Backdrop photo by Chase Fountain

In 2025, our team filled the pages of Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine with transportive stories and visually stunning photography from across the state, capturing moments of wonder, resilience, and discovery in Texas' state parks and wild places. Across 10 issues, we shared the best in outdoor reporting, with each story subject and image thoughtfully chosen to inform, inspire, and invite you outside.

This year, we hope you lingered a little longer, learned something new, and found a sense of escape in flipping through the pages of each issue. More than anything, we hope it encouraged you to slow down and soak in the beauty found in your own backyard. 

Below are just a handful of our team’s favorite stories from this past year. The ones we kept talking about, revisited more than once, and felt proud to share. 

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Eva Frederick, Managing Editor

Is Texas the Birdiest State? by Romey Swanson

"This story brought some fun and friendly state rivalry to our annual birding issue – and the gorgeous, whimsical illustrations by Susie Ghahremani really brought it to life. California, we are awaiting your response!"

Emily Ankney, Business Manager

Conservation Dogs by Eva Frederick

"I don't think anyone's surprised by this one for me ... because dogs." 😅

April Cumming, Publisher

Paddleboarding Down the Brazos by Brandon Weaver

"The idea of shoring up your SUP on a sandbar after a long day of scenic paddling and wildlife watching sounds like a salve for the soul. To get to set up camp along the river, with dreams of crisp morning air and hot camp coffee to greet you when you wake, sounds like a dream too – one bumped to the top of my bucket list by the beautiful photography from Jerod Foster."

Chase Fountain, Chief Photographer

Historic Drought Spurs A Trip Down The Rio Grande by Dan Oko

"The July issue features a series of articles I enjoyed most — engaging, informative, and deeply rooted in Texas stories that matter. These pieces represent a true collaboration among several of our talented staff writers and photographers."

Russell Roe, Editor & Martha Gazella-Taylor, Art Director

Long Distance Trails by Morgan O'Hanlan

"I’ve been wanting the magazine to cover the state’s new long-distance trails for some time now, and Morgan rounded up some of the more interesting projects to feature. She came up with a fun Trail-o-Meter graphic to gauge the success of each project, and we commissioned some engaging maps to go along with each trail. To top it off, the magazine staff traveled to Dallas to conduct a bookstore event at The Wild Detectives to talk about the Dallas-area trails we featured — a community discussion that extended the life of the story beyond the magazine." – Russell Roe

"I loved that [this story] shined a spotlight on the completed trails that many folks might not be aware of. Our agency message of 'Life's Better Outside' is not just about going to parks; it's also about going to our urban trails connecting Texas." – Martha Gazella-Taylor

Sonja Sommerfeld, Photo Editor

State Parks By Night 

"The most inspiring articles the magazine publishes are the ones that showcase a new way of viewing our great state and especially public lands like state parks. This photo essay contains so many amazing images from many different contributors by showcases familiar views in a completely different atmosphere. My hope is that it encourages people (especially urban dwellers) to camp and enjoy nature's spectacular show and to be encouraged to pull out their cameras and follow the tools included in the article to try to capture these unforgettable moments for themselves."

Happy New Year from all of us at Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine. We can't wait   for you to see what stories we're working on for 2026.

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