Refuge faunique national Aransas - Austwell, Texas

Laurent Berney

Magnifique parc. De nombreuses possibilités de balades pour admirer la faune locale. On trouve de nombreux oiseaux marins et migrateurs, ainsi que des alligators.
De quoi passer un bon moment pour profiter de la nature.
Attention en été la chaleur peut être accablante.

Manikandan Nambiar

Nice park. Due to hot weather we could not see many birds. The park reception was very welcoming and they let you borrow their binoculars and bird identification chart. It helped us see birds because of that.

cat hall angeles

Peaceful! So many birds and other animals! We lost count- 😀 lovely trails, viewing platforms, and drives. Nice gift shop and informative visitor center. Bring bug spray. We really enjoyed it. ?

Jed W

First, we visited in April and I think time of year is a big factor.
Easy to get to, not a lot of parking, so busier time of year might be harder to find space, though probably you could park along the channel wall.
We visited late March / early April. It was a lot of dry grass and dry waterways when we were there. There was one larger area of water where we saw fish jumping. No birds, but a few flowers and butterflies. There are nice paths to walk and I’m sure when the water is in and it is lush it would be very nice.
Despite, next to it is the Aransas Pass Channel. We saw a huge tanker come through on its way out to the gulf. Despite the slow speed and it being empty it was fun watching the huge wave it created follow it and then slam into the stairwell and splash us all unexpectedly (so, pick what you think is fun and memorable.) There ferry is also nearby and it was fun to cross the channel on it (the kids especially loved it) and you can see dolphins, and such.

Elizabeth Webb

A national park with many opportunities to see wildlife up close. There is a well shaded picnic area with outhouse-style bathrooms and a great view of the ocean. The visitors center had knowledgeable and friendly staff. The gift shop was small but stocked with items showcasing the wildlife of the area. The viewing stands and observation tower were well built and made for a great view above the terrain to see nesting roseate spoonbills, herons, cranes, etc. We saw numerous alligators and deer also. Bring binoculars and/or a camera lens that will allow for seeing the animals in the distance. Clean bathrooms—and water bottle filling station—inside and outside the visitor center.

Alexandro Garcia

A very nice park. The volunteers and staff at the visitor center are very friendly and knowledgeable. The hiking trails are very well maintained and there is a lot of wildlife to observe. I went warly on a Saturday and got a good look at a couple of whooping cranes. Before coming out, please know that this is a nature preserve with the intent of mainiting a natural environment for the wildlife. There is very limited cell phone reception and there are no food vendors on-site. There are mosquitos, so bring your bug spray.
If you need a break while exploring the park, there is a nicely shaded picnic area with accessible restrooms. Overall, I was very impressed with the park and will definitely be back.

Robin

Update January 30, 2024 -
I've been to this park 3 more times since my original review in August 2022.
And absolutely LOVE IT every single time!
No matter how many times you go, it's always a new experience. Many of the birds you see there are migratory, so if you go during different seasons, you're likely to see different animals.
Note that the endangered Whooping Crane is one of those migrants & is only around during winter.

I'd also like to address another review where the person made complaints regarding some lacking comforts.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge - It is a REFUGE/RESERVE and :
No one will be spraying for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are FOOD for many of the animals that live there!
Nope. No trash cans. You take it in. You take it out!
No food vendors either. And not much nearby. Eat beforehand or better yet, pack a picnic lunch! (along with your bug spray)

Adding several new pics from February 2023.
..........................
Went to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge yesterday August 14, 2022).
Stopped at the brand new Visitor Center & the employees were quite helpful on the best places to spot the wildlife.
The weather cooperated & the rain mostly stopped while we were there.
Did the auto loop & walked a bunch of the paths.
Saw tons of wildlife! (Most at Jones Lake)
2 BIG alligators.
Several doe, fawns & 1 buck that was 6-8 points!
Several breed of birds, including gorgeous Rosette Spoonbills!
A small herd or family group of Javelina (7 that we could count)
A stunning Live Oak Tree that the sign said was at least 500 YEARS OLD!
An armadillo walking on the roadside.
And even a few frogs crossing the road! (one appeared to be trailing a LOT of water as s/he was leaping)

The pics are mostly maxed out on magnification, so not great. But good enough! 😉

Roamer222

Amazing little known park (outside of the birding community) that has something for everyone. Trails, wildlife, fishing and of course birding. We didn’t get to see any alligators but we did see turkeys, tons of deer and wild hogs. We will be going back to do the trails when it’s not raining. Definitely check out the visitor center. Staff was knowledgeable and helpful. We can’t wait for the exhibits to be displayed.