transformation of the Rio Grande Valley began in earnest in the late 1800s and early 1900s when large-scale irrigation reshaped both the land and the river. Engineers and farmers diverted water from the Rio Grande into an expanding network of canals, turning semi-arid floodplain into fertile ground. What had once been a wandering, seasonal river system became a regulated source of water that fueled rapid agricultural growth. Citrus groves soon spread across the Valley followed by sugarcane, cotton, and winter vegetables bound for markets across North America.
This new agricultural economy gave rise to towns, rail lines, and cross-border trade hubs permanently altering the region’s identity. Structures like the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse—once powered by massive steam engines—stand today as physical reminders of that era when controlling the river meant prosperity and survival. These early pumping stations helped lift water from the Rio Grande into canals that fed fields and orchards enabling farming at a scale previously unimaginable. For generations, the Valley’s prosperity was inseparable from its ability to tame and redirect the river.
But progress came at a cost. Vast stretches of native Tamaulipan Brushland were cleared to make way for crops and infrastructure while levees and flood-control projects confined the river to a narrow channel. Resacas were cut off from seasonal flooding, wetlands dried, and the complex mosaic of habitats that once supported wildlife began to disappear. By the late 20th century, less than five percent of the Valley’s original brushland remained—a staggering loss for one of North America’s most biologically rich ecosystems.
For wildlife, especially birds, the consequences were profound. Species that depended on dense thornscrub, riparian forests, and seasonal wetlands found themselves pushed into shrinking fragments of habitat. Many tropical birds that once moved freely along the river corridor survived only in isolated pockets setting the stage for the conservation and restoration efforts that would later redefine the Rio Grande Valley’s relationship with its natural landscape.
Ironically, the same climate and geography that turned the Rio Grande Valley into an agricultural powerhouse also made it irresistible to birds. Positioned at the crossroads of major migratory routes and warmed by a subtropical climate, the Valley offered food, water, and shelter to migrating species as well as tropical birds able to live here year-round. Even as farming expanded and native habitat disappeared, birds continued to return—following instincts older than irrigation canals and levees.
As natural landscapes were cleared, wildlife increasingly concentrated in what remained. Narrow ribbons of brush along the Rio Grande, oxbow lakes cut off from the main river, and undeveloped corners of farmland became biological lifelines. These overlooked fragments—often considered marginal or inconvenient for farming—quietly preserved species that had vanished from most of Texas. For birders today, many of the Valley’s most productive viewing areas are found in exactly these places where nature endured despite human reshaping of the land.
By the 1990s, conservationists and land managers recognized that without deliberate action even these remnant habitats would be lost. What followed was a shift in thinking: from controlling the river to working alongside it, from maximizing production to restoring balance. Former farmland and neglected river corridors became the focus of restoration giving rise to protected areas, wildlife refuges, and eventually the World Birding Center network. These efforts didn’t attempt to recreate a pristine past but rather to reconnect fragmented habitats and give wildlife room to recover.
For RV travelers, this history adds meaning to the experience of exploring the Valley today. The quiet trails, boardwalks, and shaded benches found in many birding sites sit on land that once powered irrigation pumps or grew citrus and sugarcane. When RVers leave their parks for a morning of birding, they are often stepping into landscapes that survived by accident—and were later saved by intention. This blend of recovery and accessibility is what makes the Rio Grande Valley unlike any other birding destination in the country.
What followed was not an attempt to return the Rio Grande Valley to some untouched past but a deliberate and practical effort to restore pieces of what once existed—while accepting that farms, towns, and highways were now permanent parts of the landscape. Rather than erasing agriculture, restoration focused on reclaiming strategic parcels of land: former fields along the river, abandoned citrus groves, and degraded wetlands that could once again support native plants and wildlife.
Public agencies, private landowners, and local communities worked together to replant Tamaulipan Brushland, reconnect resacas, and protect remaining wetlands. Over time, these individual projects began to link together forming a mosaic of protected spaces woven through a working agricultural region. This effort ultimately gave rise to state parks, national wildlife refuges, and the World Birding Center—a system designed not only to conserve habitat but to make it accessible to the public.
For RVers, this approach created something rare. Many modern RV parks sit on land that once grew citrus or vegetables yet a short drive—or even a bike ride—can place you in restored landscapes that feel surprisingly wild. These parks and refuges are not isolated destinations; they are part of a living, evolving Valley where conservation and everyday life exist side by side.
In the next article, I’ll explore how this restoration took shape on the ground through the World Birding Center and the National Wildlife Refuges that define birding in the Rio Grande Valley today.
Understanding this history changes how you experience the Rio Grande Valley. Those quiet trails through thornscrub aren’t just pleasant walks—they’re reclaimed ground. The green jays and Altamira orioles aren’t accidental sightings—they’re survivors. And the reason birding here feels so accessible is because restoration was paired with thoughtful public access.
It also explains why RVers return year after year. The Valley offers more than warm winters; it offers continuity. You can watch habitats mature, species reestablish, and landscapes slowly heal—one season at a time.
In the next article, I’ll explore how RV travelers experience this restored wildness firsthand following the Valley’s birding corridors from riverside forests to coastal wetlands.
Enjoyed this article? Share it with friends and your social network to inspire their next adventure!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.
Your RV-friendly road map to the South’s best winter birding hotspots
For the RVer, the changing seasons mean swapping snowy driveways for scenic winter RV parks and there is no better pursuit for the mobile adventurer than following the flyways south. The Southern United States not only offers a welcome escape from the frigid northern weather but also provides unparalleled access to world-class fall and winter birding often right from the doorstep of a comfortable campsite.
This region becomes a massive natural preserve during the cooler months hosting millions of migratory species from massive flocks of waterfowl to elusive, colorful warblers. Better yet, many of the best birding spots are tucked inside or right next to National Wildlife Refuges and State Parks that are wonderfully RV-friendly—so you can chase birds without sacrificing comfort.
The beauty of birding by RV is the flexibility to chase the best sightings. My selection of prime Southern spots focuses on destinations known for their dense bird populations and their excellent accommodations for RV travelers. You’ll find sites near the Gulf Coast where you can scan for thousands of wintering ducks and shorebirds with your morning coffee or parks in the interior South where you can hike miles of gentle trails looking for winter sparrows and raptors returning to your heated home-on-wheels at day’s end.
This is about more than just escaping the cold; it’s about positioning yourself in the heart of the action whether that’s near the legendary Whooping Cranes of the Texas coast or the countless waterbirds of Florida’s premier refuges.
This guide details six can’t-miss birding destinations across the Southern U.S. all chosen with the RV lifestyle in mind. From the ease of access to the incredible diversity of birds, these spots offer the ideal blend of adventure and convenience for the traveling birder. Get ready to hitch up, head south, and discover a spectacular winter world teeming with feathered friends proving that the best migratory route isn’t just for the birds—it’s for your RV, too.
The refuge is a prime destination for birdwatching, nature photography, hiking, and wildlife observation
Why RVers will love it: Aransas is the definitive Gulf Coast birding trip offering a world-class sighting—the endangered Whooping Crane—accessible via a famous 16-mile scenic auto tour. Camping is prohibited inside the refuge but the surrounding area is a haven of RV parks and nearby state parks (like Goose Island) that cater to Winter Texans. This means you can spend your day driving the refuge loop and climbing the observation towers then return to your comfortable home base just a short drive away.
Birding highlights (October to March)
Whooping crane: This is the prime wintering ground for the entire wild flock. The cranes typically arrive by late October and stay until mid-April. They are the tallest birds in North America and their snowy white plumage with black wingtips makes them an unforgettable sight. Look for them in the brackish marshes often visible from the observation decks and even the auto tour loop.
Waterfowl & raptors: As a major stop on the Central Flyway the refuge is flooded with waterfowl including Redhead ducks various teals (Blue-winged and Green-winged), Gadwalls, and Wigeons. Keep your binoculars pointed skyward for spectacular raptors like the White-tailed Kite and the impressive White-tailed Hawk soaring over the coastal prairie and oak savannahs.
Wading birds: Even in winter, the refuge’s marshes are full of color. Look for year-round residents like the vibrant Roseate Spoonbill, Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and the striking American White Pelican often seen feeding in large groups on the bay.
The refuge is located about 35 miles northeast of Rockport accessible via Highway 35 and FM 774. The refuge itself does not allow camping or overnight stays. However, the 16-mile scenic drive is perfectly suited for RVs to navigate during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).
The visitor center offers maps, restrooms, and updates on crane activity. The nearby coastal roads are generally RV-friendly—just drive cautiously as the wildlife tends to wander near the roadways.
Closest RV campgrounds
Goose Island State Park: Located near Rockport it offers water/electric sites with easy access to the bays for additional birding including chances to spot Whooping Cranes from the mainland or the park trails. It’s a fantastic state park option for those seeking a natural environment.
Rockport/Fulton area: The nearby towns of Rockport and Fulton are hubs for “Winter Texans” and feature dozens of private, full-service RV resorts (like the Rockport/Corpus Christi KOA Journey, Majestic RV Park, and Blue Lagoons RV Park) that provide excellent amenities and easy day-trip access to the refuge.
