santa ana national wildlife refuge

This is not our first visit to this nice refuge. The visitor center was closed when we got there so could not check out the books and souvenirs. Nice trails although after some rain they were a bit muddy. The new canopy towers are very nice and there are some impressive views from the taller one. In a short hour walk near sunset we got to see the green jays, warblers and the Chachalacas.Many trails here and some bird blinds as well. The Spanish moss add appeal to the vegetation in some areas. Nice area with many possibilities for encountering interesting birds. We will return.

While traveling through we stopped in just to see what it was all about. We ended up staying a few hours and taking the tram around the refuge. Tour guides were informative and pointed out many things of interest. We are sorry that we did not have enough time to explore the refuge properly that day. The trails and viewing stands need to be checked out at a later date. This is definitely a destination which deserves more exploration by us.

The hiking paths take you through the varied land types of the preserve. You can do easier paved hikes or more isolated natural hikes. Nearly all is well shaded with old growth trees. At the visitor take advantage of the educational programs to help appreciate the unusual birds and plants commonly found there. I came across a few Javelinas, green jays, Altamira Orioles, spiny backed orb spiders, and few dozen types of ducks. Bring your DEET. Youre also close to the national butterfly center.

If you like nature and the great outdoors, this is a good place to visit. Free if you go the first Sunday of the month. There are a few good trails to walk, with ponds, the Rio Grande River, and wildlife. There's also a couple of tree top stands and a suspension bridge that are fun to climb. Benches are placed throughout the trails so there are plenty of places to rest--bring a picnic lunch. There's also a tram for those who find walking distances a bit of a challenge. Take the Alamo Rd exit off 83 and follow 907 to Green Jay Rd--easy to find. Plenty of parking--open 7 days.

We arrived just after several rainstorms so some trails were muddy. We saw several species of birds, great for binoculars but not easy to photograph. There were several trails and the habitat was interesting. Only saw a green jay from the observation tower. We would definitely go again at a different time of year. January with the extreme cold, wet weather was not conducive to bird photography.

This is a national wildlife reserve. There are different birds for those birders, like green jays, chachalacas and great kiskadees. There are also coyote and bobcat. Also armadillos, Lizards, snakes and the Texas tortoise. There are three towers that one can climb to get above the canopy. Two towers are connected by a swinging bridge. There are many trails to explore, including a few that go to the banks of the Rio Grande. There is a tram one can take that goes through the wildlife.

One of the best refuges in the nation. Huge, needs a few days. October best for butterflies. September & April best for birds.

Went here on a rave review of a friend, only to find: 1) tram tours do not start until November, 2) Gift shop was closed because an employee did not show up, 3) employees were not very knowledgeable or friendly, 4) walking a paths were not maintained and some were overgrown to the point of being unwalkable. Overall, not a pleasant experience.

We took the tram tour at Santa Ana NWR earlier this year, in January. I loved it....they drove us around the refuge, we stopped at an observation area that had a swinging bridge. I'm afraid of heights so I didn't go on that, but my husband did and he could see all over. Then we stopped at an old cemetery.....I found that every interesting. We didn't see a lot of animals, but we did see a Great Horned Owls nest and a few birds. What I loved about it was the historical information that was provided by the narrator. The tour lasted about 1 1/2 hours and I think it was well worth the price of $4 each.

Santa Ana NWR is a premier refuge. It is recovering from major flooding. Time of year of the visit makes a big difference as to what will be sen beyond the resident species. Nearly all the RGV endemics can be found here (but not on every trip). This site has hosted more than 400 species of birds. The most avidly sought include Hook-billed Kite, Tropical Parula and Blue Bunting. Great Kiskadees, White-tipped Dove, Long-billed Thrasher, Black-crested Titmouse, Green Jay and Buff-bellied Hummingbird can be expected every visit.The trails are varied, including grassland and thornscrub with small lakes. Take water! The visitor center is well-stocked with wildlife-lover tourist items. Your sightings may be recorded there (be sure to check what has been seen recently BEFORE you head for the trails. Check out the feeders at the visitor center. A quiet wait at the benches is well worth the time.The only restroom is at the visitor center. A pleasant picnic area is behind the restroom building.

It was the only place where we were able to find Green Jays. The heat can wear you down later in the day, not recommended for the not so fit as you have to walk or wait for the reserve transport to pick you up which I find a huge negative when you are birding on a limited time schedule.

Both the temperature and the birding was hot. Saw a lot of South Texas "specialties" like Least Grebe, Groove-billed Ani, Golden Fronted Woodpecker, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Clay-colored Thrush, among others.The refuge doesn't allow car-travel - so be prepared to walk, with water, hat, insect repellant and of course binoculars and camera!

If you are a birder, you will probably have South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley on your GO TO list. Great birds, great trails, a wonderful visitor center, lots of feeding stations so you can see birds close up, and a cadre of excellent, informed volunteers (mostly "Winter Texans") to share information and lead walks on the trails. We have visited many national wildlife refuges around the U.S. and this one tops the list!

Very reasonably priced for the yearly membership. Great parking and facilities, gift shop, informative displays and tram rides for $4. They only feed birds right outside the main entrance. We enjoyed observing many colorful birds. Our highlights were the Green Jays! Lots of Mosquitos in the trees so be prepared. Wear good shoes, bring water and enjoy. On our way home we saw that a Bobcat had been run over on the hwy. too bad.

Have visited this national refuge. Not only will you see birds found only in the Texas valley, but you may see some wildlife. On my first visit, we spotted a bobcat drinking water from a puddle on the road within the park. I would recommend this park to anyone visiting the Texas valley. Temperatures are always comfortable, since many citrus crops grow in the this temperate region.