Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 to protect the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken, a ground-dwelling grouse of the coastal prairie ecosystem. Located approximately 60 miles west of Houston, Texas, this refuge is home to one of the largest remnants of native coastal prairie remaining in southeast Texas. Drive the auto tour or enjoy a nature walk on one of the trails to experience the beauty and tranquility of the tall-grass prairie.
Sign up for Saturday Van Tours!

Click here to Sign Up: Sign Up through Microsoft Forms. 

Van tours are typically the first Saturday of each month, May-February. We offer bi-monthly tours from March-April, first and third Saturdays. This is your chance to see the closed part of the refuge, learn from staff, and a better chance to see an Attwater's prairie-chicken. 

See the Tour tab under "Visit Us" for more details.

Visit Us

Our Visitor Center

Visiting hours at the visitor center are between 08:00am and 03:30pm Tuesdays through Saturdays during the months of November to May. 

June to October the visitor center will be open from 8:00am to 03:30pm Thursdays through Saturdays. This allows for our dedicated staff to focus on caring for Attwater's prairie-chickens received from our captive breeding partners. 

Our Public Trails

Our refuge public trails are open from sunrise to sunset. We have two hiking trails, Sycamore Trail and Horseshoe Lake Trail, and one driving Auto Tour Loop. 

Location and Contact Information

      Tours

      Van Tours

      Our staff and volunteer led van tours are a great way to gain a deeper understanding and connection to the wildlife and their habitat we serve to protect. Van tours typically run for an hour and a half to two hours. During this time, we take the time to orient you to the closed part of our refuge. Our tour vehicle seats eleven passengers, so we only offer tours on a reservation basis through this form: Sign Up Here for Van Tours

      Our Species

      Our Purpose

      Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1972 to conserve coastal prairie habitat and the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken. Although the refuge was established for the benefit of the Attwater's prairie-chicken, the refuge is home to many other prairie species.  

      FAQs

      1. When is the best time to see an Attwater's prairie-chicken (APC)? 

        Good question! It depends on the season and time of day. Lekking or mating season occurs during late February through early April. The birds are most active after sunrise. Our annual April festival offers a good chance of seeing them lekking! If you can't make it, no worries. Try driving slowly on the Auto Tour Loop and look for areas of low vegetation or bare ground. Look for bright orange air sacs and listen for a booming sound. Vehicles make for the best bird blinds. 

      2. Can I see an APC any other time of year?

        Short answer is yes, with a caveat. There is always a chance you could stumble upon an Attwater's prairie-chicken along the Auto Tour Loop early in the morning while the birds are out looking for breakfast. But, outside of lekking season (mating time in spring), the birds are mostly illusive.

      3. What are your visiting hours?

        Our public trails are open every day from sunrise to sunset. This includes the Auto Tour Loop, Sycamore Trail, and Horseshoe Lake Trail. Our public restrooms are always available. They are located near the Visitor Center. 

        From November to May, our Visitor Center is open Tuesdays - Saturdays from 8:00am to 3:30pm. From June to October, our Visitor Center is open Thursdays - Saturdays from 8:00am to 3:30pm.

      Get Involved

      Want to make a difference while working at one of the most beautiful areas just an hour from Houston?! Fill out this form to get involved as a volunteer: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=urWTBhhLe02TQfMvQAp…