The Explore RGV initiative is putting the Rio Grande Valley on the map with their website and mobile app directory. Browse by location or by cateogry to plan the perfect itinerary. With spring in the air, this is a beautiful time of year to enjoy one of the many hike and bike trails across our four counties. Visitors and residents alike can use this helpful guide to explore the native flora and fauna the region has to offer. Happy trails!
To view video footage or find more information on these locations, visit www.goexplorergv.com.
25TH STREET HIKE & BIKE TRAIL
This Harlingen trail is paved and 4.1 miles long. Beginning at Hugh Ramsey Nature Park and traveling to 25th Street, it’s ideal for walkers and runners, bicyclists, and families.
Harlingen, TX
2ND STREET HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL
Take your family on a trip through the city outdoors to the hike and bike trails located throughout McAllen. Our linear parks are a great place to go running, jogging, skating, cycling, or walking with the entire family. The city encourages exercise and fitness opportunities for local families and visitors, so come enjoy a healthy workout with beautiful scenery.
West Nolana Avenue, McAllen, TX
BELDEN TRAIL
The Belden Trail is 1-mile long and connects Skinner Elementary with Praxedis Orive Jr. (Sunrise) Park on Palm Boulevard along a 10-foot-wide path made of concrete. The trail has lighting and benches and features bollards, or vertical barriers, at intersections to keep out cars and motorcycles.
W. Third St., Brownsville, TX
BENTSEN-RIO GRANDE VALLEY STATE PARK
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive south of the city of Mission in Hidalgo County in the U.S. state of Texas. It serves as the headquarters for the World Birding Center.
2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Mission, TX
BICENTENNIAL HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL
The Bicentennial Hike and Bike Trail is the ideal place for outdoor activity and exercise for the whole family. While enjoying this scenic 5-and-a-half-mile trail, you will pass the International Museum of Art & Science, McAllen High School, and a few other points of interest. It’s wheelchair accessible and fully paved.
Bicentennial Bwoulevard, McAllen, TX
DELTA LAKE PARK
One of Precinct 1’s proudest accomplishments is the restoration and renovation of classic Delta Lake Park. Fully operational since 1997, the park has been recognized by the state of Texas for its scenic environment, nature, and quality park services.
28312 Farm to Market 88, Edcouch, TX
EAST LAKE TRACT (LRGV NWR)
East Lake is a 1,700 acre tract nearly 5 miles west of Raymondville, Texas off of Hwy. 1761. This tract contains innland hypersaline lakes and provides excellent wildlife watching and nature photography opportunties. The hiking/walking trails are accessible by foot only.
Highway 1761, near Raymondville
EDINBURG SCENIC WETLANDS AND WORLD BIRDING CENTER
Edinburg Scenic Wetlands have a 40-acre destination featuring walking trails for birdwatching & an educational center.
714 S. Raul Longoria Road, Edinburg, TX
ESTERO LLANO GRANDE
Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco attracts a spectacular array of South Texas wildlife with its varied landscape of shallow lake, woodlands and thorn forest. Even beginning birders and nature lovers will enjoy exploring this 230 plus-acre refuge, which is convenient to all the Rio Grande Valley has to offer.
3301 S. International Blvd., Weslaco, TX
FALCON STATE PARK
Fish in the 84,000-acre Falcon International Reservoir, on the Rio Grande. Anglers mainly catch largemouth bass and channel catfish here. Access the lake via our boat ramp, and then clean your catch at our fish cleaning station.
146 Park Road 46, Roma, TX
FORDYCE NATURE TRAILS
Approximately 200 acres of native brush, rising slopes lush meadows and streams for nature and adventure enthusiasts.
1496 U.S. 83, Rio Grande City, TX
FRONTERA AUDUBON
Frontera Audubon is a nonprofit, urban nature park and birding hotspot in Weslaco, Texas (Rio Grande Valley), featuring the Historic Skaggs House.
1101 South Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX
HARLINGEN ARROYO COLORADO
A gateway to the entire World Birding Center network, Harlingen’s Arroyo Colorado is close to major highways and an international airport, but remains a quiet wooded retreat from the hustle of urban life. Connected by the arroyo waterway, as well as hike-and-bike trails meandering through the city, Hugh Ramsey Nature Park to the east and the Harlingen Thicket to the west anchor an important reservoir of nature in a fast-changing world.
1001 Texas 499 Loop, Harlingen, TX
HEAVIN RESACA TRAIL (SAN BENITO RESACA)
The Heavin Resaca Trail is a trail along the resacas that is 2.6 miles long.
