At Hagerman, Lake Texoma Meets Marsh and Cross Timbers

On Lake Texoma's Big Mineral Arm, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge does not have just one kind of ground. Its 11,320 acres include shallow marshes, creeks, bottomland hardwoods, forested uplands, grasslands, and managed farm fields. That variety supports more than 300 recorded bird species and many other kinds of wildlife.

The refuge's western side enters the Cross Timbers. There, post oak and blackjack oak take on short, twisted shapes, even though the trees are much older than they appear. Hagerman was established in 1946 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.

The paths turn those habitat names into actual stops. Haller's Haven passes Picnic Pond and Dead Woman's Pond before climbing an easy hill. Harris Creek loops around ponds and a photo blind. Meadow Pond follows an old railroad route toward Deaver Pond; in July, American lotus flowers bloom on the water. Lake, marsh, old railroad route, and Cross Timbers all meet within the refuge.