Pro-tip for RV birders: If you can’t spot the cranes from the auto tour or observation platforms book a Whooping Crane Boat Tour from nearby Rockport. These narrated excursions offer the best, least-intrusive way to view the cranes feeding on the protected refuge islands from the water.
2. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
The refuge is a vital sanctuary for migratory birds making it a prime spot for birdwatching especially during winter months
Why the RVer will love it: Nestled along Florida’s Atlantic Coast near Titusville, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge offers RVers the perfect blend of coastal scenery, abundant wildlife, and mild winter weather. Adjacent to Kennedy Space Center, it’s one of the few places where you can spot a bald eagle soaring above while a rocket launches in the distance. The scenic drives, quiet pullouts, and well-maintained visitor areas make it easy to explore at your own pace—and you’re never far from beaches, seafood shacks, or NASA history.
Birding highlights (October to March)
Winter is prime time at Merritt Island. From October through March the refuge teems with migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and waders escaping northern cold. Black Point Wildlife Drive is the refuge’s must-do loop offering close-up views of roseate spoonbills, reddish egrets, wood storks, American avocets, and flocks of pintails and teal. Keep an eye on the observation decks for Northern Harriers gliding over the marsh and the occasional peregrine falcon on the hunt. Painted buntings often visit feeders near the visitor center adding a splash of tropical color.
Merritt Island is an easy day trip from many RV-friendly spots along Florida’s Space Coast. The refuge has no camping within its boundaries but paved parking areas accommodate larger rigs for day visits. Titusville provides convenient grocery, fuel, and dump station options and you’ll find plenty of places to stretch your legs or picnic with a lagoon view. The scenic drive through the refuge can handle most RVs under 35 feet—just go slow, enjoy the wildlife, and watch for herons crossing the road.
Closest RV campgrounds
Manatee Hammock Campground (Titusville): County-run park with full hookups, shade, and views across the Indian River toward Kennedy Space Center.
Great Outdoors RV Resort (Titusville): A resort-style park with spacious sites, golf, pool, and nature trails—perfect for longer stays.
Jetty Park Campground (Port Canaveral): Beachfront camping about 40 minutes away with ocean breezes and cruise-ship watching.
Titusville/Kennedy Space Center KOA: Convenient, well-maintained park just minutes from the refuge.
Pro tip for RV birders
Arrive early—just after sunrise—to catch the best light and bird activity along Black Point Wildlife Drive. Bring a spotting scope or long lens for lagoon viewing and if you’re there in January or February time your visit around a rocket launch for an unforgettable pairing of natural and human flight.
3. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
The refuge is a winter home for migratory waterfowl particularly sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ducks
Why RVers will love it: Tucked along the Rio Grande in central New Mexico, Bosque del Apache feels like a peaceful desert oasis where wildlife takes center stage. For RVers, it offers easy access, wide-open views, and that unbeatable Southwest backdrop of sun-warmed mesas and golden cottonwoods. The refuge’s scenic loops are RV-friendly and the nearby town of Socorro provides all the essentials without losing its small-town charm. If you enjoy quiet mornings, big skies, and the thrill of watching thousands of birds in motion this is winter RVing at its most soulful.
Birding highlights (October to March)
From late October through February, Bosque del Apache becomes one of North America’s most dramatic birding destinations. Tens of thousands of sandhill cranes, snow geese, and Ross’s geese fill the air in waves of motion and sound—sunrise “fly-outs” and sunset “fly-ins” are legendary. Wintering northern harriers, bald eagles, and ferruginous hawks patrol the skies while American kestrels, mergansers, and canvasbacks frequent the ponds. Keep your eyes peeled for rarities such as vermillion flycatchers and roadrunners darting across the dikes.
Bosque del Apache is located about 20 miles south of Socorro just off I-25. The auto tour loops (North and South) are paved and well-maintained—accessible for most RVs under 40 feet. There’s a large visitor center parking lot suitable for day use with restrooms, picnic areas, and ranger information. Fuel, groceries, and dump stations are all available in Socorro and the drive through the refuge takes about 2–3 hours if you’re stopping often for photos and sightings (and you will).
Closest RV campgrounds
Bosque Birdwatchers RV Park (San Antonio, NM): Small, friendly park closest to the refuge—perfect for birders who want to be there at dawn.
Socorro makes an ideal RV base for exploring Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge with several convenient campgrounds offering easy access to town and the refuge.
Luis RV Park(Socorro): Small park in town with full hookups and friendly management—perfect for those who want quick access to groceries, fuel, and dining.
Socorro RV Spaces (Socorro): Earns top marks for its quiet atmosphere and clean facilities, a favorite among travelers seeking a peaceful stay.
Casey’s Socorro RV Park (Socorro): Provides plenty of pull-through sites and reliable amenities though it can be busier given its size and popularity.
Pro tip for RV birders
Plan to arrive before sunrise—well before—to snag a spot at the Flight Deck viewing area. Bring hot coffee, binoculars, and patience. When the cranes and geese rise together against a fiery New Mexico sky, the sight (and sound) will stay with you long after the migration ends.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Estero Llano Grande State Park are top birding destinations in South Texas
Why RVers will love it: Stretching along the southernmost tip of Texas, the Rio Grande Valley is a dream destination for RVers who crave sunshine, rich culture, and spectacular birding. The region’s mild winters and diverse landscapes—from palm-lined riversides to thorny brushland and coastal lagoons—make it ideal for long stays. Dozens of birding sites are within an easy drive of one another with convenient RV parks, friendly locals, and a vibrant blend of Tex-Mex food and small-town charm.
Birding highlights (October to March)
The Valley is famous for its unique mix of North American and tropical species found nowhere else in the U.S. Winter brings peak diversity with specialties like Green Jays, Altamira Orioles, Great Kiskadees, Plain Chachalacas, and Buff-bellied Hummingbirds lighting up the landscape. Visit Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge to witness dazzling flocks of warblers, herons, and hawks or head to Estero Llano Grande State Park where roseate spoonbills, ibis, and the occasional rare visitor from Mexico steal the show. The World Birding Center network makes it easy to plan your route across multiple habitats—all bursting with life in the cooler months.
The Rio Grande Valley is tailor-made for RV travel with excellent roads, abundant full-hookup parks, and an entire community of wintering RVers. The major birding sites are centered around McAllen, Weslaco, and Harlingen so you can base yourself in one area and explore multiple refuges within short drives. Many parks offer bird blinds, nature trails, and feeders right on site. Local towns provide everything from produce markets to authentic tacos and repair shops—making it one of the most convenient birding hubs in the South.
Closest RV campgrounds
Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort (Mission): Upscale, nature-focused resort next to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park with direct trail access.
Casa del Valle RV Resort (Alamo): Active 55+ park near Santa Ana NWR with large sites and a friendly community of birders.
AmeriCana The Birding Center RV Resort (Mission): True to its name, this park caters to birdwatchers with native plantings and nearby hotspots.
Country Sunshine RV Resort (Weslaco): Centrally located with full amenities and easy access to Estero Llano Grande.
Pro tip for RV birders
Plan your mornings early—birds are most active just after sunrise before the heat sets in. Stop by the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco for local updates on rare sightings and keep your checklist handy—you might just add a life bird before lunch.
Arizona’s desert oases are legendary birding destinations
Why RVers will love it: Southern Arizona is tailor-made for RVers who love wide skies, dramatic landscapes, and a slower desert pace. Between Tucson, Green Valley, and Patagonia you’ll find easy RV access, mild winter temperatures, and a rare blend of mountain canyons, riparian corridors, and open desert—all within a few hours’ drive. The region’s rich biodiversity means you can watch hummingbirds flit through saguaro forests by day and relax under star-filled skies by night. Plus, with numerous public lands, boondocking sites, and top-notch RV resorts it’s easy to combine comfort with wild adventure.
Birding highlights (October to March)
Winter birding in southern Arizona brings an extraordinary mix of residents and migrants. Canyons like Madera, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek, and the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area come alive with Costa’s Hummingbirds, Vermilion Flycatchers, Canyon Towhees, and Bridled Titmice. Sandhill cranes gather by the thousands at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area while hawks, owls, and sparrows fill the valleys. Lucky birders might spot the dazzling Elegant Trogon overwintering in Madera Canyon—a true prize on any life list.
Tucson serves as a perfect base for exploring Arizona’s desert birding circuit. The city offers everything an RVer could need—fuel, food, dump stations, and plenty of campgrounds—while still being close to wilderness. Many birding hotspots are easily reached via good roads and parking is generally manageable for small to mid-sized RVs. Several state parks and national forest campgrounds also offer quiet, scenic bases with direct access to trails and birding sites.
Closest RV campgrounds
Gilbert Ray Campground (Tucson Mountain Park): Scenic desert setting near Saguaro National Park with electric hookups and easy access to Tucson.
De Anza RV Resort (Amado): Full-service resort just minutes from Madera Canyon.
Patagonia Lake State Park: Gorgeous lakeside camping with water and electric hookups—ideal for spotting waterfowl and passerines.
Kartchner Caverns State Park (Benson): Spacious sites with hookups, great facilities, and proximity to San Pedro birding sites.
Pro tip for RV birders
The desert comes alive at dawn—start your day early, bring layers for chilly mornings, and keep a bird guide handy. For a special treat visit one of the area’s private feeding stations (like the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia) where dozens of species gather within arm’s reach.
6. Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, California
The refuge is a critical wetland and migratory bird habitat located at the southern end of the Salton Sea
Why RVers will love it: Located in California’s Imperial Valley near the southern edge of the Salton Sea this refuge offers RVers a surprising and unforgettable mix of stark desert scenery and incredible birdlife. The surrounding landscape may seem harsh and arid but the combination of wetlands, salt flats, and agricultural fields creates an oasis for hundreds of species. RVers will appreciate the solitude, easy access from major highways, and the fascinating blend of wildlife, history, and geology. It’s an ideal stop for anyone traveling between Arizona and Southern California in winter.
Birding highlights (October to March)
The Salton Sea is one of the most important wintering sites in the Pacific Flyway. Between October and March expect massive flocks of snow geese, Ross’s geese, and sandhill cranes sharing the skies with white pelicans, ibises, stilts, and avocets. The refuge’s ponds and agricultural fields attract burrowing owls, Say’s phoebes, verdins, and loggerhead shrikes. On calm days the mirror-like surface of the sea makes for exceptional photography. With patience and luck you might also catch rarities like Yellow-footed Gulls or Brown Boobies that wander north from Mexico.
The refuge lies about 40 miles south of Indio, off Highway 111. The Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR has two main units—Unit 1 and Unit 2 (Visitor Center area)—both with ample day-use parking and scenic walking trails. There’s no camping within the refuge but it’s an easy drive from several RV parks along the eastern and western shores of the Salton Sea. Bring plenty of water as services are limited and be prepared for variable conditions—mornings can be cool, afternoons warm, and the air salty.
Closest RV campgrounds
Salton Sea State Recreation Area (North Shore): Waterfront sites with hookups, shade shelters, and direct access to the sea.
Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort (Niland): A popular desert oasis for snowbirds—soak in the hot springs after a day of birding.
Indian Waters RV Resort & Cottages (Indio): A highly-rated RV resort in Indio featuring 265 full hookup camping sites and 8 fully furnished cottages.
The Springs at Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course (Borrego Springs): A premier RV resort with 200 spacious full-hookup RV sites, fully-furnished park model rentals, 9-hole golf course, mineral baths, dark sky stargazing, pool, fitness center, and pet-friendly policies.
Pro tip for RV birders
Arrive early to catch the morning “fly-off” of geese and cranes from the fields—it’s a breathtaking sight. Late afternoon offers golden light for photography and the nearby Red Hill Marina and Obsidian Butte are excellent side stops for shorebirds. Don’t forget a good spotting scope; the Salton Sea’s scale and distance views make it indispensable.
General tips for RV birders
Remember the unwritten rule of RV birding: slow down and listen
Travel with the seasons: Birds follow the weather—and so should you. Start farther north in early fall (Bosque del Apache, Aransas) and work your way south or west as winter deepens (Rio Grande Valley, Merritt Island, Sonny Bono).
Pack smart optics: A good pair of binoculars is essential but a spotting scope takes your viewing (and photography) to the next level especially for distant wetlands and open lagoons.
Plan for flexibility: Migration patterns can shift with weather and water levels. Allow extra days in your itinerary to revisit hotspots or explore nearby refuges—you’ll often discover unexpected gems.
Join local birding communities: Many refuges host guided walks or festivals such as the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival or Wings Over the Prairie. Local experts are your best resource for current sightings and access tips.
Practice ethical birding: Always keep a respectful distance, minimize noise, and stay on designated trails. The goal is to observe without disturbing—the hallmark of a seasoned birder.
Stay weather aware: Even in the South, mornings can be brisk and afternoons warm. Dress in layers, keep extra water in the rig, and protect your gear from humidity or desert dust.
Conclusion: Following the wings south
Traveling by RV allows you to move with the birds
As the northern winds turn cold, the birds show us the way—to the warmth, the light, and the living landscapes of the southern United States. From Florida’s coastal marshes to Arizona’s desert canyons, each refuge tells a story of survival, rhythm, and renewal.
For RVers, birding in winter isn’t just about ticking species off a list—it’s about waking up to the sound of cranes in the mist, watching the sunrise over salt flats, and feeling part of something timeless and free.
So hitch up, point your rig toward the sun, and join the migration. The birds are waiting.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in November 2025. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. For topics that may change quickly, please verify current details before planning. To ensure honesty and avoid bias, this website features no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just straightforward information for fellow travelers.
Worth Pondering…
A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.
For travelers who want to dive into Texas State Parks but don’t necessarily want to hit the hot spots, there are alternatives that you might not have considered yet. Consider adding these Texas State Parks to your bucket list (if they aren’t there already).
Here we are. Comfortably sitting in the shade of our RV awing thinking about where to road trip next. Texas, perhaps? Great choice! Texas gleams with many unique towns that make for a great visit—all are steeped in rich history, culture, and experiences.
But some of the bucket list places not to miss in Texas are its beautiful state parks beaming with natural wonders that call for amazing adventures and experiences. The Lone Star State has more than 80 parks, natural areas, and historic sites which make it difficult to decide which way to go next.
If you’re all for parks, Texas has your back. But this time, we’re traveling to the Texas state parks that are not on your bucket list but should be! Take a look at some of them—brimming with natural wonders and unique experiences.
A sanctuary for over 300 species of birds and other wildlife
If you have a penchant for birds and butterflies, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park has woodlands and brushlands that shelter about 360 species of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife such as bobcats, javelinas, and many more. It’s a birders’ paradise offering some of Texas’s best bird-watching and is one of the parks in Texas that you can explore in a day.
You’ll see them everywhere in the park—along the seven-mile trails, at the Hawk Tower, at water features, and at the viewing stations. In the spring and fall, there will be thousands of migratory hawks in the park.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park was founded in 1944 as a land grant by the Bentsen Family (Senator Lloyd Bentsen’s parents). It’s currently the headquarters for the World Birding Center located in Mission, Texas.
Closest town: Mission
Entrance fee: $5 per person (children under 12 years are free)
Hours: Open daily, 7 am-10 pm
Elevation: 140 feet
Size: 764 acres
Camping: Day-use only
Note: Cars are not allowed inside the park. You can ride the tram or bring your own bike.
Many Texas state parks are known for scenic campsites including Village Creek State Park, the gateway to Big Thicket National Preserve where you can see Texas’s incredible biodiversity. Established in 1994, Village Creek encompasses almost 2,500 acres of hardwood forest, water tupelo swamps, bay gall, and cypress dome with remarkable species of flora and fauna.
The park offers no shortage of magnificent sights and exciting activities—from hiking, paddling, camping, mountain biking, picnicking, geocaching, fishing, and swimming. Ever wonder what ecosystems in their natural state look like? This is it. It’s time to visit Village Creek State Park!
Closest town: Lumberton
Entrance fee: $4 per person (children under 12 years are free)
Hours: Open daily, 8 am-10 pm
Elevation: 24 feet
Size: 3,466 acres
Camping: 25 camping sites with water and electric hookups
Camping fee: $16 + daily entrance fee
Warning: Alligators live in the area. Stay on designated trails and spaces.
Located high in the mountains with a historic lodge
Perched high in the Davis Mountains at around 6,000 feet, Davis Mountain State Park is where history meets nature, located in Fort Davis, the highest town in Texas which boasts amazing things to do. The park covers around 2,700 acres of trails, campsites, the historic 39-room Indian Lodge, and many other facilities.
Much of the park’s landscapes are nothing short of splendid and if you’re a bird enthusiast, this is your spot. The park features the Emory Oak Wildlife Viewing Area dubbed as the “best little bird blind in Texas,” a beautiful stucco viewing station where you can witness the resident birds right on the front porch do their thing.
Come for a picnic, afternoon swim, fishing trip, or a weekend campout on the banks of the spring-fed Blanco River. The park is just an hour from Austin and San Antonio.
This small park hugs a one-mile stretch of the river. On the water, you can swim, fish, paddle, or boat. On land, you can picnic, hike, camp, watch for wildlife, and geocache. Reserve the CCC-built picnic area or pavilion for your next group gathering.
Bring your canoe, kayak, or boat or rent a single or double kayak or tube at the park store to use in the park (available seasonally).
Anglers fish for largemouth and Guadalupe bass, channel catfish, sunfish, and rainbow trout. TPWD stocks the river with trout in the winter. You do not need a license to fish from shore within the park.
Closest town: Blanco
Entrance fee: $5 per person (children under 12 years are free)
Hours: Open daily
Elevation: 1,350 feet
Size: 104 acres
Camping: 8 campsites with full hookups (30/50 amp); 9 campsites with full hookups (30 amp); 12 sites with water and electric hookups
Come for the golfing and camping and savor the BBQ
Within easy driving distance of both Austin and San Antonio you’ll find a quiet getaway: Lockhart State Park. Come for a morning of golf, an afternoon swim, an evening hike, or an overnight campout.
Admire the quaint waterfall flowing over a CCC-built check dam next to the Park Rd. 10.
Play golf at the nine-hole golf course built by the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps over 80 years ago.
Walk or bike the trails to see the wild side of the park. Stroll the easy Clear Fork Trail for views of the creek, plants, wildlife, and check dams built by the CCC to create fishing holes. Or hike the short but challenging Persimmon Trail.