143 South Reagan St., San Benito, TX
HISTORIC BATTLEFIELD TRAIL
The Historic Battlefield Trail is a safe 9-mile hike and bike path that runs south – north directly through the middle of the city. The rich heritage and history of the Rio Grande Valley is ensconced in this trail.
1 Event Center, Brownsville, TX
LA FERIA NATURE CENTER
La Feria Nature Center is a park with walking trails, observation decks for bird watching, a playground, and a butterfly garden.
Rabb Road, La Feria, TX
LA PUERTA TRACT (LRGV NWR)
La Puerta is a 4,000 acre tract that is three miles east of Rio Grande City, Texas on Hwy. 83. It represent semiarid barretal habitat and provides excellent wildlife watching and nature photography opportunties. The hiking/walking trails are accessible by foot only. There is a designated parking lot and informational kiosk.
Rio Grande City, TX
LA SAL DEL REY TRACT (LRGV NWR)
La Sal del Rey, or “the King’s Salt,” is one of three naturally occurring salt lakes in South Texas. Sitting atop an estimated four million tons of salt, these hypersaline lakes are seven times saltier than the ocean.
On Highway 186, 5 miles east of Interstate 69
LA SAL VIEJA TRACT (LRGV NWR)
Hiking trails lead through and into small wetlands. Ocelots lay low in the brush, home also to bobcats, deer, javelinas and songbirds. A mile-long walk to one of the salty lakes leads to a haven for black skimmers, stilts, avocets, and one of the largest concentrations of gull-billed terns in the United States. Look for them resting on spits of land, originally built as causeways to oil drilling pads. Today, the wealth is measured in bird life.
About 10 miles northwest of Raymondville
LA VISTA PARK TRAIL & FITNESS SYSTEM
Green space with a playground, picnic shelters & BBQ pits, plus a volleyball court & jogging trails.
100 W. La Vista Ave., McAllen, TX
LAGUNA ATASCOSA NWR
Laguna Atascosa NWR is a protected area for ocelots and many migratory birds offering trails, kayak tours, and driving route.
22688 Buena Vista Blvd., Los Fresnos, TX
LOS ENCINOS PARK TRAIL & FITNESS SYSTEM
This is a great place to go running, jogging, skating, cycling, or walking with the entire family. Open 24 hours.
2900 Sarah Ave., McAllen, TX
MISSION HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL
Bentsen Palm features a system of more than 10 miles of hike and bike trails that connect homeowners and visitors to nature. Thoughtfully designed to get you close to the area’s many species of birds and wildlife, our trails are one of the most popular attractions at Bentsen Palm. Open 24 hours
1414 S. Conway Ave., Mission, TX
MONTE BELLA TRAILS PARK
Visit this beautiful Monte Bella Trails park on the outskirts of Brownsville opened in 2007 this park is a wide open space. Enjoy beginner level 7 miles single track mountain bike course that runs counter-clockwise elevation 31 feet. There are also runners and hikers on this trail. This natural preserved park serves as a buffer between the rapidly growing, mostly residential west side of Brownsville and the Rio Grande River East – West Natural Corridor system. Monday -Sunday: sunrise to sunset
2555 West Alton Gloor Blvd., Brownsville, TX
NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER
The National Butterfly Center has more than 200 species of wild butterflies in a 100-acre habitat with trails, gardens & a pavilion.
3333 Butterfly Park, Mission, TX
NATURE TRAIL PARK IN LASARA
1-mile nature trail featuring park benches, a bridge and a wildlife observation platform for the community to enjoy.
11932 Jones St., Raymondville, TX
OLD HIDALGO PUMPHOUSE
On a break from cross-border shopping excursions, visitors to this museum on the Rio Grande can learn about the steam-driven irrigation pumps that transformed Hidalgo County into a year-round farming phenomenon. They also can wander the museum’s grounds, where hummingbird gardens are planned, and where many of the Valley’s amazing bird species are regular visitors as well.
902 South 2nd St., Hidalgo, TX
PALMITO RANCH BATTLEFIELD
Palmito Ranch Battlefield NHL, lies in the Texas Tropical Trail Region, which showcases the heritage, natural beauty, and rich culture of South Texas for the benefit and enjoyment of Texans and travelers. The last Civil War battle took place here.
Brownsville, TX
PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NHP
Palo Alto Battlefield is one of more than 400 national park units across the country. The park is unique because it is the only unit of the NPS to interpret the U.S.–Mexican War.
7200 Paredes Line Road, Brownsville, TX
