State Parks
4 Tips For Spring Break Visits
Spring break is a busy time at your parks, so plan your visit by using these tips.
- Save the Day! Make a day use reservation to secure your entry into a park on a specific date.
- Plan a weekday visit to avoid the weekend crowd.
- Use the Texas State Parks app to locate alternative parks in case your first choice has hit capacity.
- Monitor individual parks on social media for capacity updates.
Wildlife
Where to Find Spring Bling
Texas wildflowers are world famous, and your state parks offer many opportunities for picnics and photos among the blossoms. For tips on where to go, read our magazine story listing state parks with wildflowers. Before you head out, you may want to check with the park to be sure the wildflowers are still in bloom. Keep an eye on our Flickr page for the latest photos of wildflowers at state parks.
Watch TPW Television
Airing on PBS this Week
Devils River Advocates, Monahans Sandhills & the DNA Dude
The Devils River valley is about as wild as you can get in Texas. But there are threats to this natural place, and that's got those passionate admirers worried. Sliding down dunes is just some of the fun in the sun at the unique landscape of Monahans Sandhills State Park. Fisheries science requires a lot of complex knowledge and instruments. Dijar Lutz-Carillo knows how to pull it all together.
Magazine
Return of the River Otter
River otters are considered a “sentinel species” because they're very sensitive to pollution. By the 1970s they were reduced to a small population in Texas. But river otters are making a comeback and have been seen as far west as Austin. Watch this video of an otter having lunch at Fairfield Lake State Park. The otter's return indicates the waterways they enjoy are relatively healthy, good news for us all. Look for them on Texas Paddling Trails and the Great Texas Wildlife Trails in East Texas.
