Estero Llano Grande State Park — Attraction in Weslaco

Neat little gem hidden in plain sight. Has something for everyone. Birdwatchers paradise, alligators encounters and wildlife in abundance. Came across armadillos, turtles, raccoons, indigo snakes and bunny rabbits galore. It’s got wetlands and boardwalks, paved biking roads, thick lush treed areas or open walk ways. You could also walk along the resaca and explore old abandoned haunted houses in the southwest area of the park. Every visit yields a little surprise. Geocache hunters won’t be disappointed either. The park management seems to place some pretty good treasures for you to find from time to time. If you have some spare time to enjoy amidst nature, make sure you visit this state park, you won’t be disappointed. Make sure you bring binoculars and a good camera to capture the memories and the beautiful scenery. This park is frequented by professional photographers with their clients which speaks volumes in terms of the esthetics...

I was trying to take a photo of my daughters that involved them holding a balloon. A ranger came by and notified me that balloons were not allowed. I disappointedly packed my things up and started to walk out of the park with my two small children. While we were making our way out the ranger followed us. When we reached the parking lot he did not stop and followed us in his truck to my vehicle and sped off once he saw I was loading up my kids. After the initial “you’re not allowed to be here with balloons” conversation this man didn’t speak another word to me and him following us all the way to my vehicle made me feel extremely unsafe. The one star is not because of the balloon issue, it’s because I felt run off and harassed by the ranger. There was no need for him to follow me to my...

Staff was friendly and actively engaged with my group, making it a more rewarding visit. Wide trails are easily accessible. There is little to no elevation change unless you go up on the levee. The bathrooms are nice, and there is a large deck overlooking a pond that is always full of a variety of ducks and other water fowl. I saw a large variety of birds and two large alligators. There were herons, rosette spoonbills, and pelicans inside the floodway. In the area that used to have mobile homes, there were many small birds and several chachalacas. It is great for serious ornithology as well as just taking the family for a nature walk.

Note, during summer, it can get very hot. There are no water stations along the trail, so bring...