- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
11 reviews for Brazos Bend State Park
If you're looking for a nice getaway from the city, Brazos Bend State Park is the perfect retreat! There are city parks, but once you visit this state park, you'll see they aren't up to par.
My friend and I went for a lil fishing trip. (fyi, you don't need a fishing license at any state park.) There were a a couple piers and banks that we could fish from, but a couple had too much vegetation. There were parking lots near each of the locations of the lakes, which made it super convenient when having all of the fishing gear to lug around. The bathrooms were pretty clean too. (A+++ for that!)
You will see alligators, so you really do have to be careful if you're fishing off the bank. There were tons of families around - loved seeing that! The park is kept really clean.
For $5/person, we will definitely come back. I'm looking to put a camping trip together with some friends, so I'll probably write an update after that takes place.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Just a little under an hour from the urban jungle of Houston lies this incredible opportunity to get away from the pandemonium of the city and back to nature. Brazos Bend is what Houston used to be before the Allen brothers founded it: a prairie paridise filled with live oaks, birds of all kinds, and yes...alligators!
Brazos Bend is about 15 miles from 59S on Crabb River Road. It's $5 to get in, and they give you a trail map so you can get around the park easily. Park in one of the many lots, slather on your sunscreen, and devise your hiking strategy before going too far. There are dozens of trails with options to see wetland, prairie, and woodland habitat, and some are busier than others. The first one (40 acre lake) is the busiest, and some of the others that lead to the Brazos River are practically empty. You can also fish, camp, and mountain bike in the park.
If you're around on a Saturday, make sure to stop by the George Observatory at 5pm to snag a ticket for the telescopes once the sun sets (they sell out quickly & start selling at 5pm, so be there on the dot). It's beyond incredible: the Houston Museum of Natural Science owns these three gigantic telescopes, and you get to go inside and look at things like nebulas and Saturn while a guide tells you all about what you're seeing. Amateur astronomers are also out there in force with their homemade telescopes. They'll let you look through them and are always willing to talk to you.
One final note: if you bring a pet, make sure it's on a leash at all times, and do not under any circumstances let it get near the water. It will become alligator bait. Also, bring lots of water for you & your pet, and don't forget that picnic lunch to eat while the sun's setting!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (2)
I love being in the outdoors! This is a great place to enjoy nature. You can camp at designated areas.
Most of the reviewers here never mentioned the ALLIGATOR infested waters here! So I thought I mention it so that some of you that visit this park don't end up being alligator food! Make sure you HOLD on to your kids! It is also a few places that is actually a sanctuary for alligators.
I once saw a 12 foot massively, huge alligator basking at the shores at a lake, here. So be careful guys. An alligator can outrun any human in a short distant. If you need to outrun an alligator make sure you zig zag run and when you feel you lost the alligator sense of focus, run straight. The best thing to do is to find a tree or a strong post and stand besides it away from the mouth of an alligator.
During the winter, the alligators are in super slow mode because of their slowed down metabolism. I had a friend that actually petted an alligator's tail in winter. He ran after the alligator moved, lol! Occasionally during certain seasons, you will see wild deers roaming.
There is fishing here but just be careful that you don't catch an alligator. It is heavy fine if you hurt one of these protected endangered creatures.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Bigger than I expected!
Basic site (water + electric) $20/night + $5 entry fee per person
Clean bathrooms.
Well maintained trails.
So close to Houston!
Good hiking, cycling available if you're in to that, an observatory (open on Saturdays).
Great find.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (2)
I was out there for sky diving but due to extreme weather it got cancelled so I decided to check the park out since it was so close to the sky diving place AND I am glad I did !
Great Park, I drove around for 30min. They have amazing bike/hike trails; I am def going to go there again. I love photography and they have amazing lakes and scenery to capture.
Also, this place is great for camping. They have pretty much everything for everyone. If you are into bird watching, fishing, camping, biking, hiking etc then you should definitely go there. Memorial park is nothing as compared to this place.