Barbecue! The state legislature designated the city of Lockhart as the “Barbecue Capital of Texas” in 1999.
Closest town: Lockhart
Entrance fee: $3 per person (children under 12 years are free)
Hours: Open daily, 6 am-10 pm
Elevation: 388-705 feet
Size: 263 acres
Camping: 8 campsites with full hookups (30/50 amp); 8 sites with water and electric (30 amp) hookups
With multiple sources of water including the San Marcos River, Palmetto State Park is a haven for a wide variety of animals and plants. Look for dwarf palmettos, the park’s namesake, growing under the trees.
Imagine a Texas swamp fed by warm mineral springs and occasional river flooding that provides a home to unique plant and animal life seen almost nowhere else in Texas. Riotous birdsong is Palmetto’s soundtrack. The 270-acre park has attracted 240 species of birds including an invasion of hummingbirds each spring. In the fall, look for butterflies everywhere. Fox squirrels and a variety of wildlife inhabit the park due to the presence of the river nearby.
You can swim, tube, fish, and canoe here. Besides the flowing river, the park also has an oxbow lake, an artesian well, and swamps.
On land, hike or bike the trails, camp, geocache, go birding or study nature. Hike the Palmetto Trail which winds through a stand of dwarf palmettos. Host a gathering at the park’s CCC-built picnic pavilion which has an air-conditioned kitchen.
Closest town: Gonzales
Entrance fee: $3 per person (children under 12 years are free)
Hours: Open daily
Elevation: 292 feet
Size: 270 acres
Camping: 17 campsites with water and electric (30/50 amp) hookups; 19 sites with water
Out west lies a mystical place where the wind sculpts sand dunes into peaks and valleys sometimes overnight. Monahans Sandhills State Park offers a Texas-sized sandbox for kids of all ages as well as a close-up view of a unique desert environment. The park is a small part of a dune field that extends further into Texas and New Mexico. Rent sand disks to surf the dunes or bring your horse and check out the 800-acre equestrian area. Just make sure you mark off “surfed in a desert” from your travel bucket list.
One of the largest oak forests in the world is found here. Acorn-bearing Harvard shin oaks cover stabilized dunes (those that don’t change with the winds) across the park yet only grow 3-4 feet tall at maturity.
Closest town: Gonzales
Entrance fee: $4 per person (children under 12 years are free)
Hours: Open daily, 7 am-10 pm
Elevation: 2,724 feet
Size: 3,840 acres
Camping: 25 campsites with water and electric
Camping fee: $15 + daily entrance fee
Texas Spoken Friendly
Worth Pondering…
I am humbled by the forces of nature that continuously -mold our great state of Texas into a beautiful landscape complete with geological diversity, flora and fauna. It is my goal as a photographer to capture that natural beauty and share it with others.
If you’re dreaming of where to travel to experience it all, here are my picks for the best places to RV in December
Children see magic because they look for it.
—Christopher Moore
In his 2004 book Lamb, acclaimed author Christopher Moore tells the story of Jesus Christ’s childhood through the eyes of Jesus’ fictional boyhood friend Biff. Early on in the story, Biff tells us, “Children see magic because they look for it.”
He recounts how Jesus “shone like a bloom in the desert. But maybe I only saw it, because I was looking for it. To everyone else, he seemed like just another child…”
Because the book is written for adults, this line seems almost like an invitation. We were all children once. Perhaps, as adults, we may still see magic if we look for it.
It’s December which means that as of today you’re officially allowed to hang up Christmas lights without any judgment from your neighbors. Don’t just take my word for it: A recent survey of ~4,000 US homeowners found that December 1 was the day most people identified as acceptable to put up Christmas lights.
OK, but what day is it acceptable to set out the holiday chili to appease Yeetch, the snow creature, so it doesn’t cut all the powerlines in your neighborhood?
Planning an RV trip for a different time of year? Check out my monthly travel recommendations for the best places to travel in October and November. Also, check out my recommendations from December 2022 and January 2023.
The Indio International Tamale Festival taking place every December (30th annual; December 1-3, 2023) is the largest festival in the world dedicated solely to the steamed savory treat. Visitors will see over 300 tamale vendors as well as live entertainment, interactive art spaces, beer gardens, craft stalls, and, of course, the largest-ever tamale. There is also a competition for the best-tasting tamale.
Other bites available at the event include tacos, nachos, carne asada fries, funnel cake, ice cream, and kettle corn. The festival is also known for its carnival rides and—since last year—the World’s Biggest Bounce House for kids and adults alike.
Arguably among the top birding destinations on the planet, Bentsen–Rio Grande Valley State Park south of Mission, Texas teems with vibrantly hued tropical creatures. You might spot a chachalaca, a great kiskadee, or a green jay, any of which would appear right at home in the Amazon jungle. Climb the two-story hawk observation tower for a spectacular view. Along with more than 360 avian species are bobcats nosing through the brush.
Avery Island is known as the birthplace of Tabasco sauce. It’s also home to lush forests, swamps, and a beautiful spot called Jungle Gardens. Wander through azaleas, camellias, and bamboo as you keep an eye out for alligators, raccoons, and deer. Within Jungle Gardens is a bird sanctuary known as Bird City. The sanctuary is the migration site for thousands of egrets, whose nesting season begins in February as well as herons, roseate spoonbills, ibises, coots, and more. Bird lovers can book a tour while others can simply enjoy the scenery.
4. Experience the Great Migration of the Sandhill Cranes as They Return to New Mexico
Celebrate the return of the sandhill cranes at the 34th annual Festival of the Cranes, December 6-9, 2023. Join birding experts from near and far for a chance to learn about Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and many of New Mexico‘s overwintering birds. The Festival offers over seventy creative workshops in the field at Bosque del Apache and indoor workshops at New Mexico Tech.
The festival celebrates the survival and yearly migration of the enigmatic sandhill crane. The sandhill crane is an ancient species of waterfowl that migrates from Canada and the northern U.S. to winter in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico.
Both cranes and snow geese begin arriving in smaller numbers at the refuge in late October. By early December, tens of thousands of cranes and snow geese make the Middle Rio Grande Valley their home until they migrate back north in mid-February.
Sandill cranes can also be seen in large numbers at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico and Whitewater Draw neat Wilcox, Arizona.
Take a captivating journey to Bisbee, Arizona, a town that once glittered as a copper mining jewel at the turn of the century. Uncover the tale of hidden wealth, chance discoveries, and the rise and fall of this mining community nestled in the Mule Mountains. Explore the depths of the past with the Copper Queen Mine tour where you’ll don a yellow slicker, and a hard hat, and venture into dark, narrow tunnels guided by a former miner sharing gripping stories of Bisbee’s mining heyday.
Beyond the mine, discover Bisbee’s vibrant artistic scene and consider staying at the historic Copper Queen Hotel where history and charm converge.
Bears Ears National Monument includes red rock, juniper forests, a high plateau, and an abundance of early human and Native American historical artifacts. The Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Hopi Nation, and other tribes are tied to this land in southeastern Utah.
Native American Indians have been engraving and drawing on Newspaper Rock for more than 2,000 years. Their markings in these ruins tell the stories, hunting patterns, crop cycles, and mythologies of their lives.
Newspaper Rock is located 15 miles west of U.S. 191 along the 41-mile Indian Creek Corridor Scenic Byway (S.R. 211) in Bears Ears National Monument now part of the 71,896-acre Indian Creek unit designated December 4, 2017, by U.S. President Donald Trump.
7. Architectural Digest names Mobile as one of the top 10 winter escapes for snowbirds
Looking at some of the best places for people to travel to avoid the cold, Architectural Digest listed several Alabama cities as among the best little-known places in the country for snowbirds.
Last month, the magazine compiled its list putting Mobile at No. 10 among 75 of the hidden gems in the U.S. for snowbirds or people who travel to warmer parts of the country during the winter.
After Mobile, Huntsville, and Birmingham ranked 23rd and 24th respectively. Rounding out the final three Alabama spots on the list were Montgomery (31st), Tuscaloosa (33rd), and Gulf Shores (38th).
If this city’s strange name sounds familiar, you might be remembering the Andrew Sisters 1947 tune about a bold young lady who called it home. But although it’s small and far more remote than other popular southern California destinations, Twentynine Palms has a lot to offer.
It’s a gateway city for legendary Joshua Tree National Park whose twisted namesake flora and star-studded night sky are stunners. It’s also just an hour from Palm Springs, of summer film festival fame, a mecca of recreational activities from horseback riding to golf.
Plus it’s deliciously warm and dry in the wintertime although it will cool off at night. (It’s in a desert, after all!)
The Twentynine Palms RV Resort offers 168 full-hookup RV sites as well as a sauna, fitness room, and pool. And according to its website, hardly a day goes by during winter when there isn’t something fun going on in the Clubhouse from ice cream socials to live music.
Although tourists flock to Grand Canyon National Park in droves from spring through fall every year, the winter and Christmas seasons are some of the best times to visit this famous landmark attraction. With fewer crowds and cooler temperatures in December, you won’t have to worry about cars clogging the most popular destinations or the sweltering heat of Arizona’s summers.
