Overview
The entrance sign at Brazos Bend State Park offers a prominent hint as to why visitors drive an hour from Houston to go there: It features a large green American alligator. Most visitors come to the park to enjoy the varied and abundant nature, and many want to see a gator.
Jingying Li and her family used to visit Brazos Bend regularly before moving to Singapore. In December, they were back in Houston for the holidays, and the park was one of their first stops.
“My kids practically grew up here,” Li says. “This was one of their frequent visiting places when they were younger. This is our first time back in five years. We like the Nature Center and the alligators. We love watching the birds and finding bugs. There’s lot of variety for children. We love nature, and this park provides that.”
At the Nature Center, Li’s kids peppered ranger Jessica Bullard with rapid-fire questions as she held one of the center’s gator hatchlings in her hand.
What do alligators eat? How big do they grow? How long do they live? How many alligators are in the park? How big are their teeth? Do you brush their teeth? What kind of noise do they make? Do you name the alligators?
In addition to the alligators, the park contains lots of other wildlife, three distinct ecosystems (wetland, prairie and woodland) and 37 miles of trails.
Many visitors come for the day to enjoy a picnic, go for a short hike and look for wildlife. For those who want to dig deeper, backcountry trails and overnight camping let visitors experience the park in different ways.
“Everyone enjoys the park differently. If you’re looking for a challenge or just want some peace and quiet, you can find it here,” says Park Superintendent Jason Castle. “Nature will always be there for you.”
By the Numbers
Size: 5,000 acres
Closest Town: Houston
Year Opened: 1984
Busy Season: Spring and fall
Tip: Listen for different languages being spoken at the park. The county where Brazos Bend sits is one of the most diverse in the U.S. The park has translated many informational signs into the six most spoken languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin Chinese.
Fun Fact: No alligator attacks have occurred at the park. “We have not had any alligator attacks in the park since we opened — no alligator aggression toward people,” says ranger Jessica Bullard. “But we have, on the flip side, had a lot of people aggression toward alligators.”
Wildlife Encounters
Alligators are the rulers of the swamp. More than 300 adult alligators make their home at the park. 40-Acre Lake and Elm Lake have the highest concentrations of them.
Limpkins are birds from Florida that started showing up a couple of years ago. They eat apple snails and are thought to have followed the invasive snails to the park. They can be found on the Live Oak Trail.
Lots of birds, including egrets, herons, roseate spoonbills and black-bellied whistling ducks, can be found on or near the lakes. In late winter and early spring, baby great horned owls often draw a crowd in a tree near headquarters.
Golden silk orb weaver spiders are known for their impressive webs. The silk can shine like gold, and is some of the strongest in the spider world.
Maegan Lanham | TPWD