Estero Llano Grande Puts Wetlands and Thorn Scrub Near Weslaco

Near Weslaco, Estero Llano Grande State Park trades fields for water and brush. TPWD lists wetlands, ponds, woods, thorn scrub, and more than five miles of trails, including some accessible stretches.

This is a slow-down-and-look park. About 340 bird species have been documented here. Boardwalks, blinds, and a wildlife deck put visitors near the water.

The park is part of the World Birding Center. It gives eastern Hidalgo County a clear outdoor counterweight to the highways, towns, and citrus groves around it.