Best of Both Worlds
Galveston Island State Park celebrates 50 years of welcoming visitors to its beach and bay.
By Emily Gibson
The soft splashes of my paddle against the blue-green waters of Galveston Bay are the only sounds I hear as I kayak the serene path through the bayside wetlands of Galveston Island State Park.
On all sides I am surrounded by tall seagrass and the clear blue sky of mid-morning. Occasionally the peaceful silence is interrupted by the rustling of grass or a bird's chirping, but so far I haven't been able to spot any of the creatures making the sounds.
I continue paddling out of the salt marsh and toward the bay, when suddenly - plop! A shorebird dives for its catch right in front of me. The fish evaded the bird this time; undeterred, the bird flaps its wings and takes off back toward the skies to try again later.
While most people may think of Galveston and picture its sunny, sandy beaches crowded with towels and umbrellas, this side of the sprawling park features a more diverse landscape - one populated by shorebirds, tall grass, marshland and maybe even an alligator or two.
For Park Superintendent Kyle O'Haver, a visit to the bayside is a uniquely special experience for park-goers.
“Everybody who comes down here to the park really focuses on the beach. It is a great beach, and I do hope every visitor gets to see it, but I do also highly encourage them to take the time and opportunity to go visit the bayside,” he says. “The bayside is actually our larger area of the park, and there are wonderful hiking trails and observation towers.”
Of course, you can't write off the sandy beach side of Galveston that has attracted multiple generations of visitors to the park. As park interpreter Regina Lillibridge says: “It wouldn't be a beach park without a little bit of lounging, a little bit of swimming and a whole lot of napping.”
Galveston Island State Park opened to the public on Valentine's Day in 1975. This year, the park is celebrating 50 years of visitors coming to swim, paddle, bird-watch, camp and celebrate the park's landscape.
For O'Haver, the variety of offerings in Galveston is what makes it so special and why he is proud to serve as park leader. “I am so proud to call Galveston my home because in one location you can see a sandy beach, marshland and freshwater ponds. I am a huge fan of diversity of climate, and Galveston has plenty of that to offer.”
Lillibridge agrees, and cites the uniqueness of Galveston's separate beach and baysides as one of its most special features.
“You can really enjoy the complete Galveston Island outdoors experience, and it's the only place that you can do that by way of trails, kayaking, fishing and beach access. It really is the best of both worlds.”
By the Numbers
| Size: 2,013 acres |
| Closest Town: Galveston |
| Year Opened: 1975 |
| Busy Season: Spring and summer |
| Fun Fact: Galveston Island State Park is celebrating its 50th birthday this year! Visit Saturday, June 14 for the Beach Birthday Bonanza. |
Three Hikes
Easy: Eskimo Curlew Loop (0.5-mile loop)
Ranger Lillibridge recommends a stop at the Eskimo Curlew Loop to pass by the monument to the Eskimo curlew that was erected in 2020. The namesake bird is critically endangered and potentially extinct, and was last spotted in Galveston in 1962. In tribute to the bird, the Lost Bird Project installed a large statue, which can be spotted looming over this flat, marshy hike on the bayside of the park.
Easy: The Clapper Rail Trail (1.1-mile round-trip)
The Clapper Rail Trail is a relatively easy, flat walk through the bayside marshland leading to an observation tower that looks out to Galveston Bay. So named for the brown, chicken-like clapper rail, the trail is a great spot to see shorebirds feeding, flying and roosting among the trees. Superintendent O'Haver recommends hitting the trail early if you're after some good bird-watching: “Taking the trail out to the observation tower in the early morning is very remote compared to other areas of the park, and you can see birds starting to move around, pelicans starting their day and boaters preparing to launch.”
Challenging: Oak Bayou Paddling Trail (4.8-mile round-trip)
The Oak Bayou Paddling Trail is a challenging paddle that begins in the Oak Bayou and winds through the bayside's coves and wetlands. Paddling through the tall grasslands and brackish waters is a great opportunity to spot some of the many shorebirds that call Galveston home. The trail starts and ends at the same place, so you can easily find your way back to the parking lot.
Plan Your State Park Visit
Hit the Water
The marshland on the bayside allows visitors to paddle through one or all of the three dedicated paddling trails within the park. The paddling trails vary in difficulty from easy to challenging and can take visitors through bayous, coves and wetlands. The water in the park is calm and easy to navigate, making paddling a great opportunity to spot wildlife and see more of the park than you can on foot.
Go to the beach
Galveston Island is known for its beach, so visitors should make time to see it. You can bring a towel and chair to set up for a full day of swimming and sunbathing under the Texas sun, or just take a short walk along the sand to look for seashells.
Bird-watch
Shorebirds like sandpipers, gulls, pelicans, egrets and even the rare black rail find homes in Galveston Island State Park. Whether you’re an avid birder or a more casual fan, seeing a shorebird dive into a marsh or fly overhead is a special experience.
Go on a hike
The hiking at Galveston Island is an opportunity to get the full picture of what the park has to offer, from its beaches to its wetlands. The four miles of trails within the park showcase both the unique terrain and the diverse array of wildlife that calls Galveston home.
Catch some fish
Visitors are allowed to fish on both the bay and beach sides of the park. On the beachside, you can wade fish or cast your line from the shore; on the bayside, you can wade fish, cast a line from the bank, or fish from a kayak or canoe. Some fish you may find include mackerel, spotted seatrout, redfish and sharks. No fishing license is required to fish from the bank, shore or shallow waters in a state park.
Overnight Stays
Galveston Island offers camping on both the beach and baysides depending on what campers are looking for.
“I always think of the beachside as a pretty typical summer camping trip. There's lots of people around and great access to the beach,” Ranger Lillibridge says. “But if you're on the bayside, the camp loops are a little more secluded and so you're going to see a lot more wildlife and have more potential for kayaking and fishing.”
Campsites with electricity
There are 85 sites with electricity within the park - 65 on the beachside and 20 on the bayside. Some of these are tent-only, while others allow both tents and RVs.
Campsites with water
There are 25 sites with water but no electricity within the park - 15 on the beachside and 10 on the bayside. All of these campsites are tent-only and do not allow RVs.
Primitive campsites
There are 10 primitive campsites within the park that do not provide any utilities or shade. Water, however, is nearby for visitors.
Park Staff Story
Mistaken identity: “One of my funniest moments at Galveston was when a family came into the nature center and was convinced that they saw a badger and that it had left tracks because their campsite was a mess. They showed me their phone to show me a picture of the tracks and literally in the background of the photo is a raccoon that actively has their cooler open. I was like, ‘Well ... I think we found the culprit.’” - Park Interpreter Regina Lillibridge
Selfie Spots
On the Beach
A beach selfie is a classic one, and Galveston Island has plenty of picturesque shorelines where you can find a great spot. Take a selfie with the Gulf sparkling behind you, or from your towel where you can see the sand.
With the Eskimo Curlew Statue
The Lost Bird Project has erected statues throughout the United States to commemorate and memorialize birds that have gone extinct. One of these statues is found within Galveston Island State Park. A selfie with the 6-foot-tall sculpture is a great way to celebrate the park's history and ecology.
From the top of one of the Observation Towers
There are two observation towers on the bayside of Galveston Island: one at the beginning of the Eskimo Curlew Loop and the other at the far end of the Clapper Rail Trail. Both provide exciting opportunities to look out over the bay, and the high vantage point also provides an opportunity to take a selfie with a great view in the background.
Pro Packing List
Aside from the necessities, these items can make your trip to Possum Kingdom State Park even more enjoyable.
Bison Coolers
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18-Can Switchback Cooler
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