RV camping is available year-round at the Trailer Village RV Park which is located in Grand Canyon Village on the south rim of the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon Railway which is also located in the Grand Canyon Village is a must for anyone visiting the park any time of year but it gets even better at Christmas when it’s temporarily transformed into the Polar Express.
When the Gulf of Mexico cools down each winter, hundreds of manatees make for the perpetually 72-degree springs of Kings Bay on Florida’s western coast about 80 miles north of Tampa. The area’s Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is the only spot in the U.S. dedicated entirely to protecting the distinctively corpulent creatures. Although a few can usually be found swimming through the preserve no matter the season you’re pretty much guaranteed to see dozens if you visit between November and April.
Tours that let people swim with manatees have grown increasingly popular here but if you’re worried about disturbing these gentle giants, you can watch them from the boardwalk at Three Sisters Springs. Marshes, tidal creeks, and the remains of a prehistoric human settlement—possibly the country’s oldest—are worth checking out, too.
Worth Pondering…
Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.
—Dave Barry, Christmas Shopping: A Survivor’s Guide
World Migratory Bird Day is officially celebrated on the second Saturday of May. However, every day is Bird Day and you can celebrate birds and host events any day of the year!
Legendarily vast, Texas spans habitats from southern bald-cypress swamps to the Chihuahuan Desert and from the subtropical lower Rio Grande Valley to the windswept plains of the Llano Estacado. Little wonder, then, that Texas’s bird list of nearly 650 ranks second among the states (behind only California).
The Lone Star state is home to some of the most famous birding sites in the country: High Island, Bolivar Flats, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Big Bend National Park. The list could go on and on.
In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day on the second Saturday of May (May 13, 2023), here is a look at a dozen of my favorite birding sites in Texas which hosts more bird-watching festivals than any other state.
Not just one, but nine unique birding locations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Each site of the World Birding Center has its own attractions. From a historic adobe hacienda to scenic bluffs high above the Rio Grande and pristine wilderness to teeming wetlands, the World Birding Center network offers visitors an array of birding adventures. These Rio Grande Valley locations coordinate more than 500 bird species between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Rio Grande Valley Communities, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and World Birding Center is a great place to begin a south Texas nature adventure. As a large remnant tract of Rio Grande floodplain forest, Bentsen is a magnet for the many regional bird species that make south Texas famous. Green jays, Altamira orioles, and plain chachalacas congregate regularly at the bird feeding stations. Other birds to look for include gray hawk, white-tipped dove, groove-billed ani, northern beardless-tyrannulet, clay-colored thrush, long-billed thrasher, and green heron.
More species of birds have been recorded at Laguna Atascosa (417) than at any other national wildlife refuge in the nation. Laguna Atascosa covers 97,000 acres near the southern tip of Texas comprising thornscrub forest, freshwater wetlands, prairies, beaches, and mudflats. A quarter-million ducks winter in the area including Redhead, Grebes, American White Pelican, and Sandhill Crane also winter here. Around 30 species of shorebirds can be found here throughout much of the year.
Many birders visit the refuge to see some of the specialties of southern Texas and the Lower Rio Grande Valley such as Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, White-tailed Kite, Harris’s Hawk, White-tailed Hawk, White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Black-crested Titmouse, Curve-billed Thrasher, Long-billed Thrasher, Botteri’s Sparrow, Olive Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Bronzed Cowbird, and Altamira Oriole.
A paradise for bird watchers in the Hill Country with 240 documented bird species, Guadalupe River State Park is located 30 miles north of San Antonio at the north end of Park Road 31, northwest of Bulverde. You’ll find the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, the goldfinch of Texas, and the only bird species with a breeding range limited to Texas. Thirteen miles of hiking trails include the 2.86-mile Painted Bunting Trail to spot one of these colorful birds.
Pro Tip: Reserve one of 85 hookup campsites here. Purchase an annual Texas State Park Pass for free entry to more than 80 state parks.
Big Bend ranks with America’s great birding destinations and if offers endless fascination for hikers, geology buffs, photographers, history-lovers, botanists, and people who enjoy dramatic, rugged landscapes. Situated on the Rio Grande in western Texas, the park doesn’t receive nearly the visitation its rewards truly merit.
Big Bend comprises three main ecosystems: Most of the park is Chihuahuan Desert, a terrain of cactus and shrubs. In the center, the Chisos Mountains rise to more than 7,000 feet with oak canyons and ponderosa pine. Along the Rio Grande is a lush green strip of cottonwoods, willows, and other wetland vegetation. All this contributes to Big Bend’s great diversity of birds.
The park’s most sought-after species is Colima Warbler which nests in the Chisos Mountains, usually requiring a several-mile hike to find. More likely in lower elevations are such species as Scaled Quail, Gray Hawk, Greater Roadrunner, Common Poorwill, Vermilion Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Varied Bunting, and Scott’s Oriole.
So many wonderful birding sites are located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley that it’s hard to single out one or even a handful. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge comprising 2,088 acres on the Rio Grande south of Alamo has long been a favorite destination of birders from around the world with its woodlands and wetlands. Santa Ana has a fine visitor center with a log of recent bird sightings. From here, many trails wind into the woods. From November through April, the refuge operates a tram (fee) along the auto tour route which is closed to vehicles in that season, though it can be walked.
Many of the region’s specialties are seen here including Plain Chachalaca, Least Grebe, White-tipped Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow, and Altamira Oriole to name only a few of the most regular species.
A superb all-around birding destination, Aransas occupies a large peninsula surrounded by coastal bays separated from the Gulf of Mexico by barrier islands. It boasts an astoundingly lengthy bird list of more than 400 species yet the refuge is known best for one bird—the Whooping Crane. Standing nearly five feet tall Whooping Cranes are sometimes seen from the observation tower located along the refuge’s 16-mile auto tour route. The best way to see them is to take a commercial tour from Rockport or Port Aransas in the season from November to April.
Waterfowl, grebes, and rails are present in wetlands from fall through spring. Ponds, marshes, and bays are home year round to cormorants, pelicans, 14 or more species of wading birds including Roseate Spoonbill and around eight species of terns. The refuge’s location makes it possible to see a great diversity of migrant birds following the shore of the Gulf of Mexico.
High Island has a salt dome and mineral spring at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico and rises 32 feet above the surrounding marshes. For a few weeks each spring, this small town less than a mile from the Texas coast becomes a busy gathering place for birds and birders. Northbound migrant birds having crossed the Gulf of Mexico fly down to the woodland tracts here to rest and feed in the proper conditions creating a “fallout” with birds seemingly crowding every limb of every tree: flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, warblers, tanagers, orioles, and more.
The action starts in March and peaks in late April and early May. There’s no guarantee that any particular day will be a great one but the day after a storm or front with north winds is often the best. But in spring at High Island even an average day is really good.
Five species of geese winter on this refuge at times in enormous flocks—up to 10,000 have been estimated in one field, for example. Hagerman lies along the shore of the southern arm of Lake Texoma on the route of the Central Flyway so waterfowl find it a welcome rest stop on migration and a hospitable home in winter.
Geese—Greater White-fronted, Snow, Ross’s, Cackling, and Canada—make up part of the waterfowl numbers with 15 or more species of ducks added. Bald Eagles winters here ready to make a meal of any injured birds. American White Pelican is present year round and Roseate Spoonbill can arrive as a post-breeding visitor.
Hagerman’s bird list of 338 species includes more than 35 species of shorebirds that feed in shallow water and mudflats along with more than 15 species of wading birds attracted to the wetlands.
A four-mile wildlife drive passes along the lakeshore and several hiking trails access woodland (including some bottomland forest), grassland, and ponds.
An amazing congregation of shorebirds and wading birds is often on display at Bolivar Flats, a coastal spot on the Bolivar Peninsula across the channel from Galveston. It’s reached by turning south on Rettilon Road about 3.6 miles east of the ferry landing in Port Bolivar. (A town parking permit obtainable locally is required.)
Practically every species of cormorant, pelican, heron, egret, ibis, plover, sandpiper, gull, tern, and similar bird that ever ventured near the Texas coast has appeared here. Many other species stop in or pass overhead, too, which explains the bird list of more than 320 for this one small spot on the coast.
One of the must-visit sites of American birding, Anahuac protects 34,000 acres of marsh, prairie, and scattered woods. Its richness of bird life makes it a place that can be explored over and over with something new seen every time.
Flocks of waterfowl from fall through spring, fifteen or more species of wading birds, rails and other marsh birds—these are just a few of the highlights of Anahuac. Roads lead from the visitor information station at the main entrance to East Bay, an arm of Galveston Bay accessing ponds, marshes, observation platforms, and trails. Though waterbirds are the highlight here, an area called The Willows, an isolated tract of trees just west of the entrance, can be a songbird magnet in migration.
A small sampling of breeding-season birds found here includes Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Wood Stork (post-breeding visitor), Neotropic Cormorant, Least Bittern, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Rail, King Rail, Clapper Rail, Purple Gallinule, Common Gallinule, Black-necked Stilt, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, Seaside Sparrow, and Dickcissel.
Sites on the Texas Gulf Coast get most of the publicity but this state park 30 miles southwest of Houston is well worth a visit for its attractive scenery as well as its birds. Here, live oaks draped with Spanish moss and other hardwoods such as elm, hackberry, sycamore, pecan, and cottonwood create a lush landscape along the Brazos River and its tributary Big Creek.
