Brazos Bend State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife

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Brazos Bend State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife

Hike, bike, camp, and fish on over 5,000 acres just 45 minutes from downtown Houston. Enjoy scenic views and abundant wildlife. We're famous for our alligators.
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INFORMATION PLUS HOURS OF OPERATION FOR HEADQUARTERS, NATURE CENTER AND GEORGE OBSERVATORY

Brazos Bend is one of the last remaining wild places open to the public in the greater Houston area. The park is approximately 5,000 acres of prairie, wetland and bottomland forest located in SE Fort Bend County along the west bank of the Brazos River. There are approximately 37 miles of trails. Most trails

are open to walking and cycling. We do not provide bicycles. Although we have equestrian trails we do not provide horses. Rainy weather floods the river bottoms causing trail closings. Please call ahead for trail conditions. 979-553-5101-0

We are an extremely popular park. Camping reservations need to be made months in advance. We are the busiest in the spring and fall months and on mild winter days. Visitors during those times should expect to wait in line to enter the park. We are famous for our wild alligator population. Please adhere to all posted and printed safety information. Alligators are best viewed in mild weather. They don't like to it too hot or too cold. HOURS OF OPERATION

HEADQUARTERS - PERMITS - GIFT SHOP

Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Friday and Saturday 8:00 am - 9:30 pm

Sunday

Daylight Saving Time 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

Winter months 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

PARK HOURS

8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Entrance permit required at all times. Use self-pay station at Headquarters Building. Pass Holders will need to use self-pay and record pass number. No fee. Gates close at 10:00 pm

(Fall and Winter Public Deer Hunts will keep the park closed on some weekdays but not on weekends.) NATURE CENTER - GIFT SHOP

Friday - Sunday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Major Holiday, Spring Break and Thanksgiving Weeks may have extended hours. Call Park Headquaters for more information. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving Days

GEORGE OBSERVATORY & GIFT SHOP / HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

Saturday is public day

8:00 - 10:00 pm

Tickets for the George Observatory will need to be purchased strictly online with limited availability. A permit to visit the park will also be required.
**The George Observatory will require all ticket holders to wear a mask. For schedules, times and other information about the George Observatory, please visit hmns.org/george-observatory/

Weekdays by group reservation only. Open for special celestial events.

09/05/2026

Happy National Wildlife Day! 🦋

Let's take a moment to celebrate the incredible diversity of animals and natural spaces around us and appreciate the role each species plays in keeping our ecosystems healthy. From the enormous alligators 🐊 who help to create and expand our crucial wetlands to the little butterfly that helps to pollinate our many plants and crops, each animal has a part to play in the tapestry of life.

Whether it's protecting habitats, sharing your knowledge of our wild spaces, or helping to manage and maintain our natural world, we all can play a part in the process of conservation to ensure that all creatures get the chance to live their lives in a world that we all deserve. 🦌

🌳What vital role would you like to play in our environment? Let us know below!

Photo credits: RK Stewart, David Heinicke, Jessica Bullard.

09/01/2026

🎶That distant hum you hear outside is not your AC unit trying desperately to cool you down in the heat of summer. It's probably a chorus of cicadas!

Meet the Resh Cicada, one of the most common cicada species in our area. They're named for the shapes on the shield behind their heads, which looks like the Hebrew letter "resh" (and makes them look stylish besides)!🪲

These cool critters spend years underground as larvae and nymphs living off root sap. When the time's right, they crawl out, emerge from their nymphal stage, and spend a couple weeks screaming in the trees as a flying insect.🌳

All that buzzing? Only the males make it! They vibrate special membranes called "tymbals" which resonate through their abdomens, producing a sound that is *louder than a lawnmower*! 💥

Resh Cicadas are only one of the many kinds of cicada singing their songs in the Houston area. Have you seen any of these noisy neighbors lately? Share your sightings in the comments (bonus points for pictures)!📸

08/31/2026

Come see join the fun at Brazos Bend State Park for Deaf Outdoors Day this Saturday, September 5 at the Nature Center! We’ll be hosting different activities with the help of 🌟ASL Interpreters for programs such as 🐤Hummingbird Banding, 🐊Apex to Alligator, 🐍Spectacular Snakes, Mystery of the 🦋Missing Monarchs, and much more! Hope to see you there!!🌟

08/28/2026

🌱On Saturday, October 3rd, from 10am - 2pm, Brazos Bend State Park will be partnering with TIRR Memorial-Hermann to host a special event - “Nature Without Limits”! 🌳

This event will showcase exciting adaptive equipment for all user groups to enjoy various outdoor recreation activities. 👨‍🦼‍➡️Additionally, we will have special programs like a 🗺guided hike, ⛺adaptive camping, 🏹adaptive archery, and 🐍several interpretive tables.

Not to mention, we will have food trucks available on-site as well! 🚚

Discover just how easy getting out in nature can be at Brazos Bend State Park - where nature has never been so accessible and we're here to prove it!

*Park entrance will be free during this event*
*Register for event with the link in the comments*

More information can be found in our events or at the following link: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/brazos-bend/nature-without-limits

08/24/2026

You're invited to join us for a special event: Veterans at the Bend!

