Brazos Bend State Park opened in 1984 and is known for having more than 250 adult alligators that measure over six feet long. It is also home to the George Observatory, which is part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is located about an hour southwest of Houston, Texas the park makes a good day trip from Houston, Texas. The park consists of roughly 5,000 acres along the Brazos River in Fort Bend County, Texas.
What to expect at the park
The park has various natural environments including prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. Visitors come to the park predominately to observe nature, especially alligators. There is camping, picnicking, hiking, biking and fishing.
Location
21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX 77461
Brazos Bend State Park is located about 45 miles southwest of Houston, Texas in Fort Bend County. It takes about an hour to get to the park from central Houston.
There are two main ways to get to the park from Houston:
Take I-59 Southbound towards Sugar Land, Texas. Exit Crabb River Road and turn left onto Crabb River Road / FM 762 to the park. The road will have turns, stay on FM 762 until the park entrance.
Take SH 288 South for 33 miles then make a right at FM 1462 towards Rosharon. Continue for 10 more miles until FM 762 and take another right. After 1.5 miles the park entrance will be on the right.
Cost
The entry fee for Brazos Bend State Park is $7 for per person over the age of 13. There is free admission for people ages 12 and under.
There are additional fees for overnight stays which vary depending on the type of camping.
To save money when visiting Brazos Bend 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.
Reservations
Make reservations as soon as you know your plans. Due to its proximity to Houston, the park can hit capacity for day use, as well as the campsites. If the park is at capacity, you will be turned away at the gate.
Hitting capacity for day use is not very common, but campsites get booked very quickly for weekends.
You can print your permit out in advance, or get it at the entrance gate when you check-in with the rangers.
Swimming at Brazos Bend State Park
Unfortunately there is no swimming at Brazos Bend State Park.
The park does not have a swimming pool. Park rules even specify that it is prohibited to bring your own portable pool (kiddie pool) into the park.
The park has a number of lakes, but they are not suitable for swimming. Alligators live in the lakes, and you should not attempt to enter the water. There are also venomous snakes that live in the water.
George Observatory
Located within the Brazos Bend State Park is George Observatory, which is a part of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
The observatory offers an event called Saturday Night Stargazing. Tickets to the observatory must be purchased in advance, and are not sold in the park. Tickets are $10 for adults and the same price for children. This is in addition to the day use fee to enter the park. The ticket is for a specific entry time on Saturday nights.
Nature Center
The nature center is located within the park and is free to enter. It has more limited hours than the rest of the park. The nature center has a gift shop, informational displays, and animals. There are baby alligators.
Staying at Brazos Bend State Park
Campsites
The park has a range of levels of campsites available. The campsites range in price depending on the level of amenities.
Primitive campsites that are walk in access are $12 per night. These are designated campsites that have a picnic table, grill, and fire ring. All though they are walk-in sites they do have restrooms with showers as well as water access in the vicinity.
Drive-up campsites with electricity are $25 per night. These sites are accessible by vehicle. They have water, electricity, picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. The sites have access to restrooms with showers in the vicinity.
Tentrr
Tentrr Campsites are available in the park. Tentrr is a private company that operates campsites in different places, some of them in state parks. Reservations for these sites are made through their website.
These campsites are $79 each, but include more than a regular campsite. This is a good option for people who prefer “glamping” to traditional camping. The tents are set up and ready to go on arrival.
Tentrr sites have a safari tent on a raised platform and a bed inside. There are also two chairs and a picnic table and water is accessible in the area. This is a good option for someone who wants to try out a camping trip without having to buy a lot of camping gear.
Cabin
There is a cabin that can be rented for $75 per night. The cabin does not include its own restroom, but one is available in the area. The cabin has a light, electricity, air conditioning and a fan. There is a water spigot outside of the cabin.
Pets are not allowed into the cabin, but dogs may stay at the campsite outside the cabin in a kennel or in a tent.
The cabin has wooden bunk beds, which do not include mattresses or linens.
Outside of the cabin is a picnic table, fire ring and grill.
Group Facilities
Brazos Bend State Park has a large range of group facilities available for campers. There is a dining hall with a kitchen, an amphitheater, and pavilions available for rent.
There are also campsites designed specifically for youth groups.
Restrooms at Brazos Bend State Park
There are numerous restrooms located throughout the park. They are available near parking lots, trail heads, and picnic areas. Outside of many of the restrooms are drinking fountains with water bottle fillers.
