Topic · Page 3
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Cameron County · Arroyo Park
Adolph Thomae Jr. Park Puts You on the Arroyo Colorado
Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park, near Arroyo City on the Arroyo Colorado, gives boaters, anglers, campers, and birders public access where fresh water meets the Lower Laguna Madre.
Cameron County · County Beach Park
Andy Bowie Park Anchors the North End of South Padre Island
Andy Bowie Park is Cameron County's beach park on the north end of South Padre Island, with RV camping, pavilions, showers, and beach access across from the convention center.
Cameron County · State Park
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park Anchors Valley Birding
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission is the headquarters of the World Birding Center and draws visitors from around the world.
Cameron County · Beach Access
E.K. Atwood Park Is Cameron County's Quieter Beach Access #5
Edwin King Atwood Park, the county's Beach Access #5 north of Andy Bowie on South Padre Island, offers dune walkovers, pavilions, and drive-on beach access away from the crowds.
Cameron County · Hunting
Hunting in Cameron County: Seasons and Bag Limits
Cameron County has deer, turkey, dove, duck, and quail hunting seasons, each with its own license and bag limit rules.
Cameron County · County Beach Park
Isla Blanca Park Is the Busy South End of South Padre Island
Isla Blanca Park, the county's beach park at the south tip of South Padre Island, packs Gulf and bay access, fishing, a boat ramp, and RV camping into one spot.
Cameron County · Wildlife Refuge
Laguna Atascosa Is Cameron County's Big Federal Wildlife Refuge
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge protects coastal prairie and thornscrub north of the Laguna Madre, with more than 60 miles of trails and one of the last U.S. homes of the ocelot.
Cameron County · Bike Trails
Monte Bella Gives West Brownsville a Beginner Bike Loop
Monte Bella Trails Park in west Brownsville offers a beginner-friendly 6.2-mile single-track bike loop alongside nature trails, picnic areas, a playground, and an outdoor fitness court.
Cameron County · Resaca Trail
Paseo de la Resaca Wraps Trails Around Brownsville's Water
Paseo de la Resaca is a Brownsville trail system threading paved paths, parks, and playgrounds around the resacas of a master-planned neighborhood.
Cameron County · State Park
Resaca de la Palma Puts Brownsville's Brush and Water in One Park
Resaca de la Palma State Park in Brownsville is a car-free preserve of South Texas brush and resaca water, with eight-plus miles of trails and decks for watching wildlife.
Cameron County · Birding / Wildlife
South Padre Island Is a Major Bird Migration Hotspot
South Padre Island, in eastern Cameron County, sits along a major flyway where millions of birds cross the Gulf of Mexico each spring and fall.
Cameron County · Water Quality
The Arroyo Colorado Runs Through Cameron County — and Has Water Quality Issues
The Arroyo Colorado flows from Hidalgo County through Cameron County to the Laguna Madre and has had water quality problems from farm runoff and failing septic systems.
Cameron County · Urban Trail
The Historic Battlefield Trail Is Brownsville's Bike Spine
Brownsville's nine-mile Historic Battlefield Trail links Linear Park to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and serves as the spine of the city's hike-and-bike network.
Cameron County · Fishing
The Lower Laguna Madre Offers Unique Coastal Fishing
The lower Laguna Madre runs along Cameron County's Gulf coast and holds fish species found almost nowhere else in Texas.
Camp County · Lake / Creek
Lake Bob Sandlin Put a 1977 Shoreline on Big Cypress Creek
Fort Sherman Dam turned part of Big Cypress Creek into a reservoir shared by Camp, Titus, and Franklin counties, with two ecoregions meeting along its park shore.
Camp County · Fishing / State Park
Lake Bob Sandlin Touches Camp County — and Offers Good Fishing
Lake Bob Sandlin spans Titus, Camp, and Franklin counties, and the state park on the lake's north shore is just outside Pittsburg.
Carson County · Wildlife
Pheasant and Pronghorn Share Carson County's Hunting Map
For 2026-27, Carson is on TPWD's pheasant and pronghorn lists. The two hunts begin with different kinds of permission.
Cass County · State park
An old ferry road runs through Atlanta State Park
Deep wagon traces, tall pines, and a federal reservoir share the same 1,475-acre park on Wright Patman Lake.
Cass County · Fish advisory
Every fish species in Lake Pruitt shares one meal limit
A mercury advisory covers every fish species from Pruitt Lake-Black Cypress Bayou, with smaller serving limits for children.
