Falcon State Park

P O Box 2
Falcon Heights TX 78545
956/848-5327
Park locator map

History: Falcon State Park is 572.6 (144 developed) acres located north of Roma at the southern end of the 98,960-surface-acre International Falcon Reservoir in Starr and Zapata Counties. The park was leased from the International Boundary and Water Commission in 1949 and was opened to the public in 1965.

Falcon Dam was dedicated by Mexican President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines and President Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1953. The waters of the Rio Grande River have formed a beautiful 60-mile-long lake behind the dam. This dam was built for conservation, irrigation, power, flood control, and recreational purposes.

Activities: The park features camping, swimming, fishing, water skiing, and boating. There is a 1-mile, self-guided nature trail
Note: Due to lake level fluctuations, call the park for the latest lake level information as well as boat launching information.

Area Attractions: Nearby points of interest include Lake Casa Blanca International State Park and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (part of the World Birding Center); Falcon Dam, with a memorial to the joint US-Mexico project; Nuevo Guerrero, built across the border after Falcon Reservoir engulfed old Guerrero in 1953; Mexico; Fort Ringgold in Rio Grande City, established in 1848; the City of Roma, which was founded in 1768 and is currently restoring several old buildings. Roma has many historical sites including the Roma Historical Museum with exhibits on American, Spanish and Mexican cultures.

Facilities: Facilities include screened shelters; air-conditioned screened shelters; campsites with water, electricity, and sewage; campsites with water and electricity; campsites with water; restrooms with showers; a fish-cleaning shelter; playgrounds; trailer dump stations; a group recreation hall with kitchen for day-use or overnight-use, and a Texas State Park Store. There are 3 miles of hiking/mountain biking trails that make a complete loop around the park. Signs detailing plant life provide a 1-mile self-guided nature trail. There is a new boat ramp with three 24' lanes to an elevation of 269' and a single 24' lane to an elevation of 259'. The new ramp is in use when the lake is above 261'.

The park is providing a temporary ramp that consists of improved lake shore launching when the lake is below 261'. Four-wheel drive is recommended for temporary ramp use. Sometimes changing lake conditions cause the temporary ramps to be unusable; if in doubt, contact the park.

Park & Facility Fees
Facility & Trail Map (PDF 93.8 KB)

Flora/Fauna: Gently rolling hills are covered by mesquite, huisache, wild olive, ebony, cactus native grasses. Falcon Lake is a big fishing paradise, especially for those seeking black and white bass, catfish, and stripers (Link to detailed lake and fish info). The area is very popular with bird watchers; varied and interesting bird life consisting of common resident birds, which range throughout the American Southwest, and many of the tropical species for which this is the northwesternmost outpost. Also, there are uncommon varieties such as the small green kingfisher and the varied bunting.

More information on the wildlife mentioned here:

Texas Wildlife Factsheets.

Elevation: 325 ft.
Weather: January minimum 44; July maximum 99; average annual rainfall 20.6.

National Weather Service forecast for this area.

Schedule: Open 7 days a week year-round.

Directions: From Zapata, take US Highway 83 to FM 2098, then go southwest for 3 miles to Park Road 46. From Roma, go 15 miles west on US Highway 83 to FM 2098 to Park Road 46.

Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.