Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Reserve · Los Fresnos, Texas
More than 110,000 acres of coastal prairie, thorn scrub and Laguna Madre shoreline between Harlingen and South Padre, established in 1946 for wintering redhead ducks and now holding, by the Fish and Wildlife Service's own account, more recorded bird species than any other refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It also shelters the largest surviving ocelot population in the United States — which is why the road most visitors came to drive has been shut since 2013.
Buena Vista Boulevard, Los Fresnos, Texas, 78566, United States
Trails open 365 days a year, sunrise to sunset. ⚠ VISITOR CENTRE HOURS CONFLICT BETWEEN SOURCES — FWS says Tue-Fri 8 AM - 3 PM, the Friends group says seven days 8 AM - 4 PM; confirm on fws.gov. Entry roughly $3 per vehicle via recreation.gov; FEE-FREE the first Sunday of every month. ⚠ THE 15-MILE BAYSIDE DRIVE HAS BEEN CLOSED TO PRIVATE VEHICLES SINCE 2013. The Bahia Grande unit is also closed.
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