Cass County · Lakes & Recreation
Wright Patman Lake: fishing and camping on Cass County's western edge
Wright Patman Lake sits on the Sulphur River and stretches across Bowie and Cass counties, offering fishing, camping, and boating managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Castro County · Public Hunting
The Playa Lakes WMA near Dimmitt offers public waterfowl and pheasant hunting
Texas Parks and Wildlife manages a public hunting unit near Dimmitt, with limited access and seasonal drawn hunts for waterfowl and pheasant.
Chambers County · Wildlife refuge
A Major Coastal Refuge Sits on the Chambers County Shoreline
The Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, renamed in March 2025 from Anahuac NWR, protects coastal marshes in Chambers County. It is open for wildlife viewing, birding, and waterfowl hunting.
Chambers County · Hunting
Chambers County Is Prime Waterfowl Country
Chambers County's coastal marshes along Trinity Bay draw large numbers of ducks and geese each fall and winter. It is one of the top waterfowl hunting areas on the Texas coast.
Chambers County · Birding and wildlife
The Anahuac Loop Is a Key Texas Birding Stop
TPWD's Anahuac Loop strings together marsh, bayou, park, and bayfront birding stops across Chambers County.
Cherokee County · Deer Hunting
Cherokee County Has Antler Restrictions for Deer Hunters
Cherokee County is in the TPWD North Zone and has specific antler restrictions that limit which bucks are legal to harvest.
Cherokee County · River Bottoms
Four Miles of Neches River Frontage Joined the Refuge
A 249.18-acre Cherokee County addition brought three tracts, four river miles, bottomland hardwoods, and higher pine forest into Neches River National Wildlife Refuge.
Cherokee County · Local Lake
Lake Jacksonville Is Working Water Close to Home
Three miles from town, Jacksonville's 1,320-acre municipal reservoir also supports fishing and three city-run public ramps.
Cherokee County · Fishing
Lake Palestine Offers Year-Round Fishing in Cherokee County
Lake Palestine is a 25,560-acre reservoir on the Neches River with strong populations of bass, catfish, crappie, and hybrid striped bass.
Cherokee County · Reservoir
Lake Striker Is Working Water With Standing Timber
The 1950s reservoir shared by Cherokee and Rusk counties supplies industrial water while docks, lily pads, brush, and standing timber shape its fishing water.
Childress County · Public Access
Hunting Public Land in and Near Childress County
Most hunting in Childress County requires access to private land, but a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit opens access to public hunting areas across Texas for a set fee.
Childress County · Hunting
Hunting Seasons in Childress County
Deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, and dove all run through this corner of the Rolling Plains, but each one keeps its own calendar, bag limit, and endorsement.
Clay County · State park / Recreation
Lake Arrowhead State Park offers camping, fishing, and trails in Clay County
Lake Arrowhead State Park sits on a large reservoir in Clay County and offers fishing, camping, hiking, and equestrian trails about 15 minutes south of Wichita Falls.
Clay County · Rivers / Landscape
Two rivers meet at Clay County's northern edge
The Red River forms Clay County's northern boundary, while the Wichita River crosses the northwest and joins it near Byers.
Coke County · Lake Recreation
E.V. Spence Reservoir offers fishing and camping near Robert Lee
E.V. Spence Reservoir, about 2 miles west of Robert Lee, has more than 14,000 surface acres and provides camping, fishing, and boat ramps managed by the Colorado River Municipal Water District.
Coke County · Lake Recreation
Oak Creek Reservoir is a fishing lake north of Bronte
Oak Creek Reservoir is a 2,375-acre lake about 8 miles north of Bronte on Highway 70 with fishing for catfish, crappie, and white bass, managed under TPWD statewide regulations.
Coleman County · Public Hunting
TPWD offers a drawn public hunt on a Coleman County ranch
Texas Parks and Wildlife runs a drawn hunt on a ranch in Coleman County, giving hunters without private land access a chance to hunt here.
Collin County · Nature Preserve
Arbor Hills Gives West Plano a 200-Acre Nature Preserve
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a 200-acre City of Plano park on the county's western edge, with trails through prairie, woodland, and creek-bottom landscape.
Collin County · Allen Park
Bethany Lakes Park Gives Allen Ponds, Trails, and Fishing
Bethany Lakes Park is a 47-acre Allen park with walking trails, ponds, fishing, biking, and disc golf.
Collin County · City Park
Bonnie Wenk Park Connects McKinney Play Space With Wilson Creek Trails
Bonnie Wenk Park in McKinney combines playgrounds, a pond, dog areas, sports space, and a link into the Wilson Creek Trail system.