Look on park lakes and wetlands for Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Anhinga, many species of waders including both night-herons and Roseate Spoonbill, and Purple Gallinule. Fulvous Whistling-Duck and Least Grebe are seen occasionally.
This refuge 25 miles southwest of Amarillo protects a 175-acre tract of native shortgrass prairie of such quality that it has been designated a National Natural Landmark. It’s a good place to see many open-country birds as well as seasonal waterfowl and shorebirds.
The lake for which the refuge was named has dried up because of overuse of the local aquifer. However, the refuge manages other wetlands that act as a virtual magnet for birds in this arid region. From fall through spring, many ducks use these wetlands; some such as Cinnamon Teal and Redhead remain to nest.
Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet breed here and more than 25 species of shorebirds have been recorded in migration. Some of the nesting birds here are Wild Turkey, Greater Roadrunner, Burrowing Owl, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Say’s Phoebe, Chihuahuan Raven, and Rock Wren.
This is where it all started—where the birding trail concept was pioneered in the 1990s. Still luring birdwatchers from all over the world, the Great Texas Wildlife Trail offers good birding throughout the year but the upper coast is at its best in spring migration when songbirds crossing the Gulf of Mexico make landfall. When the timing is right, you’ll find trees filled with colorful congregations of warblers, orioles, tanagers, and buntings.
Most famous for water birds, the central coast is highlighted by the wintering population of Whooping Cranes centered in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Now readily seen from November to March, the cranes are not the only spectacles here; you might also encounter shaggy-plumed Reddish Egrets, blazing pink Roseate Spoonbills, and beautifully patterned White-tailed Hawks.
The lower coast trail takes in a magical region where dozens of species spill across the border from Mexico enlivening the American landscape with a mosaic of surprises—noisy Ringed Kingfishers like Belted Kingfishers on steroids, Great Kiskadees that seem too colorful for the flycatcher family, and Green Jays which provide a shocking departure from their relatives’ blue tones.
Worth Pondering…
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
For my purpose, a stop is anything from a national park to a state park or a roadside attraction to a Texas BBQ joint. Anything that gets you to pull off the highway, turn off your engine, and stretch your legs a bit—whether it’s to hike a mountain trail or tour a living history museum is up to you.
My vote for the perfect road trip stop is multifaceted and an ongoing list as I travel to new places and explore America’s scenic wonders.
The Fort Yuma Territorial Prison which operated from 1876 to 1909 was hellish in many respects but it also had more modern amenities than many homes in Yuma at the time including electricity, plumbing, a large library, and even a band. Several of the inmates were Mormons who were convicted of polygamy. Today, the site of the hilltop prison is an Arizona state park with some surviving original features such as the cellblock and other features reconstructed. It’s now a historical museum that not only is open for tours but stages special events such as gunfights and ghost hunts.
Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Merritt Island, Florida
This privately owned center provides educational exhibits and activities about NASA’s mission at the center as well as tours to other facilities nearby. You’ll see a “rocket garden,” an outdoor exhibit of an extensive assortment of rockets, capsules, and engines that have been used for actual space missions.
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Desert Hot Springs, California
Nestled in the scenic hills of Desert Hot Springs, a Hopi-inspired pueblo sits against a hillside. Not just any pueblo but one built with natural materials collected throughout the desert. Yerxa’s pueblo is a four-story, 5,000-square-foot structure. It has 160 windows, 65 doors, 30 rooflines, and 35 rooms. When homesteader Yerxa Cabot settled in Desert Hot Springs, he used re-purposed materials and a little ingenuity to build a home so unique it remains a preserved museum to this day.
The Valley of the Sun is home to many great attractions, and it can be difficult for visitors and locals alike to pick their favorites. It’s easy to get caught up in the legend surrounding attractions like the world-famous Lost Dutchman State Park, but sometimes you want to take a break from history and explore Phoenix’s more modern side.
Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden is also one of the world’s largest collections of desert plants and flowers. It features more than 50 miles of pathways crisscrossing over a dozen outdoor gardens, including the special Children’s Garden, which has a walled maze, garden swings, and plenty of other activities designed especially for the little ones.
Visitors can also see art installations, take a guided tour or enjoy live music during their visit to the outdoor attractions.
A small resort community in the Florida Panhandle, Seaside is the epitome of cute. Featuring pastel-colored homes and pedestrian-friendly streets, the beach community is tranquil and picturesque. Just how adorable is this place? The fictional town from the Jim Carrey movie The Truman Show was set here. West of the town visit the Grayton Beach State Park for some coastal trails.
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona
There are several good reasons for paying a visit to this 110-acre park. The astounding variety of cacti, probably varieties than you ever knew existed, is itself worth stopping by for. But there are also many other species of plant and animal life in and around this artificial wetland created with reclaimed water. You can view fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals of many different kinds on a short hiking trail. It’s an especially excellent place for bird watching. The picnic and playground areas are imaginatively and artistically designed and laid out. And perhaps most noteworthy of all, there is an observatory that is open to the public to do some star gazing on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is one of the best places in the country for bird-watching. People come just for the birds. Bentsen’s wetland, scrub brush, riparian, and woodland habitats make it a world-class destination to observe birds and wildlife commonly found in the subtropics of northern Mexico. One of the most spectacular convergences of birds on Earth, more than 530 species have been documented in the Rio Grande Valley (including about 20 species found nowhere else in the U.S.) and 365 species at Bentsen itself. Bentsen’s bird-feeding stations are stocked in the winter months making it one of the best and easiest times to view a wide variety of birds from Green jays to Altamira orioles and Plain chachalacas to Great kiskadees.
Hi Jolly was the Americanized name of Hadji Ali, a Greek/Syrian immigrant who was one of several Middle Eastern men hired by the U.S. Army in 1857 (by Secretary Of War Jefferson Davis) to drive camels laden with cargo across the desert. The experiment was discontinued after a short time but it was still much more successful than people often believe. In any case, Hi Jolly stuck around until he died in 1902. A colorful and beloved character, he became a bit of a legend and was honored with this pyramid-shaped monument constructed in 1903 and embellished later. The monument stands in a cemetery with many monuments to military men. You’ll spot the camel motif cropping up in other places in Quartzsite, an interesting little town that is known as a haven for RV boondockers as well as rock and mineral lovers.
While the marshes and bayous of this region make Avery Island worth a visit in its own right, it is the fact that this is the home of the Tabasco pepper sauce that attracts most people. Visitor attractions include a short but informative factory tour where you’ll learn the history of this family owned company and see how this world famous product is created; an excellent country store packed with sauces, souvenirs and gifts; and the Jungle Gardens, 170 acres full of exotic plants and native wildlife including alligators and deer. When you visit the country store, do make sure you try the Tabasco ice cream; it’s more enjoyable than it sounds.
Located just off State Route 88 east of Phoenix, Saguaro Lake has a marina with rentals for everything from stand-up paddleboards to kayaks and canoes. The lake even has a few desert islands where boaters can stop for a picnic lunch or a quick swim. Visitors also come to Saguaro Lake to camp at nearby facilities or fish along its banks for bass, catfish, and carp. Hikers and campers also enjoy visiting the lake which has over 25 miles of trails that wind around it.
The largest gypsum dune field in the world is located at White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico. This region of glistening white dunes is in the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert within an “internally drained valley” called the Tularosa Basin. Dunes Drive, an eight-mile scenic drive, leads from the visitor center into the heart of the gypsum dunefield. The 16-mile round-trip drive takes approximately 45 minutes. However, you may want to allow additional time for taking walks in the white sand, photography, or learning about the natural and cultural history.
Ajo Mountain Drive, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona
This 21-mile drive, accessible by any vehicles up to 25 feet, is the most popular way to explore Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Pick up the guidebook from the Kris Eggle Visitor Center and allow at least two hours to drive the loop which includes 18 stops of interest. As well as the distinctive cactus from which the park takes its name, you will also see examples of the many other plants that flourish in the Sonoran Desert including saguaro, prickly pear, jojoba, mesquite, cholla, and ocotillo.
Speaking of beloved American beverages… Shiner, Texas is home to 2,069 people, Friday’s Fried Chicken, and—most famously—the Spoetzal Brewery where every drop of Shiner beer is brewed. Tours are offered throughout the week where visitors can see how every last drop of their popular brews get made. Tours and samples are free. Founded in 1909, the little brewery today sends more than 6 million cases of delicious Shiner beer to states across the country. Founder, Kosmos Spoetzal, would be pretty proud! To which we say “Prosit!”
If rugged scenery, hiking, and wilderness are what you are looking for, then put Joshua Tree on your list of road trip stops. Located in the southern end of California, this park is known for its distinctive trees and its craggy and rocky landscape filled with desert flora and fauna.
Plenty of daytime activities are available inside the park and the most popular is hiking (with one paved trail that is accessible). There is climbing, birding, biking, horseback riding, and a driving tour you can take. There are 93 miles of paved roads.
