Photos shot for the December issue
2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Texas State Park Police. Join us in celebrating with the anecdotes and stories of those who serve throughout the state. Their tales will raise your eyebrows and tickle your funny bone. Most importantly, they'll show you the big hearts of the officers who protect our Texas state parks and you.
Sip on something warm by the fire and take an armchair tour through Texas with 25 photos taken from Earl Nottingham's new book, Wild Focus: Twenty-Five Years of Texas Parks & Wildlife Photography. Then head over for a frosty and musical Big Bend winter camping adventure with a South Rim loop hike payoff.
Thank you for another year of shared Texas adventures and conservation, dear readers. May you spend time rejuvenating in nature with family and friends this holiday season.
Earl Nottingham: Wild Focus
25 Years in 25 Photos
Twenty-five years can seem like either a lifetime or a blink of the eye, depending on your perspective. For me, after a quarter-century as Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine's photographer, it's a time span measured by the number of miles driven, sets of truck tires replaced, sunrises and sunsets witnessed, and faces and landscapes captured for posterity.
Winter Quest for the South Rim
Big Bend's premier hike offers spectacular scenery ... if the lack of water and winter's bone-chilling cold don't stop you.
When my brother said he wanted to go backpacking, I figured it was finally time to do the best hike Texas.
My brother, Roger, lives out of state but was in Fort Worth for the year, and we wanted to spend time together outdoors. I knew just the trip.
Protecting Our Parks
Since 1971, a special group of law enforcement officers has been responsible for the safety, security and protection of the natural jewels in Texas and those who visit them.
State Park Police protect the state's natural and cultural resources through community-oriented policing and emergency response. In 2021, they celebrate a half-century of law enforcement and public safety services for 10 million state park visitors annually.
Keep Texas Wild
It's not just for kids. If you like nature-related topics in an easy-to-read format, you can find three years of our popular Keep Texas Wild issues and the teacher resources to go along with them.
