Prairie Loop

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Fort Griffin State Park And Historic Site
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This site is open daily, and developed camping is available at the site.
An entrance fee or donation may be required.

At US 283 in Albany go north 14.9 miles to the park entrance on the right.

Fort Griffin once held command of the southern plains, saw the end of both the great herds of Bison and those who hunted them, and was home to a rugged group of men. The fort was constructed in 1867 and deactivated in 1881. The 506-acre park sits on an escarpment along the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. The 1.5 mile Wohaw Nature Trail along the Clear Fork of the Brazos provides scenic and peaceful views of the park’s creek bottom habitat. Black Swallowtail, Orange Sulphur and Black-chinned Hummingbird occur here. Fort Griffin also has a herd of Longhorn cattle. The park offers camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, living history, historical reenactments and nature study.

(325) 762-3592
www.visitfortgriffin.com

Latitude: 32.9207
Longitude: -99.2282

Stasney’s Cook Ranch
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Call ahead, access to the site is restricted; visitation may be arranged by contacting the managing entity at the address and telephone number provided.
An entrance fee or donation may be required.

This 25,000-acre working ranch, located 6 miles north of Albany, provides spectacular scenery and habitat that includes hills, canyons, fossiliferous limestone and creeks. Visitors have the opportunity to view deer, bobcats, turkey, small mammals, reptiles and a good assortment of spring and winter migrating birds including the dazzling Painted Bunting. An interesting mix of East and West avifauna occurs here with both species of meadowlarks and Eastern Phoebes. In wet years Grasshopper Sparrow can be seen and heard perched atop the sideoats grama. Throughout the year several species of flycatcher can be found including the Ash-throated and Vermilion Flycatchers. Abundant wildflowers provide opportunities for photography and botanical study. The ranch offers great history, beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife and many activities for nature enthusiasts. Authentic Texas lodging patterned after the officer's quarters on the Texas Forts Trail is available for small or large groups. Site visits by appointment only.

(325) 338-5168
Call for Directions
www.stasneyscookranch.com

Latitude: 32.8111
Longitude: -99.3293

Hubbard Creek Lake: North Campground
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This site is open daily, and developed camping is available at the site.

From Breckenridge, head north on US 183 to CR 274, turn-off for Hubbard Lake Dam, signposted for Public Boat Ramp. Go left on this road for about 1 mile, turn left and continue for 0.7 mile to lake entrance.

This is a large park with good access to the lake and habitats that support various mammals and birds. Expect White-tailed Deer, Common Gray Fox, Nine-banded Armadillo, Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and bobcat. Greater Roadrunner and Wild Turkey roam the area. In winter, look for Chipping, Field, Lark, Savannah, Song and Vesper Sparrows. The mesquite and oaks host woodpeckers, nuthatches and creepers. Check the lake for Canvasback, Redhead, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Hooded Merganser, Common Goldeneye and Northern Shoveler. Along the rocky shorelines, look for shorebirds as well.

(254) 559-3677
www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/hubbard_creek

Latitude: 32.8212
Longitude: -98.9683

Breckenridge City Park
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This site is open for day use only.

At the light in Breckenridge, turn east onto US 180/East Walker St. After 0.4 mile turn right on Old Caddo Ave., park is on the left.

This multi-use park has an open lawn, sparsely wooded by large pecans and mesquite. American Robin, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Western Kingbird occur here. The best wildlife viewing is along Gonzales Creek. Here, you can find nesting Blue Grosbeak, White-eyed Vireo, Summer Tanager, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Painted Bunting. Herons, egrets and Belted Kingfisher all occur here. A small wildflower garden attracts Sleepy Orange, Giant Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail and Buckeye.

www.breckenridgetx.gov/parks-recreation

Latitude: 32.7552
Longitude: -98.8953

Lake Daniel
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This site is open for day use only.

Go south on US 183 from Breckenridge to FM 576. Turn left on FM 576 for 1.2 miles to CR 147. Go right on CR 147 for 1.5 miles to Lake Daniel.

The lake surrounds a woodland peninsula with a sloping shoreline that is home to various wading birds. Drive slowly along CR 147, and you’re likely to spy a Greater Roadrunner or a Prairie Racerunner basking in the sun. The northern section of the lake offers an extensive mudflat foraged by Black-necked Stilt, Great Egret and Great Blue Heron. Belted Kingfishers patrol the lakeside from oak branches hanging over the lake’s edge. In the summer, Painted and Indigo Buntings, White-eyed Vireo and Blue Grosbeak are common nesters along the oak-willow bank. The lake provides excellent wintering habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls and terns. The grasslands provide habitat for House Finch, Dickcissel, Common Buckeye, Checkered White, Dainty Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Pipevine Swallowtail and Red Admiral. In the winter, look for sparrows such as Field, Savannah, Song and Vesper Sparrows.

www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/daniel

Latitude: 32.6412
Longitude: -98.8581

Ringling Lake Texas Adventure Trails
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This site is open for day use only.

From I-20 in Cisco, go east 11.6 miles to Exit 343/TX 112. Take a left onto TX 112 North, go 1.7 miles to the intersection of TX 6 and TX 112. Turn right on TX 112 North for 0.6 mile to Ringling Lake/CR 536. Go left at Ringling Lake/CR 536 and follow for 1.1 miles to entrance. The park is accessible only by foot or ATV.

The trails meander through Post Oak woodlands. Vegetation is dense in some areas, with sumac, agarita and laurel. Look for Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Inca and Mourning Doves and Great Horned Owl. In brushy grasslands, look for Northern Bobwhite and Greater Roadrunner. Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks are common, and migrating Mississippi Kite can be seen in season in large flocks overhead. Along Ringling Lake, look for Summer Tanager, White-eyed Vireo and Painted and Indigo Buntings. Dragonflies are abundant, so look for Black Saddlebags, Eastern Pondhawk, Widow Skimmer, Roseate Skimmer and Russet-tipped Clubtail. Butterflies flit throughout the park, including Little Yellow, Common Buckeye, Pearl Crescent and Pipevine Swallowtail. The ponds are good places to find Southern Leopard Frog, Blanchard’s Cricket Frog and Gray Tree Frog. Waterfowl and shorebirds can be seen in winter.

(254) 629-8321
Call for Accessibility
www.eastlandtexas.com

Latitude: 32.4206
Longitude: -98.8285