Road Trip! Goose Island | New Parkland Purchases | Bluebonnets Have Begun | Tips to Elevate Camp Cooking |and More!
View as a Webpage

Reservations | Find a Park | Activities | More

header white orig font and SP logo

Road Trip! Goose Island

Big Tree at Goose Island, video link

Located on the coast, serene Goose Island is home to 2 things you won't find at any other park: endangered whooping cranes and the ancient Big Tree. It also boasts a 1,620-foot long fishing pier, forests, an island and bay access. Whether you stay overnight or visit for a day, there's a lot to discover. 

To-do list for Goose Island:

  1. Take a photo with Big Tree, one of the largest live oaks in the nation. 
  2. Try salt-water fishing. No license required to fish from shore or pier, and the park loans fishing gear – just bring bait and a smile!
  3. Look for whooping cranes from Dec. to mid-April. They hang out in estuaries and a field near Big Tree – see where in our video.
  4. Do some paddling – bring your own kayak or rent one at the park
  5. Take a nature walk and look for wildlife. Shorebirds are always present and thousands of other birds stop by in spring.

Swimming's not recommended because of underwater terrain, but that terrain helps to make the fishing great. See how unique this park is in our video Goose Island State Park. 

New Parkland Purchases

Colorado River running between new parkland and park

New purchase is L of river, Colorado Bend is on R.


We recently purchased 2,020 acres for a future park in Central Texas. It includes 2 miles along the Colorado River and is located across the river from Colorado Bend State Park.

This is phase 1 of a potential 2-phase purchase to create a new state park 3,000+ acres in size. Find details in our press release TPWD Finalizes Purchase of 2,020 Acres Near Colorado Bend State Park.
woman fishing off covered pier at Lake Colorado City SP

Lake Colorado City


We have also purchased the land we previously leased for Lake Colorado City State Park, an oasis in West Texas.

We had been leasing the 500-acre park for more than 50 years. To purchase the property, we utilized funding from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax. Find more information in our press release TPWD Completes Purchase of Lake Colorado City State Park.

Pro Tips for Camp Dining

A table with a variety of outdoor meals, link

If you want to level up your outdoor dining game, we found 2 great camp cooking, prep and presentation articles in the vault of Texas Park & Wildlife magazine. They include tested recipes and timeless tips, like:

  • Why bring cloth napkins – not paper
  • Importance of a tablecloth 
  • Why the first night’s menu should be super simple

Find the tried-and-true recipes and tips in the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine stories Fancy Pants Camp Cooking and Skill Builder: Camp Cooking. 

Register for the Great Texas Birding Classic, link

A message from our partner, Whole Earth Provision Co.: 

Banff Film Fest, link

Adapted Outdoor Recreation Event in April

Woman transferring from wheelchair to kayak

Don't miss our 3rd Annual Fun for All event at Inks Lake on April 12 – for all ages. Try adapted archery, use a kayak transfer chair, check out adaptive fishing equipment and more. To ensure your spot in the fun, reserve day passes ahead of time.

If you have a disability and need a reasonable modification for an upcoming visit to a state park, fill out the new ADA Modification Request form or contact the TWPD Accessibility office. 

If you're interested in more accessible programs, tours and other events, you'll find wheelchair-friendly events and online events on our calendar.

Reserve Now for Spring Break + Wildflowers

bluebonnet blooming in the desert

They're heeeeere! The first bluebonnet at a state park has been spotted – at Big Bend Ranch. Bluebonnets can bloom January to June, but they typically put on their big show in March, along with many other wildflowers – and you don't want to miss it. 

Spring Break + wildflower season make March one of the most popular months for park visits. Get your March day passes as soon as possible – you can reserve day passes up to 30 days in advance. Make your reservation now to avoid disappointment later!

Keep up with the beauty of spring at your parks by following us on Instagram and Facebook. We'll see you out there! 

Messages from Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine advertisers:

Visit Matagorda Bay Birdfest, link
Visit Padre Island, link
Texas Brigades Summer Camps, link
Visit Laredo, with link
This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department · 4200 Smith School Road · Austin, TX 78744 · 800-792-1112 GovDelivery logo