In a small town in the middle of Louisiana’s Cajun prairie is a town called Rayne where frogs have gained iconic stature. Frogs and Rayne have a relatively long history that dates back to the 1880s when a gourmet chef named Donat Pucheu started selling juicy, delectable bullfrogs to New Orleans restaurants. Word of Rayne’s frog delicacies spread like wildfire and soon attracted the Weil Brothers from France who started a lucrative business exporting frogs to restaurants. For years, world-renowned restaurants boasted of offering frog legs from Rayne, Louisiana. Rayne no longer exports frogs but their frog identity is bigger than ever because of a unique array of frog murals.
Worth Pondering…
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown trail before me leading wherever I choose.
Here are some of the best parks for snowbirds to explore
There are 63 national parks across the US. That’s not counting the hundreds of national monuments, historical sites, battlefields, memorials, trails, and more. When you count all of them together, the number of protected sites that fall under the US National Park Service is well over 400. And America’s state parks number over 8,500.
So it should not surprise anyone when I say that there are scores of incredible sites worth exploring in America.
Whether you’re looking to explore waterfalls or rivers, volcanoes or deserts, canyons or mountaintops, there’s a park for snowbirds to discover this winter.
The remote Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a gem tucked away in southern Arizona’s vast the Sonoran Desert. Thanks to its unique crossroads locale, the monument is home to a wide range of specialized plants and animals, including its namesake.
This stretch of desert marks the northern range of the organ pipe cactus, a rare species in the U.S. With its multiple stems, the cactus resembles an old-fashioned pipe organ. There are 28 different species of cacti in the park, ranging from the giant saguaro to the miniature pincushion.
Lapping water and Gulf breezes: We must be on the coast! Goose Island offers camping, fishing, and birding along St. Charles and Aransas bays. Camp, fish, hike, geocache, go boating, and observe and take photos of wildlife, especially birds. Fish from shore, boat, or the 1,620-foot long fishing pier.
Choose from 44 campsites by the bay or 57 sites nestled under oak trees, all with water and electricity. Every camping loop has restrooms with showers. Be sure to visit the Big Tree which has been standing sentinel on the coast for centuries and has withstood several major hurricanes.
Enjoy camping, fishing, and boating at Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico’s largest state park. Elephant Butte Lake can accommodate watercraft of many styles and sizes including kayaks, jet skis, pontoons, sailboats, ski boats, cruisers, and houseboats. Besides sandy beaches, the park offers restrooms, picnic areas, and developed camping sites with electric and water hook-ups for RVs.
Zion is a park that you have to see to believe. It is a true desert oasis and an American icon. The surrounding area looks desolate, dry, and barren, but when you drive into Zion Canyon, a massive formation, miles wide, with sheer rock walls that rise thousands of feet, await you. There is something so incredible about seeing the oranges and yellows of sandstone mixed with the greens of the Virgin River and the vegetation that grows so easily there.
Big Bend National Park is home to more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 75 species of mammals, and 56 species of reptiles. Big Bend is named after a stretch of 118 or so miles of Rio Grande River, one part of which forms a large bend in the river at the Texas-Mexico border.
Over 150 miles of trails give visitors the opportunity to venture out on a day hike on their own or participate in a ranger-led program with a ranger as your guide, teaching you about the science, history, nature, and culture of Big Bend National Park. There is a little bit of everything for those visiting this unique part of the world.
Usery Mountain Regional Park in Arizona Located on the Valley’s east side, this 3,648-acre park is located at the western end of the Goldfield Mountains adjacent to the Tonto National Forest. The park contains a large variety of plants and animals that call the lower Sonoran Desert home. Along with the most popular feature of the park, the Wind Cave Trail, water seeps from the roof of the alcove to support the hanging gardens of Rock Daisy.
Usery Mountain Regional Park offers a campground with 73 individual sites. Each site has a large parking area to accommodate up to a 45-foot RV with water and electrical hook-ups, a dump station, a picnic table, a barbecue grill, and a fire ring.
Seven miles of paved road wind through shady hammocks, along grassy marshes, and the shore of the Upper Myakka Lake. See wildlife up-close on a 45-minute boat tour. The Myakka Canopy Walkway provides easy access to observe life in the treetops of an oak/palm hammock. The walkway is suspended 25 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy. The park features three campgrounds; 90 campsites offer 50 amp electrical service and water; some with sewer hookups.
Located on the beach in Waveland (adjacent to Bay St. Louis), Buccaneer is in a natural setting of large moss-draped oaks, marshlands, and the Gulf of Mexico. The use of this land was first recorded in history in the late 1700s. Buccaneer Jean Lafitte and his followers were active in smuggling and pirating along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
This 1,327-acre park is situated in the wetlands of Mobile Bay and is a day-use, picnicking and scenic park with modern camping hook-ups for overnight visitors. A self-guided walk on two nature trails includes a boardwalk with an up-close view of the beautiful Mobile Delta.
In the Rio Grande Valley, you’ll find wonderful bird-watching opportunities. Approximately 360 species of birds have been spotted at Bentsen-Rio Grande. Butterflies, javelinas, bobcats, and more have also been seen at the park.
You will definitely want to bring your binoculars for birding with you. Like many other state parks, nature is the most intriguing part of the journey. Cars are not allowed to park on-site to help preserve nature. You can leave your car at headquarters and explore on bike, foot, or even tram.
Hidden beneath the surface are more than 119 caves—formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes. Regardless of the snow and cold temps above, the cave is always a temperate 56-57 degrees.
The most popular route, the Big Room, is the largest single cave chamber by volume in North America. This 1.25-mile trail is relatively flat and will take about 1.5 hours (on average) to walk
Joshua Tree is a diverse area of sand dunes, dry lakes, flat valleys, extraordinarily rugged mountains, granitic monoliths, and oases. The park is home to two deserts: the Colorado which offers low desert formations and plant life, such as ocotillo and teddy bear cholla cactus; and the Mojave. This higher, cooler, wetter region is the natural habitat of the Joshua tree
Visitors traveling along I-10 in southern Arizona can’t miss the prominent 1,500-foot peak of Picacho Peak State Park. Enjoy the view as you hike the trails that wind up the peak. The unique shape has been used as a landmark by travelers since prehistoric times. Many hiking trails traverse the desert landscape and offer hikers both scenic and challenging hikes. Enjoy the beauty of the desert and the amazing views.
Worth Pondering…
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.
In the Lone Star State, find natural springs, granite batholiths, and even gypsum sand dunes
Texas is known for big skies, wide-open spaces, and starry nights. Parts of it bristle with cacti. Others glisten with swampy, tea-colored water. Along the coast, endangered sea turtles nest along sandy beaches, towering cypress trees lean over cool green rivers, and fossilized dinosaur bones poke out of dry creek beds.
Every corner of the Lone Star State serves up its own version of Texas terrain, from mountains to beaches and well beyond. And less than five percent of its land is publicly owned. In all, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department oversees nearly 100 parks, historic sites, and natural areas across the state. The National Parks Service operates 16 more public spaces including national parks, monuments, recreation areas, preserves, trails, and memorials. Below, I’ve picked 10 of my favorite state and national parks in Texas to plan a trip around.
It’s hard to imagine finding a giant blue-green swimming hole swirling with fish in the middle of a desert but that’s what beckons at Balmorhea State Park where more than 15 million gallons of water flow daily from San Solomon Springs into a 25-foot deep pool with a natural bottom. Native Americans, early explorers, and passing U.S. soldiers have all watered up here and in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps turned the desert wetland into the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the world.
Now, it’s popular with land-locked scuba divers, swimmers, and anyone looking to take a flying leap off a 7-foot 3-inch-high diving board. It’s also home to two small endangered species of fish: the Comanche Springs pupfish and Pecos gambusia.
At first blush, Big Bend National Park in far West Texas looks desolate and uninviting. But get out and hike its prickly folds, armed with plants that poke, scrape, and stab, and you’ll discover spectacular geologic formations and a diverse range of inhabitants from javelina to tarantulas, black bear, snakes, and mountain lions.
Backpack the South Rim high in the Chisos Mountains at the center of the park, raft the café-au-lait-colored water of the Rio Grande or explore the desert floor and the old farming and ranching ruins it holds. The largest of the national parks in Texas, Big Bend sprawls over 801,100 acres, so one thing you won’t find is big crowds. Peak season is November through April—no surprise, as temperatures can soar to over 100 degrees in summer.
Four types of carnivorous plants live in the Big Thicket and chances are you’ll be able to watch one of them turn an unsuspecting insect into a slow-cooked meal if you visit. But first, stop by the preserve’s visitor center to get the lay of the land at this diverse park which is made up of non-contiguous units that cover 113,114 acres of land and water in seven counties.
You’ll find sections of longleaf pine forest, swampy bayous, and wetland savannas, crisscrossed by about 40 miles of hiking trails including a few wooden boardwalks that take you past carnivorous pitcher plants. Paddlers can explore the waterways by kayak or canoe, too. Just remember to bring the bug spray.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, near Fredericksburg
Enchanted Rock looms like a giant pink onion, half-buried in the Hill Country scrub. It formed a billion years ago when a pool of magma pushed up through the earth’s surface and hardened into a granite batholith. Most visitors make the 30- or 45-minute beeline to the top of the 425-foot dome passing fragile vernal pools where water collects in shallow pits providing a home for freshwater shrimp.
