Falcon

Falcon SP https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/falcon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_International_Reservoir#Recreation Falcon State Park is 572.6 acres (2.317 km2) located between Falcon Heights, Texas, and Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, and is the southern end of a 98,960-acre (400.5 km2) International Falcon Reservoir. The park's main activities include camping, swimming, fishing, water skiing, and boating, with a self-guided nature trail. Bass fishing is particularly popular on the lake.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Falcon State Park TexasStateParks.org/App TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia #TexasStateParks #BetterOutside LEGEND PLEASE NOTE • N • • PARK ROAD 46 • • • • Hiking trail loop = 2.6 miles total ails s Tr Whitebrush Trail nd odla Wo 210 211 212 213 214 217 209 208 207 202 201 204 206 205 203 227 225 223 221 224 226 219 220 222 218 231 131 230 101 130 229 102 228 129 128 103 Javelina Run 216 215 104 Mesquite Bend Sites 201-231 114 105 113 20 Ceniz o Loo p 127 106 112 115 120 119 118 116 117 126 • SPEED LIMIT • Roadrunner Trail 125 124 107 108 109 111 110 • MPH ser Wheelchair Accessible Showers Self-Composting Toilet Primitive Campsites Water and Electric Sites Full Hookup Sites Dump Station Hiking Trail Covered Picnic Parking Dumpster 123 121 Screened Shelters Sites 101-131 1 Shelters with AC Recreation Hall t Tr ail Boat Ramp Fish Cleaning 1 Sites 43-79 Verdin Trail Desert Trail 3 Osprey Loop 2 5 7 11 8 12 10 14 Wildlife Viewing 13 15 16 17 19 18 Ca hL 22 an e 21 23 20 tfis Butterfly Garden Roadrunner Loop 9 6 4 Black Bass Loop Restrooms 122 Cenizo Loop De Headquarters CHECK OUT time is 12 p.m. or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. A maximum of eight people permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time is from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATION. Pets must be kept on leash. Please pick up after them. Gathering of firewood is prohibited. Campfires are permitted only in fire rings provided at each site. No ground fires are permitted. Please use extreme caution with any burning materials during the high-fire danger summer brings. Stop the spread of invasive species. CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat. Please review complete Park Rules and Regulations posted at headquarters. Favor de revisar el reglamento completo del parque que se encuentra en la oficina central. Residence Maintenance 24 146 Park Road 46 P.O. Box 2 Falcon Heights, TX 78545 (956) 848-5327 TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4502-060B (2/23) This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE Falcon State Park is a great place to enjoy the natural world around you. Try your luck fishing, take a hike or ride a bike on one of the trails, spend the night at one of our campsites, A/C cabins or shelters, or just explore! Any way you choose to experience the park, please enjoy it safely and responsibly! • Please be safe while swimming or paddling. • Trash your trash, it can hurt the wildlife living here. • Hike on designated trails and park in designated areas. • Respect wildlife by keeping your dog on a leash. • Public consumption or display of alcohol in the park is prohibited NEARBY POINTS OF INTEREST Lake Casa Blanca International State Park 5102 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo, TX 78041 • (956) 725-3826 WELCOME TO FALCON STATE PARK, EVERYONE IS WELCOME! THE FISHING IS ALWAYS GOOD, THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY EASY AND THE WILDLIFE WATCHING IS WAITING FOR YOU. SPEND THE NIGHT HERE TO SHAKE OFF THE STRESSES OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND TAKE Roma Bluffs World Birding Center (part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge) 610 N. Portscheller St., Roma, TX 78584 Salineno Bird Preserve (Valley Land Fund) Salineno, TX 78584 Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062), Mission, TX 78572 (956) 584-9156 Falcon State Park 146 Park Roadd 46, Falcon Heights, TX 78545 (956) 848-5327 • www.tpwd.texas.gov/falcon/ IN A SUNSET OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO. © 2021 TPWD. PWD BR P4502-0060E (7/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. FALCON FALCON SSTATE TATE PPARK ARK F A L C O N S T A T E P A R K ATTRACTING PEOPLE FOR CENTURIES Before the lake you see now was created, the Rio Grande River brought several peoples to this area. Native Americans gathered food and water, Spanish missionaries strived to convert people to Christianity, and then Spanish settlers built cattle ranches and villages that lasted for centuries. Unfortunately, most of the remnants of the past were lost when the land was flooded to create the lake, and even more when the lake was low, and people looted the sites, stealing your past. In present day, known for world-class fishing, Falcon Reservoir still brings people from far and wide. They fish, boat and take a dip to cool off in the hot South Texas summers. When dedicated by U.S. and Mexican presidents, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adolfo Ruiz Cortines in 1953, the dam formed a 28-mile lake with a surface area of 87,400 acres (354 sq km). Unfortunately, due to severe droughts and increased water usage the lake is a fraction of its original size. The bass are still biting though, so get out there and cast your line! BE KIND TO OUR HOME T Texas tortoise NATURE’S BEAUTY ABOUNDS The natural world here has changed a lot since it was a shallow bay about 50 million years ago. You can still find fossilized oysters on the shores. Away from the lake, the arid landscape teems with wildlife specialized to live here. Species like the javelina and Texas tortoise use the thick scrub as shelter and food. Birds and butterflies love this area too, making it an excellent place to work on your life lists of those species. The blooms aren’t always big and don’t last long but when they’re open, colorful birds and butterflies swarm around. A quick and easy walk on the 2.8-mile trail loop will show you just how harsh but beautiful this landscape can be. The butterfly garden and bird blind bring people from far and wide. Monarch butterfly Green kingfisher he land here has always been a place for people and wildlife to live together, but it can only continue to be with your help. With lots of visitors comes lots of impact to the natural world. As you enjoy the park, remember you’re in the home of a javelina, quail, Texas tortoise or one of many other animals that live here. Be a good guest and Leave No Trace®! Pick up trash when you see it and stay on hard surfaces like trails and roads. Leave flowers and plants where they are so the next visitor can enjoy their beauty. Desert willow Javelina 

