For boundless opportunities to discover nature in all its splendor, national wildlife refuges are unsurpassed. From all parts of the globe, about 40 million visitors flock to nature's treasure troves each year, especially for the chance to see huge concentrations of wildlife and birds. The National Wildlife Refuge System's extensive trails, boardwalks, observation decks, hunting and photography blinds, fishing piers and boat launches encourage visitors to discover America's best wildlife spectacles.
Refuge Update July-August 2005 – Focus on Trails and Wildlife Observation
 |
| Spider Lily |
| Credit: USFWS |
Coastal Living magazine is recommending 10 spots from British Columbia, Canada, to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for ideal wildflower viewing – and right in the middle is the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas. The magazine particularly recommends driving the refuge's 16-mile auto tour loop through marshes and fields.
Aransas Refuge boasts 167 species of wildflowers. It was established in 1937 on the central Gulf Coast of Texas to protect salt marshes and as a breeding ground for migratory birds. It is perhaps most famous as the primary wintering area for whooping cranes and it has its own population of resident cranes as well. Cranes are best seen from October to April, wildflowers in April and May. There is also a great diversity of butterflies.
Aransas Refuge has a number of hiking trails, including two short wheelchair-accessible paths, interpreting, picnicking, fishing and season hunting for whitetail deer and feral hogs.
