Park #3
January 13th, 2024 (same day as Estero Llano Grande)
Distance: 3.48 m hike
Weather: 75 degrees
After visiting Estero Llano Grande, my husband and I drove thirty minutes to Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park the same afternoon. This park is the headquarters of the World Birding Center, and we were greeted by a group of four wild turkeys in the parking lot. The flock strolled in the grass beside a walkway, like they were leading the way to the entrance.
To access the trails here, you walk on the road, but it’s closed to traffic. The afternoon sun warmed the air to an uncomfortable temperature, even in January. There is a tram, but it wasn’t convenient. It only runs once an hour and lacks a tracking mechanism. I would waste time waiting for the tram, so I didn’t use it. I recommend either bringing your bike or renting one to get around. There are rentals near the visitor center and ample bike parking at the trailheads.
I hiked one trail and wandered around some of the roads. The park converted an old campground into a hiking loop. A bonus is that it comes with flushing bathrooms and showers! There are plenty of picnic areas, so pack a lunch. The park provided hanging swings strategically placed in front of feeders where visitors could watch birds snack. I discovered this feature when I sat at one of these swings to rearrange my hydration pack, and spied roadrunners meander out from the brush to munch on some treats in front of me.
I wanted to visit the famous hawk tower. It’s featured on the website, on brochures, and the ranger at the visitor center mentioned it as well. However, to reach the trailhead was a 4-mile round trip, and the trail was a 1.8-mile loop. Given the short winter day and our late start, I wouldn’t have made it back in daylight. I regret not renting a bike to see it.
I finished my hike before hubby returned, so I explored the visitor center and World Birding Center headquarters. Behind the center, I saw three large javelinas grazing on the grass in an open field. My husband soon arrived, eager to report everything he saw, but I shushed him and pointed to the animals. We tiptoed around the building and counted a group of seven javelinas. We found a picnic table with a full view and watched for several minutes. Our presence didn’t seem to disturb them. Eventually, three more people wandered out, sat at another table to watch, and the animals still didn’t indicate they cared. Cool experience.
I’m disappointed I skipped the hawk tower due to time constraints. On reflection, I’m likely missing incredible experiences because I want to visit all these parks to complete my challenge. The focus on quantity over quality robs me of the time to discover a park’s cool features. Many parks are so large that it’s impossible to see everything it has to offer in a single visit. It is a drawback to this kind of adventure.
Note to self for future visits: rent a bike, come earlier in the day, and bring lunch.
Here’s a video of an evening greeting from a swarm of tiny butterflies in the old campground. I love these moments. Happy hiking out there!