Welcome to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley One of top birding destinations in the country, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in deep, South Texas well deserves its status as headquarters of the World Birding Center. Birders across the nation know Bentsen as a treasure trove of "Valley specialties", tropical birds found nowhere else in the United States. The 760-acre Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park, together with over 1,700 acres of adjoining U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge tracts, promises a year-round nature adventure in the richest birding area north of the Mexican border.
Constructed of layer upon layer of sediments by centuries of Rio Grande flooding, the land at Bensten- Rio Grande Valley State Park is a rich and fertile alluvial plain. Native shrubs and forbs are shaded by Cedar Elm, Sugar Hackberry, Rio Grande Ash, Texas Ebony and Anacua trees. The habitat at Bentsen is especially valuable as very few riparian woodlands remain intact along the Rio Grande.
Our Birds
As one of the larger tracts of Rio Grande floodplain forest remaining in this area, Bentsen is a magnet for the "Valley specialties" that make this park famous. Green Jays & Plain Chachalacas congregate regularly at feeding stations within the park. Other neo-tropical varieties such as Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Clay-colored Thrush, Hook-billed Kite, and Gray Hawk are also likely. Virtual clouds of migrating Swainson's and Broad-winged Hawks are a popular spring and fall spectacle.
Bentsen is a great place to begin a south Texas birding adventure. Bird walks offer our visitors a chance to see wildlife in their natural habitats. Other guided tours at Bentsen feature butterflies, dragonflies and night tours as well as programs for teachers, students and young naturalists. Make sure to check the program calendar for special events and workshops scheduled throughout the year.
Click on Bird Icon above to navigate to desired flyway destination!
1. Head southeast on US-83 S/N Grant St toward Bravo Blvd/TX-200 Spur
Continue to follow US-83 S
2.Turn right at US-83 BUS E
3.Turn right at Bentsen State Park Rd 43/Farm-To-Market Rd 2062 S
Continue to follow Farm-To-Market Rd 2062 S
4. Continue onto Bentsen State Park Rd 43/Park Rd 43
Continue to follow Park Rd 43
5. Keep left at the fork
6. Bentsen Rio Grande Valley
Mission, Texas 78572
Google map.
FROM BROWNSVILLE
1. Take US-77 N/US-83 N (Continue to follow US-83 N) Approx. 50 mi.
2. Take the US-83 BUS exit toward Inspiration Rd.
3. Merge onto W Expy 83
4. Slight left at US-83 BUS W
5. Turn left at Bentsen State Park Rd 43/Farm-To-Market Rd 2062 S
Continue to follow Farm-To-Market Rd 2062 S
6. Continue onto Bentsen State Park Rd 43/Park Rd 43
(Continue to follow Park Rd 43)
7. Keep left at the fork
8. Bentsen Rio Grande Valley
Mission, Texas 78572
Physical Address Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062) Mission, TX 78572 Events and Tours
Phone: 956-584-9156
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Admission Adult (13 years and over) – $5.00 Children (12 years and under) – Free Group (ten or more) – $3.00 Full Parklands Passport* – Free Partial Parklands Passport** – $3.00 Texas State Park Pass holders – Free *Eligibility for Full Parklands Passport: 65 years of age before September 1, 1995 (there is no residency restriction) **Eligibility for Partial Parklands Passport: Texas Residents (only) over the age of 65 School Programs:
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Bulletin Board
Improvements & Repairs Underway!
Facilities affected and/or under construction include:
· Rio Grande Trail
· Kingfisher Overlook
· Permanent Restrooms
· Other facilities may be affected, please call park store for details.
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Interpretive Programs at Bentsen-RGV State Park:
March-May 2013
Sundays
Bird Walk 8:30a-10:30a
Bentsen is one of the top destinations in the US for birdwatching. Join us for a guided bird walk through Bentsen State Park and see many of our colorful resident birds as well as migratory birds. All ages welcome.
Wednesdays
Bird Walk 8:30a-10:30a
Bentsen is one of the top destinations in the US for birdwatching. Join us for a guided bird walk through Bentsen State Park and see many of our colorful resident birds as well as migratory birds. All ages welcome.
Wednesdays
Bentsen Nature Tour 2-4p
Experience the park with a naturalist as your guide. Learn about the history of the park, the latest nature sightings and more. Perfect for folks new to Bentsen and the Rio Grande Valley. Pre-registration required. All ages welcome.
Thursdays
Dragonfly Walk – 1-3p
Meet some of nature's most beautiful but fearsome flying predators over the park's wetlands.
Thursdays
Butterfly Walk – 3-4p
Watch and identify beautiful wild butterflies on a guided hike through the park gardens. Tropical rarities are always possible!
Saturdays
Creatures of the Night 7-9p
Look and listen for nocturnal wildlife or search the skies for planets and constellations with our staff naturalists. Fun for the whole family! Limit 20 participants. Flashlights provided. Pre-registration required.
Spring Hawk Watch 9a-12p
Hawk Watch will be held March to April 30. Ride our Park Tram and meet us Tuesdays to Sundays at the Hawk Tower this spring. Using keen eyesight, binoculars and spotting scopes, volunteer birders will help keep track of the number of raptors migrating north. Please remember to bring your binoculars, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water.
• Scheduled programs are free with park admission
• School Field Trips & Special Programs available upon request (fees apply), please call Program Staff for details
The park is under a burn ban. No ash producing fires, of any kind, are allowed. Containerized fuel stoves are currently allowed for cooking only."
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley (Mission)
- Edinburg Scenic Wetlands
- Estero Llano Grande (Weslaco)
- Harlingen Arroyo Colorado
- Old Hidalgo Pumphouse
- Quinta Mazatlan (McAllen)
- Resaca de la Palma (Brownsville)
- Roma Bluffs
- South Padre Island Birding
and Nature Center
Calendar of Events
Visit our Calendar of Events Page!Join Us
Volunteer opportunities available.Fill out online form here!
Bird Checklist
State Park Map
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
here.
Find your Way
- Daily Tram service (call for schedule)
- Headquarters Park Store & Visitors Center
- Bird Exhibit Hall (bilingual)
- 2-story high Hawk Observation Tower w/210-foot-long handicapped access ramp
- Group Pavilion inside park
- Meeting Room (available for rental)
- Nature Center and Pavilion
- Picnic sites with tables
- Primitive camping sites (by reservation)
- Boat Ramp (no motorboats please)
- Rest areas
- 2 Observation Decks
- 2 accessible bird blinds
- Nine bird feeding stations
- Butterfly Gardens
- 3.0 miles of nature/hiking trails
- 4.0 miles of paved roads
- School Programs
- Guided nature tours
- Bike rentals
- Binocular rentals
- Bicycles: regular, children's tandems and trikes - $5.00- $12.00 / Day
- Binoculars: $3.00 / Day
- Meeting Room: $300.00 / Day
- Mission Chamber of Commerce
- City of Mission
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- North American Butterfly Association - South Texas Chapter:
www.naba.org - Texas Butterfly Festival
www.texasbutterfly.com - TX-Butterfly e-mail list Get It Here!
- Birding on the net Texas e-mail list
www.birdingonthe.net - www.ebird.org
- Rio Grande Valley birding guide.
- TexBirds e-mail list
www.moonmountaingroup.com
