Great Texas Wildlife Trails Brochure (PDF 733.2 KB)

 Discover the Wildlife of Texas!

Explore four unique and beautiful regions of Texas through the Great Texas Wildlife Trail maps!

Whether you are a birder, a wildlife enthusiast, or just ready to discover the wildlife Texas has to offer, we have a map that makes it easy for you. These driving trails will direct you to the best spots in the state to observe wildlife such as birds, butterflies, bats or pronghorns. Texas is the perfect place to view wildlife; the Lone Star State is one of the top birding destinations in the world and is rich in its diverse species of wildlife. Along the trails, you will be captivated by all there is to do and local communities will welcome you with plenty of Texas hospitality.

Texas was the first state in the nation to create birding and wildlife viewing trails, an idea that resulted in similar projects throughout North America. These trails provide economic incentives for landowners and communities to conserve habitats while providing recreational opportunities for the traveling public. The wildlife trails of Texas promote sustainable economic development and build public support for conservation of wildlife and habitats.

Texas is one of the nation's leaders in nature tourism. In 2000, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department completed The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail which was a great success and continues to be popular with both visiting birders and local naturalists. To date, TPWD and our partners have distributed nearly 400,000 birding trail maps to interested citizens and visitors. Following the coastal trail's success, TPWD has released the new Heart of Texas, Panhandle Plains and Prairies and Pineywoods Trails maps to make wildlife viewing and nature tourism even easier in more regions of Texas. The wildlife trails are immensely popular because they cater to the specific needs and interests of nature tourists, providing you the information you need to explore the back roads of Texas.

Ultimately, nature tourism leads to conservation by encouraging landowners and communities to conserve habitats, providing wildlife viewers greater opportunity, and inviting you to experience for yourself the abundant natural resources of Texas. We want more and more people to engage in the enjoyment of nature, thereby gaining greater appreciation and understanding of the importance of conserving wildlife and their habitats for present and future generations.