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Description
The wetlands, river banks, woodlands and brushlands of Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park provide habitat for a wide variety of birds. This site is one of the best in the US for seeing vagrant species from Mexico. The park has trails, viewing stations, water features, a two-story, wheelchair-accessible bird observation tower and a wheelchair accessible loop for hiking, biking, or tram tours. The many feeding centers and water features attract over 350 bird species.
The viewing stations are some of the best for seeing Green Jay, Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee and Altamira Oriole. The park is also a stopover for migratory birds, including Swainson's Hawk and Broad-winged Hawk. The site is heavily birded which means there's often someone nearby to help point out a bird or help with identification.
Details
Access
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located just south of Mission in Hidalgo County. Take expressway 83 to Bentsen Palm Drive, then south to the state park. You cannot actually drive into the state park but there is a large parking lot outside the gate on the east side of the road. Press P on the map for directions to the parking. Once parked you can proceed into the park by foot, bike or wheelchair and stop by the visitors center for a map. The entry fee for Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is $5 (2025). The park is open daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The Visitor Center operates from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The site has 7 miles of trail, including 3.5 miles of park road, on bike or foot. The 1.8-mile Rio Grande Trail is wheelchair-accessible. Bikes aren’t allowed on this trail. The viewing stations are typically attended to in the morning so early arrival is beneficial. Plan for at least 2 hours, but you could easily spend an entire day here, especially if photographing.