Laguna Atascosa Is Cameron County's Big Federal Wildlife Refuge

Past Rio Hondo and Los Fresnos, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge protects a huge stretch of Cameron County coastal country. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls it one of the country's most biologically diverse refuges. It is also one of the last U.S. footholds for the ocelot.

The refuge has more than 60 miles of hiking and biking trail. The 14.2-mile Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive is the signature loop and is open to bikes. Near the visitor center, short paved ADA-accessible paths lead to bird-feeding and water stations.

This is more than a roadside stop. Heat, habitat work, and the wildlife calendar can shape what is open, so early morning is the friendliest time to understand the refuge.