Campsite loops have restrooms that also have showers.
Hiking Trails
Brazos Bend State Park has over 35 miles of trails with difficulty from easy to challenging. Most of the trails are mixed use hike and bike. There are ten trails in the park, but most of the trails connect to each other. They can be combined into a very extensive hiking trail system.
Creekfield Lake ADA Trail is half a mile long and is the easiest hike in the park. The trail is ADA accessible, and is paved in asphalt and has lighting. An all-terrain wheelchair is available at the park, and can be reserved in advance. A large parking lot is near the trailhead and connects with a clearly marked crosswalk. Some of the signs along the trail are designed to be felt.
Creekfield Lake Long Trail and Creekfield Lake Short Trail are often hiked together and form the most challenging trail in the park. Their combined length is six miles and can take up to two and a half hours to complete.
40 Acre Lake Trail is the best place in the park to look for alligators. The trail is 1.2 miles long and listed as a moderate difficulty. The path is wide and mostly even, and there are outhouses at the furthest point. Families frequently take strollers or wagons on the trail. The trail goes around the 40 Acre Lake which is home to many alligators.
Safety Tips for Hiking at Brazos Bend State Park
Listen to directions from park rangers and follow posted signs.
Respect the alligators. Do not swim in the water. Stay at least 30 feet from alligators. Do not attempt to feed the alligators, or harass them. Keep all dogs on a leash no longer than six feet long.
Prepare for the heat. Drink lots of water, and bring enough with you for your activities. Remember to wear a hat, sunglasses and wear sunblock. I like these sunglasses for hiking because they are polarized and designed not to fall off easily.
Bring water. Water fountains are located throughout the park, but not on the trails themselves. Make sure your water bottles are topped off before you start the trail. I like this insulated bottle because it keeps water cold for a long time and is easy to clean. If I am going on a longer trail I take a hiking day pack and use this water bottle.
What is there to do at Brazos Bend State Park?
The park has many trails that are good for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Fishing can be done from the pier. Licenses are not necessary to fish from the shore in state parks.
There are picnic tables throughout the park, as well as a playground for children.
The nature center has information about the ecosystems located in the park. Entrance to the nature center is included with admission to the state park. The posted hours are Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 5 pm. In my experience they sometimes close early, so be sure to stop by before you go on a hike so you don’t miss out.
George Observatory is located within the park, but requires an additional ticket that must be purchased in advance through the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
When is the best time to visit Brazos Bend State Park?
The best time of year to visit the park is during the spring or fall. This is when it is most comfortable weather for humans, and also when you have the highest chance of seeing alligators. It can be very hot in the park during the summer.
On Saturday nights the George Observatory has stargazing, with an additional ticket.
Dogs at Brazos Bend State Park
Dogs are allowed in Brazos Bend State Park, but there are some limits on where they can go.
Dogs are not allowed into any of the buildings at the state park. This includes bathrooms, cabins, shelters, park headquarters and the nature center.
Dogs are not allowed to be left unattended in the park. This includes in vehicles and at campsites.
Dog owners are required to pick up after their dogs. You will have to bring your own dog waste bags. There are trashcans throughout the park, but no dog waste stations.
There are many safety considerations when taking a dog to the park. Wildlife – such as alligators – and the heat can be harmful to your pet. If your dog is not used to going on long walks stick to shorter trails. Give thought as to whether it might be better to leave your dog at home.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times in the park. The leash must be no longer than six feet long. I use a Kurgo dog harness which has a handle on the back and attach it to this leash. This combination gives me lots of secure ways to hold onto my dog no matter what we encounter on the trail.
Bring water for your dog, and a dish for them to drink out of. I like this dog water bottle for taking on the trail so they don’t spill all of the water everywhere. At a picnic area or campsite, an old tupperware works just fine.
What to do near Brazos Bend State Park?
George Ranch Historical Park is a working ranch that has a living history museum with houses that reflect different time periods in Texas history. This is a private facility and tickets range in price up to $15 for adults.
Tinh That Hanh Nguyen Buddhist Center is a Vietnamese Buddhist place of worship located about five miles from the park. There is a temple and gardens with statues and a reflection pool.
Houston is a major city located an hour away from the park. Houston has shopping, theaters, sporting events, hotels and many restaurants.