![]() | Laguna AtascosaBrochure |
Brochure for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Texas. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
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Laguna Atascosa
National Wildlife Refuge
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We hope you enjoy your visit! We have recorded more species of
birds than any other national wildlife refuge, provide habitat for
several endangered species including the ocelot and aplomado
falcon, and welcome visitors from around the world to discover
the great diversity of birds, plants and wildlife found only in deep
south Texas. Walk a trail, attend a tour, explore the exhibits, or
bike our over 70 miles of trails. There’s something for everyone!
Important Visitor Information
To enter the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, visitors
can pay entrance fees by cash or check at the Visitor Center, or
with exact change or check at the self-pay station when the visitor
center is closed. Entrance fees are applicable whether visitors
are walking, driving or bicycling on the Refuge. All vehicles must
display a valid Daily Entrance Pass—either issued by the Visitor
Center staff or from the self-pay envelope.
Help Us Protect the Refuge
You can keep this Refuge special for wildlife and people by
following all Refuge rules:
Be watchful for wildlife on roads—especially the endangered
ocelot.
Please stay in the designated public areas (i.e., drives and trails)
for your own safety and to protect the habitat.
Keep dogs on a leash, and do not allow them to drink or enter
water bodies due to the presence of alligators.
Pack out your trash.
Do not disturb or remove wildlife, plants or historic objects.
Disturbance is caused by getting too close to wildlife, playing
recorded bird/wildlife calls, feeding wildlife, or throwing objects at
wildlife. Metal detectors are not allowed.
No fireworks, fires, or alcohol.
Camping is allowed only at Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park
(entrance and camping fees apply for this area, call 956/748-2044
for information).
For your safety and comfort
Avoid chiggers, ticks and rattlesnakes by staying on trails.
Be prepared with insect repellent, water and sunscreen.
Plan to hike or bike during the cooler hours of the day (March–
November).
Use a map to plan your trip when venturing out on trails.
Take a cell phone in case of an emergency.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes with closed toes.
Watching Wildlife
For better observation of wildlife, keep noise to a minimum, move
slowly, use your vehicle as a blind, try staying in one place and be
patient. Most wildlife are active early or late in the day. For your
safety and to avoid disturbing wildlife, stay at a safe distance.
Feeding wildlife is illegal on the refuge as it causes animals to lose
their natural fear of humans and they can become dangerous.
Bridge
Dirt Trail
Gravel Trail/Road
Paved Trail/Road
Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park
Wetlands
Private Property
Non-refuge Property
Refuge Boundary
For More Information Contact
Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
22817 Ocelot Road (Mailing)
22688 Buena Vista Road (Physical & GPS)
Los Fresnos, Texas 78566
956/748-3607, ext 111 (Visitor Center)
www.fws.gov/refuge/laguna_atascosa
www.facebook.com/LagunaAtascosaNWR
October 2017
Photographs from left to right, Ocelot. / © Larry Ditto
Enjoying wildlife watching. / USFWS
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Designated Public Areas
Laguna Atascosa Unit: Visitor Center Area
There are several short, loop trails that visitors may walk (see map
insert). These trails are accessible and offer several wildlife viewing
areas, native plants, and are great for seeing butterflies and forest
birds. The Mesquite Trail is a 1.5-mile loop dirt trail that passes by
historic El Granjeno Cemetery
Lakeside Drive—1.5 miles, paved and gravel , pedestrians, bicycles,
and vehicles
Follow this road to reach our 3,500-acre freshwater lake, Laguna
Atascosa. In the fall, this shallow lake can have more than 20
species of wintering waterfowl, egrets, herons, pelicans and
shorebirds that feed and rest on the lake. Osprey Overlook features
a covered kiosk to browse the lake for wildlife.
Bayside Drive—14.2 miles (1 mile-gravel, 13.2 miles-paved),
Currently pedestrians, bicycles and Refuge tour vehicles only,
{plan to reopen to private vehicles after construction completed}
This loop winds through thornscrub forest, coastal prairies,
freshwater wetlands and along the Laguna Madre shoreline.
Plover Point Boardwalk allows you to view the Laguna Madre and
is a great place to see shorebirds. Redhead Ridge Overlook gives
you a 360 degree view, including Bayside Lake and Laguna de los
Patos. Wildlife sightings may include aplomado falcons, white-tail
deer, Texas tortoise, osprey, great blue heron, roseate spoonbills,
reddish egret, crested caracara, Harris’ hawk and non-native nilgai
antelope. One mile south of Redhead Ridge Overlook is the 1.7 mile
Moranco Blanco Trail which offers hikers and bikers a great view
overlooking the Laguna Madre. Guided tours of the Bayside Drive
are available seasonally.
Hiking and Biking Trails Open All Year (except during refuge
hunts)
Gator Pond Trail—3.3 miles (.3 miles-paved; 3 miles- dirt)
White tailed hawks and aplomado falcons can be seen here. When
accessed from the Osprey Overlook parking area, the first .3 miles
of this trail is accessible (paved). It follows the shoreline of Laguna
Atascosa (lake), leading to a viewing platform on Alligator Pond
that hosts alligators during wet years. The dirt trail continues for
another 3 miles mostly through prairie, ending at FM106.
County Trail—5.75 miles, gravel
Accessed from Lakeside Drive, this trail is the primary route to
access most of the northern hiking and biking trails. It is adjacent
to the neighboring Buena Vista Ranch and passes through
thornscrub, savanna, prairie and former agricultural lands that
are being restored to thornscrub. Visitors can get to Crossing #2
on the Cayo Atascosa on gravel trails if you follow County Trail to
Last Gate Trail and go north on Center Line Trail.
