Brazos Bend State Park
Needville, Texas

Download a Park Map (PDF) - courtesy of TPWD

The Brazos River, coupled with numerous lakes, creeks and marshes, infuses Brazos Bend State Park with life. Located thirty minutes from Houston, Texas' largest city, the 4,897-acre park transports visitors to another world; that world is one in which American alligator, white-tailed deer, raccoon and bobcat reign supreme. Over 270 bird species have been observed within the park, making Brazos Bend a prime birding locale as well.

The park is particularly well laid-out, with more than twenty miles of hiking and mountain biking trails traversing its wildlife-rich landscape. Several trails in the park are paved/handicapped accessible, including the .5 mile Creekfield Lake Nature Trail which features special signage for the visually impaired. Fishing is permitted from the lighted fishing piers along Elm Lake, Hale Lake, and 40 Acre Lake. Picnic tables are located in scenic lakeside areas throughout the park.

Visitors wishing to stay overnight in the park have several hundred campsites to choose from, ranging from RV and tent sites to screened shelters. An ampitheatre and dining hall are available. The George Observatory, located near Creekfield Lake, is an especially unique man-made feature of the park. The observatory houses several telescopes, including a 36-inch reflector that is usually available for public viewing on Saturday evenings from 3 PM to 10 PM; call (409)553-3400 for more information.

Park Rating Explanation of Symbols
Campsites/Overnight Facilities
Leashed Pets Permitted?	YES
Picnic Areas/Playgrounds
Solitude
Trail System
Water Recreation	0
Wildlife
Ratings are based on a scale of 0 to 4.

Shannon's Notebook

40 Acre Lake Trail

Copyright © Justin W. Moore
See more photos at OutdoorPhoto.com

Justin and I have explored much of Brazos Bend State Park, including the 1.2-mile 40 Acre Lake Trail and the observation tower near Pilant Lake. If you don't mind the 90 KB download, check out our panoramic photo taken from the observation tower.
As much as we have raved about the alligators at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, it has nothing on Brazos Bend. We saw at least eight American alligators during our visit. Every twenty steps or so we found another alligator--a pair sunning on the lakeshore, others floating menacingly in the waters, some sliding up to the waters edge as we approached.
While the alligators are hard to ignore, the bird life is equally conspicuous. During our three hour visit, we added several species(*) to our life lists:
Brazos Bend Birding Report
American crow

American coot

blue winged teal

great-tailed grackle

turkey vulture

red-winged blackbird

pied-billed grebe

moorhen*

Northern cardinal

Northern mockingbird

brown thrasher*

black & white warbler*

mottled duck

great egret

snowy egret

anhingua*

double-crested cormorant

white ibis

common yellowthroat*

American bittern*

tri-colored heron

little blue heron

great blue heron

black-capped chickadee

white-faced ibis

cinammon teal*

tufted titmouse

For more information, read our trip reports:

Birding on the Bayou

Camping at Brazos Bend

Share your comments or questions about this park.

Location

The park is located about 30 miles southwest of Houston. Travel south on State Highway 288 to Rosharon, then proceed west on FM 1462.
Map of Park's Location

For GPS Users: N 29° 22.81' W 095° 35.83' (WGS84/NAD83)
Convert to another coordinate sytem or map datum (Courtesy of Jeeep.com)

Hours

Open 7 days a week year-round from 8 AM to 10 PM for day use activities.

<Check for restricted park access before any trip. When controlled public hunts are in progress, general access is not permitted.

Fees

A park entrance fee is charged per day -- $3 per person for adults 13 years of age and older. (Texas residents age 65 or older pay only $2 per person.)

Campsite and other facility fees are in addition to the park entrance fee.

Note: Learn about the $60 Texas State Parks Pass which exempts passholders, and the passengers in their vehicle, from the entrance fees at all Texas State Parks.

Reservations

Reserve Now for campsites and other park facilities.

Reservations can also be made by calling TPWD's Central Reservation System at (512)389-8900 from 9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday, 9 AM to noon on Saturdays.