The only drawback is that it's further away from the city (40 min or so) but great get away on the weekend. So.. Switch off your TV ... Grab a book, family and friends and go there, camp out ...have bbq.. Get going ... get moving Houston!
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (4)
Nice short scenic ride from Sugar Land. Lots of trails from beginners to more advanced. Multiple lakes to fish from. FYI, bring a small cooler full of ice cold liquids. Visitor center has air conditioning and baby gators. Observatory Lab there too but only open on Saturdays. If you want to get away and breathe fresh air..........
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
This place is one of the premier parks for birding in the United States. It costs $5 per person, or $4 for seniors & (maybe) kids. When we went 12/29/08, my dad (who teaches a University course on birds) estimated that during our 3 hour visit, we saw 50 species, of which he figured he ID'd 20. There are plenty of trails to hike, some short (~.5 miles) and some long (3-5 miles). Many of the trails go around lakes. You can also see turtles & alligators in the lakes. In fact, during our visit, an alligator was sunning himself in the middle of the trail. We also saw some folks fishing along one of the wooden piers. Other visitors rode bikes along the paths. Plenty of families with kids there too.
Binoculars will also vastly improve your visit. A good pair even more so.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
I truly enjoy Brazos Bend State Park. Lucky for me my friend buys the membership and introduced me to this park. Now, I get to go and enjoy the park once in a while. I've been to this park twice, the first time we went to see the alligators around the lake, and that was fun. We recently went hiking there and it was great! I just love nature and anything having to do with walking around beautiful trees, around the river is A-ok with me. We were on White Oak and the Red Bucket trails. We visited Big creek, which has a beautiful view of Brazos River. Hiking we actually saw some deer crossing (Very fast) right in front of us! That was amazing (then we thought.. what are they running from!? lol). The park is absolutely beautiful and HUGE. You can camp, hike, fish, bike pretty much whatever you like to do outdoors. I wouldn't recommend swimming as that river doesn't look very safe. I definitely recommend this park. I think it's beautiful and I can't wait to go camping there one day!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
When you've been spending time in the city, particularly a metropolis such as Houston, surrounded by pavement, strip malls and traffic, you start to crave nature. Brazos Bend State Park is an excellent place to satisfy this craving. A short 45 min. drive from Houston, BBSP is a diverse and lovely park. The highlights are the alligators and the many bird species. Apparently the park is home to close to 300 different birds. If you're lucky, as we were, you might also spot an armadillo! There are many trails, there's a visitor center in which you can pet a baby alligator or see some of the native snakes. Overall, this is a wonderful and refreshing 1/2-day getaway from Houston.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
With 5000 acres of park to enjoy, Brazos Bend State Park is a great weekend getaway that isn't too far from the urban sprawl of Houston.
If you're looking for a place to bike, hike, camp or picnic, Brazos Bend State Park has a lot to offer in a beautiful, natural setting. At the park there are 6 lakes for fishing. Each weekend, classes or guided hikes are held for visitors. On the premises, there is also an educational Nature Center that is open weekends and most holidays with hands on learning before you head out into the woods.
If you're into sky watching at night, this is the place to be. The George Observatory is housed at Brazos Bend State Park. It is a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science which offers classes for those curious about astronomy or wanting to gain a little more knowledge. The observatory is an amazing addition to the park that you just won't find elsewhere. The Gueymard Research Telescope is one of the largest telescopes in the United States that is open to the general public.
Go for a weekend or just a day. Brazos Bend State Park has much to do without making a major road trip to do it.
Brazos Bend State Park is almost 5000 acres of prairie and wetlands (with an equal number of alligators!) located 28 miles southwest of Houston. The wildlife is abundant - I've seen dozens of alligators, deer, all kinds of birds, possums, armadillos, and even feral hogs! There are miles of hiking, equestrian, and biking trails. You can also camp and fish (but you might lose your catch to a hungry alligator!). On Saturday nights, you can visit The George Observatory, with one of the largest telescopes in the nation open to the public on a regular basis. cost: free entrance with State Park pass or $4 per person + $5 for observatory tickets
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)