Luttes Camp Trail—3 miles, gravel
This trail connects the County and West Lake Trails.
Last Gate Trail to Centerline Trail North—2 miles, gravel.
These trails connect County and Upper West Lake Trails.
Prairie Trail—4.1 miles, gravel and dirt
Prairie Trail Parking Area is located on FM106 just west of San
Roman Rd, 5.8 miles from the visitor center. An information kiosk,
bike rack and entrance fee station are located here. From the
Prairie Trail Parking Area visitors can enter Prairie Trail and the
southern ends of West Lake Trail and Gator Pond Trail, leading
to the network of hiking and biking trails. Prairie Trail traverses
coastal prairie and thornscrub, and in wet years has several
ponds. There are also views of the Cayo Atascosa—the water that
feeds into Laguna Atascosa. American alligators can be present in
the freshwater.
Lower West Lake Trail—6 miles, gravel
The lower end of West Lake Trail is one of the most scenic trails
on the refuge. It takes you through coastal prairie, the western
shoreline of Laguna Atascosa lake, two brushy lomas and
numerous freshwater wetlands during wet years. Great for water
birds and raptors.
Hiking and Biking Trails Open Fall/Winter Only (except during
hunting seasons)—all are dirt
Upper West Lake Trail—6.3 miles
The upper end of West Lake Trail follows the northern Cayo
Atascosa.
Kidney Pond Trail—2.5 miles, dirt.
Passes by a small pond that generally has an alligator.
Giant Palm Trail—.3 miles
Island Fields Trail—2 miles
Mud Trail—.5 miles
Scum Pond Trail—1.9 miles
South Boundary Trail—.8 miles
Eva Thompson Trail—1.2 miles
Horse Island Trail—3.7 miles
North Point Trail—3.5 miles
Bahia Grande Unit
Highway 48 Viewing Area—From Highway 100, follow Highway
48 south of Port Isabel. There is a parking area pull-out on the
right side of the road before you get to the main water channel
to Bahia Grande. This is a great place to see wading and shore
birds. The refuge also offers birding tours of the Bahia Grande
Unit seasonally.
South Padre Island Unit
Visitors may enjoy the refuge tracts along the beach north of
Public Access 6 off Padre Blvd. Activities include beachcombing,
fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, swimming and primitive
camping. The dunes and tidal flats, however, are closed to public
activities as they are sensitive wildlife habitats. These tracts are
many miles from the public access and are generally accessed by
4-wheel drive vehicle.
Hunting
Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge conducts seasonal archery and firearm hunts for
white-tailed deer, nilgai antelope (exotic) and feral hog. This
allows us to maintain a healthy deer population as well as
keep exotic animals in check. These hunts take place between
November and January. Hunting areas will be closed to visitors
during hunts. To apply go to tpwd.texas.gov/drawnhunts.
The Friends of Laguna Atascosa Refuge is a nonprofit organization
whose purpose is to advocate for and support the mission and
goals of the Refuge. They are comprised of a board of directors, a
part-time nature store manager, and there are opportunities to
become members and volunteers. This nonprofit group operates
and receives all proceeds from the nature store located in the
Refuge visitor center. The Friends also sponsor the Save Texas
Ocelots specialty license plate, and offer an Adopt-an-Ocelot
program. Funds raised
through these programs
are used to protect ocelot
habitat, for research and
monitoring of ocelots and to
raise the public’s awareness
of endangered ocelots. For
more information visit: www.
friendsoflagunaatascosa.org
or call 956/748-3607 x112.
Fishing
The refuge offers fishing opportunities and boat access on the
Arroyo Colorado at Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park in Arroyo
City (the county has an entrance fee for this area, call 956/7482044 for information). The beaches of the South Padre Island Unit
are great for surf fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. San Martin Lake
(part of the Bahia Grande Unit) can be accessed at the Jaime
Zapata Memorial Boat Ramp, Fishing Pier and Kayak Launch
south of Port Isabel on State Highway 48. Please keep our waters
clean and properly dispose of your trash and fishing line. If you
are using a boat in shallow waters with seagrass, remember to
Lift, Drift, Pole or Troll to avoid uprooting the seagrass.
Bicycling
Riding a bike on the refuge is a great way to connect with nature.
You can cover more distance than on foot, and explore the far
reaches of the refuge away from the hustle and bustle. It is
important to be prepared before starting your trip. The following
are recommended guidelines for bicycling on the refuge.
Wide tires work best on the dirt and gravel trails.
Carry extra tire tubes and a repair kit—our vegetation is thorny!
Slime and tube shields are recommended for your tires to avoid
flats.
If your bike breaks down, you must be prepared to walk it back to
your vehicle.
Yield to hikers, always give pedestrians the right of way.
When on roads, ride with the flow of traffic.
Check the forecast. High winds will make pedaling more
challenging and weather can change quickly.
Picnicking
There is a designated picnic area with tables off the parking area
at the Visitor Center. No grills are allowed. Please put all trash in
receptacles.
Alligator Safety
1. Always keep a safe distance from alligators and do not approach
an alligator.
2. If you encounter an alligator, back away slowly and make no
sudden moves.
3. Do not feed alligators. If fed, they can become aggressive
toward people. You could receive a fine for this action.
4. Alligators are typically found in freshwater, but they can
move over land.
5. Keep a close eye on pets and small children.