State Parks Getaways – April 2018

Where to Go Wild Over Wildflowers l 6 Hacks for Hiking l 6 Parks to Go Fly a Kite l We Will Not Be Tamed Sweepstakes

View as a Webpage Reservations | Find a Park | Activities | More Where to Go Wild Over Wildflowers Wildflowers are throwing a colorful carpet over our spring landscape. You probably recognize bluebonnets, our famous state flower, but they're not the only color in the carpet – Texas has over 5,000 types of wildflowers! Check out these favorite parks and the spring flowers they're known for: Ft. Boggy – N of Houston, spider lilies Lake Mineral Wells – W of DFW, Indian paintbrush Lake Somerville – E of Austin, bluebonnets Daingerfield – E of DFW, dogwood tree blossoms Franklin Mountains – in El Paso, gold poppies  Visit our Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook for the latest photos of park wildflowers and tag yours with #TxStateParks.  More Spring Wildflowers in Parks  6 Hacks for Hiking State Parks Whether you like to hike, walk or skip your way around state parks, check out these 6 helpful resources before you go: 1. Tips for hikes and nature walks 2. Trail maps, including interactive 3. Organized hikes and nature walks  4. Tips for hiking with your dog (video) 5. Family hike tips 6. State Parks app get it for easy access to trail maps Keep your parks beautiful by staying on the trails and discarding your trash. Leave No Trace Video 6 Parks to Go Fly a Kite Let your spirits soar by flying a kite at a state park. April is National Kite Month, so celebrate by joining us at these park kite festivities: Monahans Sandhills – SW of Midland, event 4/29  Sea Rim – E of Houston, event 4/28 Lake Arrowhead – NW of DFW, event 4/29 Ft. Leaton – E of Presidio, event 4/28 People have been making kites for over 2,000 years, so you may want to try to make one yourself. When it's time to send it soaring, look for an area of park with an open space free of exposed power lines, trees and cactus. Plenty of parks have suitable areas for kite flying, including:  Lockhart – S of Austin Cleburne – S of DFW There's a reason we still fly kites, because it's FUN. So check out these kite tips, take a look at our night kite video, and go out and create some happy memories with a kite at a state park. Night Kite Video We Will Not Be Tamed Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) encourages all Texans to get involved in conserving the wild things and wild places of our state. As the nonprofit partner of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWF is raising awareness about the lands, waters and wildlife we all love. "We Will Not Be Tamed" calls on you to appreciate the wildness of Texas, the vastness of our Texas spirit, and why we should all be inspired to conserve it. TPWF has enlisted a group of remarkable Texan outdoorsmen and women to stand together and tell their stories about places that have given so much. They include El Paso's Matt Morris, pictured here, who credits time spent in the ruggedly beautiful Franklin Mountains with restoring his health and vitality. TPWF is calling them The Untamed, and you can learn more about Matt and the other Untamed ambassadors at WeWillNotBeTamed.org. TPWF has also teamed up with popular Texas brands including Toyota, Yeti, Howler Brothers and Diablo Paddlesports. Together they've created a one-of-a-kind sweepstakes to give away everything needed to live the wild life – and the grand prize winner will drive home in a new Toyota Tundra.  SIGN UP Thanks to the following sponsors and partners:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department