☀️On Saturday, September 19th from 8AM-12PM, Brazos Bend State Park will be hosting Veterans at the Bend event: a veterans mental health awareness event. Veteran-owned businesses, vendors, and organizations will be in attendance, helping us to inform and educate while attendees partake in fun, food, contests, and programs!🎣

👟This event begins at 8AM at the Elm Lake Pavilion with a resource booth hour followed by an Honor Hike at 9AM around Elm Lake Loop and Horseshoe Lake Loop. There will be all kinds of activities like archery, fishing, tug of war, as well as interpretive tables and programs.🎯

🌳The park's entry fee will be waived for anyone coming to visit Brazos Bend during this event, so come out and join us as we learn together and walk to support our veterans.📅✅✅

08/22/2026

🌟Check out our latest career opportunity!🍃

🤠 Texas Parks & Wildlife bringing you another great job opportunity here in Texas! Check out this recent posting for a Park Ranger (Resource Specialist) at Brazos Bend State Park! 🐊

Rich in biodiversity, Brazos Bend has some of the most spectacular wildlife that call this area along the Gulf Coast home! With over 5,000 acres of wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, and one of the most pristine coastal tall grass prairies, this is a great opportunity to showcase knowledge and develop new skills in maintaining these precious habitats. As well as making an impact that prepares the park for resiliency over the next 5-10-20 years!!

Park Ranger II (Resource Specialist)
Application Deadline: 08/28/26
Apply here and type "Park Ranger II" in the Search field: https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_SCHJOB_FL&Action=U

🌱On Saturday, October 3rd, from 10am - 2pm, Brazos Bend State Park will be partnering with TIRR Memorial-Hermann to hos...

08/21/2026

08/17/2026

It’s time to recognize some 💫Stars✨at Brazos Bend State Park!

For their performance from last year - these folks were recognized for their outstanding efforts in serving our park visitors and raising the standards in two categories: 📚📚Interpretation and 😁Customer Service!

🌿Stars in our Park for Interpretation: Jessica and Jonathan do a great job serving our park visitors by facilitating educational and interpretive programs within the park and in our community!
- Jessica Bullard (Volunteer Services Coordinator)
- Jonathan Argo (Park Interpreter)

🤩Stars in the Park for Customer Service:
Our customer service team always greet our visitors with a smile and friendly disposition, making a positive impact on overall visitor experience at Brazos Bend SP!
- Richard Ford (Office Manager)
- Denita Carlton (Asst. Office Manager)
- Dylan Williams (Customer Service Representative)
- Jenny Attaway (Customer Service Representative)
- Shannon Wilson (Customer Service Representative)
- Malinna Harris (Customer Service Representative)

We are proud of our team for achieving their well-deserved awards and setting the standard for a great experience in our Texas State Parks!🌟

08/11/2026

✨Join us at Brazos Bend State Park on Saturday, September 5th for our 2nd annual Deaf Outdoors Day! 🙌This special event celebrates inclusive park experiences for all visitors, with a focus on our deaf community. Park Rangers, Volunteers, and ASL Interpreters will be leading engaging, hands-on programs throughout the day.

8:00am – 🐦Hummingbird Banding: Come see these flying jewels up close! Watch our licensed ba**er capture, identify, and band hummingbirds during fall migration!

9:30am – 🐊Alligator: From Egg to Apex: Discover everything about the epic lives of Brazos Bend's most popular resident!

10:30am – 🐍Spectacular Snakes!: Discover all you could ever want to know about the animal everyone loves to hate!

12:00pm – 🦋The Mystery of the Missing Monarchs: Where do monarchs disappear? Join us to discover how we can help them!

In addition, we will have other activities available for folks to participate at their leisure including:

🎣Backyard Bass: Practice your casting on plastic fish so you'll be ready for the real thing!

🎍A Pot in a Pinch: Experience pottery traditions and leave with a pinch pot you make yourself!

👩‍🌾Guerilla Gardening 101: Make seed balls to easily distribute native flowering plants throughout the park!

🔍Jr. Naturalist Activity: Complete scavenger hunts to earn badges as a certified Jr. Naturalist!

⛺We can’t wait to welcome you—register today and enjoy the outdoors with us!

08/03/2026

When you're out in nature, you have to always be aware of where you're putting your hands✋, your feet👟, and your seat💺!

The southern flannel moth caterpillar (commonly known as an "asp") is a small caterpillar that looks like it is completely covered in dense hair ranging in color from white to orange. This infamous little larva is one of the few examples at Brazos Bend of venomous caterpillars. 🐛

The "hair" of the asp is its primary defense. These little hairs (or "setae") carry a venom that can cause immediate irritation, including an intense burning sensation. This little fella isn't venomous forever, though! Once this caterpillar moves into its adult stage, it becomes this beautiful little fuzzball incapable of producing venom.

Contact with the asp is usually accidental, occurring when someone unknowingly sits on or near one. So, when you go to take a rest on one of the benches we've set up along the trails or in the day-use areas, give them a quick once-over just to make sure you're not getting a little too close to this little guy!

Tell us if you've seen any southern flannel moths in your area or in the park! We hope to see you out here soon on your next journey to Brazos Bend.

Address

21901 FM 762 Road
Needville, TX
77461

Telephone

+19795535101

Website

http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/brazos-bend

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