Wheelchair Accessible Wildlife Viewing Sites in Texas

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Watching Wildlife is for EVERYONE!

The following is a list of wildlife viewing sites in Texas that are wheelchair-accessible. For details, please contact the site directly. This list is offered as a public service to our constituents as the data is being compiled. We want to make this list as complete as possible. If you know of other sites that should be added to the list, please email NatureTourism@tpwd.texas.gov.

• State Parks and Historic Sites
• Wildlife Management Areas
• Nature/Education Centers and Community Parks
• Sites on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail
• National Wildlife Refuges
• National Park Service Sites
• National Forest Service Sites

State Parks and Historic Sites

Many state parks offer accessible features, including trails, campsites, restrooms or exhibits. Learn more about wheelchair accessibility at parks.

Wildlife Management Areas

• Alazan Bayou - Wildlife observation platform
  
• Aquilla - Courtesy dock at boat ramp
• Black Gap - Interpretive trail and scenic overlook
• Candy Abshier - Wildlife viewing platform
• Chaparral - Arena Roja nature trail and the wildlife observation tower overlooking the waterhole at stop 30
• Elephant Mountain - Wildlife viewing station
• Guadalupe Delta - Wildlife viewing platform on Hwy. 35 adjacent to the WMA (see Sites on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, CTC 036)
• Gus Engeling - Wildlife observation blind
• J.D. Murphree - Wildlife viewing platform in Compartment 1 of the Big Hill Unit
• Las Palomas - Wildlife observation deck overlooking the resaca at the Ebony Unit and a 1,100 foot interpretive trail at the Longoria Unit. The latter has pullouts/benches for wildlife viewing and a shaded gazebo with benches, great for bird and butterfly viewing.
• Lower Neches - Wildlife viewing platform in the Old River Unit
• Pat Mayse - Trail through the marsh, waterfowl viewing area and observation blind
• Justin Hurst - Live Oak Loop nature trail
• Playa Lakes - Wildlife viewing blind on the Taylor Lakes Unit
• Redhead Pond - Wildlife viewing platform
• Richland Creek - Wildlife observation blind
• Tony Houseman - Interpretive displays and boardwalk through the swamp located at the TxDOT Travel Information Center adjacent to the WMA

Nature/Education Centers and Community Parks

• Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Facility - The best and most frequently birded site in the Austin area. More than 350 species have been recorded here. The lagoons and riverside trails (mostly accessible, with some assistance) are open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. year round. Restrooms and water fountains are available inside the CER Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Web site: Birding Guide to Hornsby Bend.
• Nelson Farms Preserve Wildlife Viewing Platform, Katy Prairie Conservancy - Open from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week. Excellent location for viewing wildlife of the Katy Prairie. Call 713-523-6135 for more information and a map, or visit their web site at Nelson Farms Preserve Wildlife Viewing Platform, Katy Prairie Conservancy.
• Padre Island Convention Center Laguna Madre Nature Trail and Butterfly Garden - This boardwalk trail winds through the marsh and out to overlooks on the Laguna Madre. Also, small woodlots on South Padre Island provide resting and feeding areas for migrating songbirds.
• Tyler Nature Center - Nature trail
• Wetlands Trail at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center - The new site features an all-weather, ADA accessible trail that winds pleasantly through a naturally wooded and re-vegetated area on the south and west portions of the TFFC grounds. A small stream connects ponds, small swamps, and other wet areas that will provide habitat for a wide variety of plants, birds, and animals. The area will be used for educational programs, and offers visitors an opportunity to see and learn about wildlife and the important functions that wetlands serve in the environment.

