A 4.2-Mile Gravel Loop Opens the Prairie Near Eagle Lake

A public route into Colorado County's native coastal prairie is the refuge's 4.2-mile Auto Tour. The gravel road loops back to headquarters, has little incline, and also allows walking, jogging, and biking. Cattle graze here, so the drive includes cattleguards as well as long grass and open sky.

Two mowed trails branch into different parts of the refuge. The 1.2-mile Sycamore Trail starts at the visitor center and crosses prairie and creekside habitat. The 0.85-mile Horseshoe Lake Trail crosses Coushatta Creek, then reaches a wildlife blind and a covered platform beside the lake.

The refuge was established in 1972 to protect the critically endangered Attwater's prairie-chicken and its coastal prairie habitat. The bird is easiest to look for during its late-winter and early-spring display season, but a sighting is never promised. The prairie itself is the dependable part of the visit.

There is no admission charge, and the public trails and auto loop are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Visitor-center days change by season. Public access enters from FM 3013, and some GPS directions miss that turn. Rain can close the unimproved auto-tour road. The FWS Visit Us page carries the seasonal center schedule and any temporary closure.