Collin County · Prairie Park
Erwin Park Brings Prairie Restoration and Trail Riding to McKinney
Erwin Park is a 212-acre McKinney park with mountain-bike trails, pavilions, campfire sites, and active Blackland Prairie restoration.
Collin County · Community Park
Frisco Commons Park Shows the Family-Park Side of Frisco
Frisco Commons Park is a 63-acre city park with trails, a pond, fishing, playgrounds, a splash pad, and picnic space.
Collin County · Invasive Species
Lake Lavon Has Tested Positive for Zebra Mussels
TPWD classifies Lake Lavon as positive for zebra mussels. Texas law requires boaters to drain water; cleaning and drying are strong prevention steps.
Collin County · Fishing
Lake Lavon Is a Local Standby for Crappie, White Bass, and Catfish
Lake Lavon is a 21,400-acre reservoir in Collin County managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, known especially for crappie fishing in winter and spring.
Collin County · County Park
Myers Park Keeps Collin County's Rural Side Close to McKinney
Myers Park and Event Center is a 158-acre Collin County park with preserved nature, gardens, countryside, and county event spaces.
Collin County · Nature Preserve
Oak Point Is Plano's Big Nature Preserve on Rowlett Creek
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is an 800-acre Plano park with paved and soft-surface trails along Rowlett Creek.
Collin County · Prairie Preserve
Parkhill Prairie Preserves a Relic of Collin County's Blackland Grassland
Parkhill Prairie is a Collin County preserve holding a 52-acre relic of Blackland tall-grass prairie inside a larger county park.
Collin County · Public Recreation
Parks and Boat Ramps Ring Lake Lavon
Lake Lavon has public parks and ramps run by the Corps of Engineers and other operators. Fees, seasons, and current status vary by site.
Collin County · City Trail
Plano's Chisholm Trail Follows a Creek Through the City
Plano's Chisholm Trail is a city hike-and-bike route that follows a scenic creek through central Plano.
Collin County · Nature & Museum
The Heard Natural Science Museum Includes a 289-Acre Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney
Bessie Heard founded the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary south of McKinney. The sanctuary covers 289 acres and has nature trails.
Collin County · City Lake
Towne Lake Park Adds Water, Trails, and Disc Golf in Central McKinney
Towne Lake Park in McKinney gives central Collin County a small lake, a trail loop, and an 18-basket disc golf course.
Collin County · Lake Lavon Trail
Trinity Trail at Lavon Lake Is for Hiking and Horses
The Trinity Trail along Lavon Lake is a long equestrian and hiking trail, with wet-weather closures and a permit rule for large riding groups.
Collingsworth County · Hunting Regulations
Hunting in Collingsworth County: Deer, Quail, and More
Collingsworth County has TPWD county rules for white-tailed deer, mule deer, quail, dove, turkey, and pheasant.
Colorado County · Prairie Refuge
A 4.2-Mile Gravel Loop Opens the Prairie Near Eagle Lake
The Attwater refuge pairs a 4.2-mile gravel auto tour with two short mowed trails, giving visitors a public route into Colorado County's native coastal prairie.
Colorado County · Prairie Wildlife
A Prairie-Chicken's Boom Can Carry Half a Mile
The Attwater's prairie-chicken once numbered about a million; today its low spring boom survives in just two Texas populations, including one in Colorado County.
Colorado County · Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Colorado County: What Seasons Apply
IH-10 splits Colorado County dove rules: north of the highway is Central Zone, south is South Zone, while deer and turkey have their own county listings.
Comal County · Lake Recreation
Canyon Lake Put Recreation Around a Working Reservoir
Parks, ramps, campgrounds, and coves grew around a reservoir built first for flood control and water storage.
Comal County · Recreation District
Comal County Built a District Around River Weekends
WORD is a voter-created recreation district serving Canyon Lake and more than 30 miles of the Guadalupe River.
Comal County · State Park
Guadalupe River State Park Is Close to New Braunfels
Guadalupe River State Park near Spring Branch offers camping, swimming, tubing, hiking, and mountain biking along four miles of river frontage.
Comal County · Fishing
Rainbow Trout Are Stocked Below Canyon Dam Each Winter
TPWD stocks rainbow and brown trout in the Guadalupe River between Canyon Dam and New Braunfels each winter.
Comal County · Natural Springs
The Comal Springs Feed the Comal River in New Braunfels
Texas's largest spring rises from the Edwards Aquifer in New Braunfels and gives the short Comal River its flow.