Sites on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail

• Boardwalk at Sea Rim State Park — UTC 027 — Birders have long taken their chances with highway traffic to stop at the wetland and willow complex just beyond the entrance to Sea Rim State Park. Now there is a pullout and one of Texas' best birding boardwalks to explore the ponds and check the willows, salt cedars and red mulberries for spring migrants.
• TxDOT High Island Roadside Park — UTC 051 — This park with its oaks and picnic tables was long overlooked by birders rushing to Houston Audubon Society's more famous High Island Sanctuaries. Enhancement funds were used to design and build a nature trail, irrigated butterfly and hummingbird gardens, and an educational kiosk with maps to direct people to all of the birding sites in High Island.
• Houston Audubon High Island Sanctuary — UTC 052 — Spring migration in Smith Oaks is one of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles in the world. An incredible diversity of songbirds swarms these trees as they complete their nonstop journey across the Gulf of Mexico. The boardwalk trails and viewing areas are wheelchair accessible.
• The Corps Woods at Galveston — UTC 061 — Galveston has a new birding park that is a result of a unique partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), City of Galveston, Galveston Parks Board, Galveston Chapter of the Houston Audubon Society, TPWD, and TxDOT. Enhancements include a nature trail and boardwalks through the woods to access a slough.
• Sundance Garden, Bay Street Park in Texas City — UTC 075 — This community park provides an opportunity to view butterflies and hummingbirds at gardens specifically designed to attract a variety of species.
• Trull Marsh — CTC 011 — Trull Marsh is located adjacent to TX 35 in Palacios. This semi-tidal marsh attracts an incredible variety of water birds, depending upon the water level. The site includes a boardwalk leading to an observation platform. The platform is placed at a distance from the wetlands so that observers do not disturb the feeding water birds.
• Lavaca / Navidad Estuary — CTC 023 — This site is closed as FM 616 is being widened to four lanes. In the near future the observation platform will be rebuilt along the new, improved highway.
• Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area — CTC 036 — This site offers a parking area and observation platform along the main highway that overlooks an extensive marsh and lake within the WMA. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds can be viewed from the observation area.
• Rockport Demo Bird Garden and Wetlands Pond — CTC 050 — Rockport and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) joined together to turn a highway rest area into a premiere hummingbird and butterfly garden. A boardwalk trail leads through an impressive stand of Trumpet Creeper (a native hummingbird plant) to a willow grove and wet slough.
• Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary in Rockport — CTC 051 — The sanctuary is on the site where, beginning in the 1930s, Connie and her husband Jack ran their small hotel, Rockport Cottages. It was Connie who alerted ornithologists to the huge bird migrations seen along the Texas Coast. The site includes oak mottes, a freshwater pond for birds, dragonflies and other wetland dependent species, an interpretive kiosk and observation platform, and a nature trail.
• Newbury Park Hummingbird Garden in Aransas Pass — CTC 052 —
  This community park is beautifully landscaped using native plants to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The park is a fine example of how wildlife habitat can be created in an urban environment. The combination of the garden and the coastal oak motte at this small park makes it a prime birding spot, especially during migrations.
• Port Aransas Birding Center — CTC 057 — This site offers a boardwalk and observation areas extending into a freshwater marsh associated with the adjacent wastewater treatment plant. These ponds provide a consistent supply of fresh water for a wide variety of birds and wetland wildlife. The boardwalk allows for close observation of many birds.
• Rio Vista Bluff Ranch — CTC 040A — Travel toward Refugio via US 77. The Rio Vista Ranch is located 16 miles south of Victoria off US 77. Turn left on FM 445 and go 2 miles toward McFaddin. Take a left on McFaddin Railroad Road and go 1.7 miles, crossing the Kuy Creek Bridge. Take the first right, crossing the railroad tracks, and bear left at the "Y" intersection. Go 3.4 miles, cross the wooden bridge, and proceed another mile to the ranch gate and sign. Over 350 bird species have been recorded on the ranch. Habitats include cypress swamp, coastal prairie wetlands, mesquite savannah, lakes, ponds, and riparian woodlands along the Guadalupe River. Wildlife, including deer, javelina and alligators, is abundant on this historic working ranch. Facilities include hiking trails and observation stands, some of which are wheelchair accessible. Be sure to stop by the McFaddin Cafe in McFaddin to learn more about the rich ranching history of the area and experience great food in an historic setting. Call 361-645-3458 for reservations or email snipes10@viptx.net
• Port Aransas Wetland Park — CTC 059 — This ephemeral freshwater wetland is surrounded by a reconstructed sand dune community, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the two habitats. The site offers a boardwalk and observation gazebo that overlooks a freshwater pond. When the pond is wet, visitors can be surrounded by hoards of waterfowl and shorebirds.

National Wildlife Refuges

• Anahuac – Current wheelchair accessible viewing areas include the Shoveler Pond Overlook, East Unit Hunt Blind, East Bay Bayou Fishing Bridge, and Galveston Bay Overlook. Shoveler Pond Boardwalk is under construction.
• Aransas/Matagorda Island – Current viewing facilities include the Heron Flats Trail Observation Deck, Jones Lake Observation Deck, and Hog Lake Observation Deck. The Big Tree Trail is planned to be accessible by August 2002. There is also a 16-mile paved auto tour loop. The refuge brochure is available in Braille.
• Brazoria – Facilities include Environmental Center and Information Pavilion, Big Slough Auto Tour, Teal Pond Observation Platform, and Bastrop Bayou Fishing Area.
• Buffalo Lake – Viewing facilities include the Stewart Marsh Hiking Trail and Observation Blind, Group Wildlife Interpretive Camping Site, Viewing Overlook, and Cottonwood Canyon Birding Trail.
• Hagerman – Current facilities include Harris Creek Fishing Area, Big Mineral Day Use Area, Cedar of Lebanon Display Area, and Hagerman Townsite Kiosk
• Laguna Atascosa – Current viewing facilities include the Bird Feeding Station/Photoblind, Butterfly Garden Walk, Kiskadee Trail (1/8 mile hard surface), Paisano Trail (1 1/4 mile paved), Osprey Overlook (covered platform with accessible scope), Alligator Pond Trail (1/4 mile paved), and Alligator Pond Viewing Platform.
• McFaddin – Facilities include the Pond 11 Waterfowl Hunting Blind and Five Mile Cut Fishing Pier.
• Santa Ana – Current viewing facilities include the Butterfly Garden Trail, the "A" Trail, and the Wildlife Tram/Auto Tour Route.
• San Bernard – Facilities include Moccasin Pond Auto Tour and Bobcat Woods Boardwalk and Trail.

Note: In addition to viewing sites listed above, many National Wildlife Refuges in Texas have accessible Visitor Centers, restrooms, and campsites.

National Park Service Sites

• Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
• Amistad National Recreation Area
• Big Bend National Park
• Big Thicket National Preserve - Sundew and Pitcher Plant Trails are 1/4 mile each in length.
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park
• Padre Island National Seashore

National Forest Service Sites

• Angelina National Forest
• Sabine National Forest
• Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest and Interpretive Trail System - The 1-mile "Jack Creek Loop" is the only major accessible trail in East Texas within a natural forest setting. Located halfway between Lufkin and Nacogdoches, the Forest, trails, and picnic area offer a unique area for public recreation and education about the natural resources and history of East Texas. The trails are open during day-light hours 7 days a week.

*Information will be coming soon for the National Park Service Sites and the National Forest Service Sites