Eastero Llano Grande State Park is known for birding.
The park opened in 2006. The parkland was originally a small portion of a land grant given to Juan José Hinojosa from King Charles IV of Spain in 1790.
Location of Estero Llano Grande
3301 S. International Blvd., Weslaco, Texas 78596
Cost
The entry fee for Estero Llano Grande State Park is $5 per person over the age of 13. There is free admission for people ages 12 and under.
There are additional fees for renting certain group facilities.
To save money when visiting Estero Llano Grande State Park, I recommend looking at a Texas State Parks Pass. The pass costs $70 a year. The benefit of the pass is that it allows the pass holder, and any passengers in their vehicle to enter the park without paying the day use fee.
Transportation
Cars are not allowed in the park. You can park your car at the headquarters.
You are allowed to ride your bike in the park.
Group Facilities at Estero Llano Grande State Park
Group Lodging
Barracks with a Group Hall are available to rent for large groups. The kitchens are set up to serve large groups of people. There are rooms with rows of bunkbeds, and bathrooms with showers.
Group Sites
There are also group halls with kitchens or meeting rooms. One of the group halls has a chapel.
Hiking Trails at Estero Llano Grande State Park
There are a number of different trails in the park, and all of them are very easy hikes. Most of the trails are ideal for birdwatching. Two miles of trails in the park are wheelchair accessible, and the park has an all-terrain wheelchair that can be reserved in advance.
Llano Grande Hiking Trail is just under a mile and a half. It goes along the shores of Llano Grande Lake and is known for having Roseate Spoonbills and White-tailed Kites.
What is there to do at Estero Llano Grande State Park?
The main activities at the park are walking the trails and birdwatching. The park is part of the World Birding Center. There are many large group facilities that can be rented out for a group retreat.
You can try nature photography, and get pictures of some of the amazing animals in the park. The park even has alligators and bobcats.
You can ride your bike, but it is not allowed on every trail.
Dogs at Estero Llano Grande State Park
Estero Llano Grande State Park allows dogs into the park. Dogs must be on a leash in public areas of the park including on hiking trails. The leash must be six feet or shorter. Owners must clean up after their dogs.
There are alligators and other animals in the park that could be dangerous to dogs.
Bring plenty of water for your dog, and pay attention to the temperature. It can get hot in the park, and the ground can burn their paws or be too rough on their paws.
Dogs are not allowed inside any of the buildings.
What to do near Estero Llano Grande State Park
Weslaco, Texas
Visit nearby Weslaco, Texas a town with 41,000 people. You can visit the Valley Nature Center or the Weslaco Museum.
Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen, Texas has another World Birding Center location as well as the Iwo Jima Memorial and Museum.