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF FA L C O N S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2019 INTRODUCTION F alcon State Park is a 572.6-acre tract that lies at the southern end of the Falcon International Reservoir, partly in Starr County, partly in Zapata County. The dam was dedicated in 1953. Work was completed on the embankment in 1954. Falcon State Park opened to the public in 1965. Its Tamaulipan thornscrub woodlands and gently rolling terrain offer excellent birding. Blackbrush acacia, persimmon, cenizo, guayacan, allthorn and other native plants provide habitat. A 2.6-mile hiking loop circles the park and is clearly marked with signs that name each trail segment. The shoreline can be accessed from day use and boat launch areas. In the distant past, the Rio Grande River seasonally overflowed its banks as it carried a tremendous volume of water and sediment from the high mountains of Colorado and Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. Frequently, flow from spring flooding and late summer storms would alter the course of the river. Today, dams such as Falcon International Reservoir help control water flow. The river originates in the Rio Grande National Forest of Colorado. By the time it reaches Presidio, Texas, flow is greatly diminished. Only water from the mountains of Northern Mexico now flows between Presidio and the Gulf of Mexico. Resident species such as Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Greater Roadrunner, Bewick’s Wren, Verdin, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Olive Sparrow and Black-throated Sparrow are often easily seen. Specialties such as Zone-tailed Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher might be found. This checklist follows the nomenclature and organization of the 58th supplement to the A.O.S. Check-list of North American Birds. It was compiled by Sherry Wilson from data provided by visiting birders, with feedback from Mary Beth Stowe. Please report any new or unusual observations to the state park headquarters. Your contributions will help with future updates to this checklist. Please help us protect the natural avian communities in our parks by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Frequent use of these tapes disrupts normal avian activity patterns and essential territorial behavior, and may lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation. 1 LEGEND C U R X W Sp S F – – – – – – – – Common; often seen daily Uncommon; might be seen, some years more likely than others Rare; very few sightings Extremely rare; only a few records exist Winter (December, January, February) Spring (March, April, May) Summer (June, July, August) Fall (September, October, November) 2 CHECKLIST W Sp S F GEESE AND DUCKS ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck R U R R ___ Fulvous Whistling-Duck X ___ Snow Goose R R R ___ Ross’s Goose X X ___ Greater White-fronted Goose R U ___ Canada Goose X ___ Muscovy Duck X X ___ Wood Duck R R X ___ Blue-winged Teal U U U ___ Cinnamon Teal R R ___ Northern Shoveler U U R ___ Gadwall U U R ___ American Wigeon U U U ___ Mallard U U U ___ Mottled Duck U U U U ___ Northern Pintail U R U ___ Green-winged Teal U R R ___ Canvasback R R R ___ Redhead R R R ___ Ring-necked Duck U R ___ Lesser Scaup R R ___ Bufflehead U R R ___ Hooded Merganser R X R ___ Red-breasted Merganser R R ___ Ruddy Duck R R 3 R W Sp S F GUANS ___ Plain Chachalaca R U R R NEW WORLD QUAIL ___ Northern Bobwhite C C C C ___ Scaled Quail U U U U TURKEYS ___ Wild Turkey R R R GREBES ___ Least Grebe U ___ Pied-billed Grebe R U C C ___ Horned Grebe X ___ Eared Grebe U U PIGEONS AND DOVES ___ Rock Pigeon U ___ Red-billed Pigeon U R R R ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove C C C U ___ Inca Dove C C C C ___ Common Ground-Dove C C C C ___ White-tipped Dove R R R R ___ White-winged Dove U C C U ___ Mourning Dove C C C C CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, ANIS ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo U U ___ Greater Roadrunner C C C C ___ Groove-billed Ani R C C R GOATSUCKERS ___ Lesser Nighthawk 4 C C R W Sp S F ___ Common Nighthawk C C R ___ Common Pauraque C C C C ___ Common Poorwill R R X ___ Chuck-will’s-widow X ___ Eastern Whip-poor-will R SWIFTS ___ Chimney Swift U R R HUMMINGBIRDS ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird U U ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird R R R ___ Rufous Hummingbird X X ___ Buff-bellied Hummingbird X R R RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS ___ Sora R ___ Purple Gallinule R ___ Common Gallinule R R ___ American Coot C C R R C CRANES ___ Sandhill Crane R R STILTS AND AVOCETS ___ Black-necked Stilt R U X ___ American Avocet R R U PLOVERS ___ American Golden Plover R ___ Snowy Plover X X ___ Semipalmated Plover R ___ Killd

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pre