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
Fort Parker, Aiming Safe & Moving Bees
Located along the Navasota River, Fort Parker State Park offers a tranquil setting for camping, hiking, biking and fishing. And there is some history there, too. When hunting in a group, each hunter has a safe zone of fire. Find out where that safe zone is, and why it's so important. Watch a bee specialist relocate a hive of honey bees, giving them a safe new home where they can keep on buzzing.
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.
