State Parks Getaways – April 2022

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sent this bulletin at 03/31/2022 03:00 PM CDT

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Ride the Wave of Spring Wildflowers

Yellow and orange wildflowers in a field, video link

It's that time of year when our world-famous wildflowers start flooding the landscape. Enjoy their natural beauty by planning a park visit in April. Watch for pools of color along the road as you drive to parks and multi-colored splashes within the parks. Insider tip: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center tells us to expect the most blooms this year in the Central and Southeastern parts of the state.

For a sample of the experience, watch our short video LBJ State Park Flowers. Find out more about wildflowers in the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine article Parks in Bloom.

11 Parks Perfect for Paddling

Canoe nosing into Caddo Lake SP, video link

Whether you prefer to paddle a kayak, canoe or SUP, there's likely a park near you with a lake, river or official paddling trail – like Village Creek.

Many parks rent canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards with life jackets and paddles provided. You bring a hat, drinking water, sunblock and a smile.

Try paddling at these unique parks:

Caddo Lake – E of Tyler
Possum Kingdom – W of DFW
Sea Rim – S of Beaumont

Find more perfect paddling locations in 11 Parks to Paddle.

Bluebonnet license plate supporting state parks, with link

Everyone is Welcome at State Parks

Woman on beach in wheelchair rented at Mustang Island SP

Your state parks are committed to creating a welcoming environment with unique outdoor experiences, programs and facilities for all Texans.

Find parks and programs to meet the needs of you, your family or your friends:

General information about park accessibility
Parks with accessible features
Park events for people with mobility impairments
Call the park you plan to visit to learn more about its accessible features.
Email accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov with accommodation requests, complaints and questions.

The woman in the photo is seated in a beach wheelchair. It's 1 of 2 currently available for use free of charge at Mustang Island. Watch for more accessibility improvements in the future. We'll see you out there!

April Texas State Parks month at Whole Earth Provisions, link

Parks Are the Place for Birds + Bird Songs

Spring is the most active time for birds. Head out to a park in April to find them singing and building nests. Many migrating birds also stop off at parks on their way north.

Impress your friends by knowing the names of birds after looking over The 12 Most Beautiful Birds in Texas. Even better, I.D. them by song after listening to the audio files in Name That Tune.

Watch for bird events at parks all year long. Many parks are home to strikingly beautiful birds year-round, including:

Ft. Parker – S of DFW: red-headed woodpeckers
Estero Llano Grande – Rio Grande Valley: Altamira orioles
Goose Island – N of Corpus Christi: great blue herons

Make Easter Weekend Reservations Now

Reserve your day passes in advance for Easter weekend to guarantee you'll get into your chosen park. As a rule, make reservations for holiday weekends as early as possible – you can get a day pass up to 30 days in advance. If you can’t make it to the park, be sure to cancel so others can visit. Make reservations now to avoid disappointment later!

Messages from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine advertisers:

Wings Over Water at Moody Gardens, ad with link

Texas Archeological Society meet-up, ad with link

State Parks Getaways is made possible in part by the generous support of Toyota.