But don’t miss the loop trail that encircles the main attraction. Pitch a tent in the primitive sites alongside Moss Lake and watch the sun cast a rosy glow on the rock—and maybe catch the eerie creaking and groaning that some report hearing at night.
Lapping water and Gulf breezes: We must be on the coast! Goose Island offers camping, fishing, and birding along St. Charles and Aransas bays. Camp, fish, hike, geocache, go boating and observe and take photos of wildlife, especially birds. Fish from shore, boat, or the 1,620-foot long fishing pier.
Choose from 44 campsites by the bay or 57 sites nestled under oak trees, all with water and electricity. Every camping loop has restrooms with showers. Be sure to visit the Big Tree which has been standing sentinel on the coast for centuries and has withstood several major hurricanes.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Johnson City, and Stonewall
If you’re looking for a history lesson during your next park outing, consider Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park a two-in-one immersion into rural Texas life in the 1950s. First, tour the grounds of President Johnson’s boyhood home in Johnson City then drive 14 miles to the LBJ Ranch and Texas White House where you can drive past his birthplace, a show barn, a small schoolhouse, and the Texas White House (which is temporarily closed to indoor tours due to structural issues).
As you make the rounds, imagine the former president known for pulling pranks on his guests—like the time he loaded dignitaries into a vehicle, rolled it down a hill, and into a pond, hollering that the brakes had given out. He didn’t tell them it was an amphibious vehicle designed to drive on roads and float in the water. Time your visit for early spring to coincide with the annual bluebonnet display.
In the Rio Grande Valley, you’ll find wonderful bird-watching opportunities. Approximately 360 species of birds have been spotted at Bentsen-Rio Grande. Butterflies, javelinas, bobcats, and more have also been seen at the park.
You will definitely want to bring your binoculars for birding with you. Like many other state parks, nature is the most intriguing part of the journey. Cars are not allowed to park on-site to help preserve nature. You can leave your car at headquarters and explore on bike, foot, or even tram.
Grab your swimsuit and aim for Padre Island National Seashore which hugs 70 miles of the Texas Gulf Coast on the longest stretch of an undeveloped barrier island in the world.
Splash in the ocean, admire birds (including the Pepto Bismol-colored Roseate spoonbill), sail, fish, and, during the summer, watch Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle hatchlings dash across the sand as scientists release them into the wild. Many a Spanish ship met its fate off the coastline here and visitors can park an RV or pitch a tent on the beach.
Listen to Onion Creek flowing over limestone ledges and splashing into pools. Follow trails winding through the Hill Country woods. Explore the remains of an early Texas homestead and a very old rock shelter. All of this lies within Austin’s city limits at McKinney Falls State Park.
Think of the park as Austin’s backyard; we’re just 13 miles from the state capitol. Here you can camp, hike, mountain or road bike, geocache, go bouldering, and picnic. You can also fish and swim in Onion Creek. Hike or bike nearly nine miles of trails. The 2.8-mile Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail have a hard surface, good for strollers and road bikes.
A mystical place where the wind sculpts sand dunes into peaks and valleys, Monahans Sandhills offers a Texas-sized sandbox for kids of all ages as well as a close-up view of a unique desert environment. These natural sand dunes are ever-changing and worth stomping around after a few hours behind the wheel.
Stop here for a picnic or sled down the swirling dunes on rentable plastic lids if you’re so inclined. Entry is $4. And spend the night at one of the 26 camping sites with water and electric hookups, a picnic table, and shelter. Camping is $15 nightly plus the entry fee.
Texas Spoken Friendly
Worth Pondering…
Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation in every sense of the word.
—John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America
There is this place that is for the birds and is all about the birds, where you will find some of the best birding while RVing
Good morning. It’s Saturday and you deserve some good news, so we’re pleased to inform you that a Laysan albatross named Wisdom has successively hatched yet another chick at Midway Atoll in the Hawaiian archipelago. Discovered by biologists in 1956, Wisdom is at least 70 years old making her the world’s oldest known wild bird. She still flies as many as 1,000 miles in a single foraging expedition.
Wisdom’s latest chick successfully hatched in February, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s office in the Pacific Islands. Wisdom laid her egg sometime during the last few days of November according to the wildlife agency. Soon after, Wisdom returned to sea to forage and her mate Akeakamai took over incubation duties. The pair have been hatching and raising chicks together since at least 2012, the wildlife agency said.
In the past decade, Wisdom has been astounding researchers and winning fans with her longevity and devotion to raising her young. She has flown millions of miles in her life but returns to her same nest every year on Midway Atoll, the world’s largest colony of albatrosses. To feed her hatchlings, Wisdom and her mate take turns flying as much as 1,000 miles on a single outing spending days foraging for food along the ocean’s surface.
Every year, millions of albatrosses which normally have only one mate in their life, all come home to Midway around October. If all goes well couples reunite and then team up to incubate a single egg and feed their new chick. Midway’s two flat islands act as giant landing strips for albatrosses and millions of other seabirds which rely on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to raise their young. This year’s albatross chicks will make their first flights in early summer.
In the past, biologists have said Wisdom possesses a unique set of skills that have let her have a long and productive life soaring over the Pacific Ocean. When she was first banded, Dwight Eisenhower was in the middle of his two-term presidency.
Her advice to the younger generation? Think before you tweet.
Not fitting the stereotype of the avid birdwatcher that travels to the most exotic corners of the globe, many RVers simply want to be where the birds are. Not wearing the latest outdoor gear, carrying the biggest scopes, peering through the most expensive binoculars, and checking another bird off the official life list, I carry my mid-priced super-zoom camera and take great pleasure in seeing the beautiful creatures that fill the air with music and the skies with color. That’s what draws me and many other snowbirds to South Texas.
Located at the southern tip of Texas, the Rio Grande Valley hosts one of the most spectacular convergences of birds on earth. Well over 500 species have been spotted in this ecowonderland, including several that can be found only in this southernmost part of the U.S. Each year, birders come to The Valley to see bird species they can’t find anyplace else in the country—from the green jay, black-bellied whistling ducks (pictured above), and the buff-bellied hummingbird to the great kiskadee (pictured above), roseate spoonbill (pictured above), and the Altamira oriole (pictured above)
After all, The Valley offers not just one but a total of nine World Birding Centers and is located at the convergence of two major flyways, the Central and Mississippi.
Often referred to as The Texas Tropics, this area is very popular, too, with snowbirds from the Midwest and Central Canada. However, these winter tourists are not simply referred to as snowbirds but affectionately dubbed Winter Texans. After all, these birdwatchers and winter visitors are very important to the area’s economy, so they are, indeed, welcomed.
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, just south of Mission, is not only Texas’ southernmost state park, but since October 2005, the headquarters of the World Birding Center. The 760-acre park draws visitors from as far away as Europe and Japan hoping to spot some of the more than 325 species of birds and over 250 species of butterflies, many of them from neighboring Mexico and Central America.
Cars are not allowed in the park but a trolley makes regular pick-ups along the 7 mile paved loop allowing birders to hitch a ride from one feeding station to the next. It’s a quiet, beautiful, place and it is filled with birds. As the trolley rounds the bend into the park visitors are frequently greeted by a sizable flock of the loud and raucous plain chachalaca (see above), a brown, chicken-like species that’s found only in this part of the country.
To assist the casual birder Bentsen offers a series of bird blinds strategically placed near various feeding stations. The hut made of horizontally-placed wood slats is reached by a ramp so it is accessible to those with disabilities.
Inside the blind the wood slats can be folded down to form a platform for cameras so a tripod isn’t necessary to keep the camera steady. All you need to do is sit and watch the show as the birds keep coming to feed. We sat on a bench in the blind, peered through the opening and pressed the shutter repeatedly without disturbing the birds.
Yellow-breasted great kiskadees swooped down in front of us and drank from the small pool of water. This flycatcher has black and white stripes on its crown and sides, appears to be a kind of cross between a kingfisher and a meadowlark, and attracts attention by its incessant “kis-ka-dee” calls.
Green jays (pictured above) postured and fluttered at the feeders. This beautiful bird is, indeed, green-breasted (unlike our blue jay), with green wings, but there’s also some white, yellow, and blue plumage. This bird’s flashy coloring, boisterous nature, dry, throaty rattle, and frequent “cheh-chehcheh-cheh” call make it very easy to spot.
A golden-fronted woodpecker (see above) fed at the peanut butter log. Barred with black and white above and buff below, the male has red restricted to the cap; nape orange; forecrown yellow; the female lacks red but has an orange nape. Its voice is a loud churrrr; the call a burry chuck-chuck-chuck.
Another World Birding Center located in McAllen, is at Quinta Mazatlan, a historic 1930s Spanish Revival adobe hacienda that’s surrounded by 15 acres of lush tropical landscape and several birding trails.
Estero Llano Grande in Weslaco attracts a spectacular array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lakes, woodlands, and thorn forest. Commonly seen species include the great kiskadee, Altamira oriole, green jay, groove-billed ani, tropical parula, common pauraques (pictured above), green kingfishers, grebes, black-bellied whistling ducks, and an assortment of wading birds like the great blue heron, and roseate spoonbill.
The warm winter climate and the awesome bird watching attract Winter Texans to The Valley and keep them returning year after year. We’ll be back, Hope to see you there.
