Brazos Bend State Park image

Brazos Bend State Park

Tourist attraction Park Nature preserve State park

One of the Best Places To Visits in Fort Bend County


Address

21901 Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX 77461, United States

Website

tpwd.texas.gov

Contact

+1 979-553-5101

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (4.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Sunday: 8 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: 8 am to 10 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (51) trails (21) alligators (21) birds (16) time (15) state (12) wildlife (12) lots (12) hiking (12) lake (11)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Jake H. 2 years ago on Google
    Brazos Bend State Park was an awesome state park to visit southwest of Houston. Great trails with my favorite being Elm Lake Trail around the lake as this is where I saw a large alligator basking in the afternoon sun, right by the trail!! Apparently he was on the trail prior! Tons of wildlife seen here from the variety of birds, alligators (spotted 4 of em), opossum, bunnies, and a Great Horned Owl whose 2 chicks just hatched at the front of the park. I’d highly recommend visiting; it is highly rated as you can see. I camped here and the showers and bathrooms are well kept. It’s a great state park!
    21 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt S. 2 months ago on Google • 306 reviews New
    Two thumbs up. We saw a ton of wild life including alligators of all sizes, vultures, birds of prey, herons. The paths were well graded and accessible for anyone ready to walk a bit. The picnic area offered plenty of space to sit and eat. It is a great place to escape Houston's metropolitan landscape and see how this part of Texas probably looked like a 100 years ago.

  • 5/5 Zachary R. 1 year ago on Google
    Where to begin?! The wildlife, the trees, the scenery, the nature center, the observatory and the campsites all come together to form one of the most comprehensive and enjoyable state parks I've ever been to in Texas. Alligators of all sizes are prolific in this park, if you don't see several you didn't try very hard. We saw about a dozen in the course of a day. The variety and population of birds in this park is spectacular. If you are into bird watching I strongly recommend a stop here. Herons, ducks, Roseate Spoonbills, and hawks were all sighted in a single day within hours. The trees in this park are massive and very old. I don't remember a collection of such magnificent trees in a park so abundant and accessible, including at the campsites. And speaking of the campsites, the pads for RVs are the widest I've seen at a state park, anywhere. The size of the pad makes backing in an RV a lot easier than usual and also offers a convenient place for additional guests to park. The observatory is a nice bonus, but make sure you get tickets for the evening events well in advance! Finally, the nature center is a wonderful place to see live snakes, baby alligators, spiders, glass lizards, and hummingbirds. You can learn about the history of the park there too. Park volunteers and rangers were very friendly and very knowledgeable. We will definitely be visiting this park again and again.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 TheHomieChris 3 months ago on Google • 148 reviews New
    Beautiful park. I went for a bike ride and enjoyed the scenery. Well maintained. Hopefully the water level rises. I can’t wait till I go camping here. UPDATE: So I came back and camped overnight in the primitive campsite. It was Holiday Vacation for the schools so it was kind of packed. I felt the campsites were close to each other but other than that, it was amazing. Such a beautiful park and friendly staff!!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Will M. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this place, so close to home and lots to do. Come here more than once a year, more like 5 time a year. Today was a one day thing with some friends. Staff is friendly, map is easy-to-use and have all kinds of camping. Primitive, shelter, RV and car camping. Today was just a day hike but a friend reserved a shelter and we were able to stay late and enjoy a fire pit and it was perfect because we got a cold front last night. Temps where low to high 40s. First made a left and made our 1st hike of the day. Plenty of parking, restroom, table's next to barbecue pits and a playground. Afterwards went to the shelter and took another trail to come back and enjoy a meal with a warm fire pit and warm coco. Other things to do, besides hiking, mountain biking but no challenges, star gazing at the Observatory, not open at the time because of Covic19, bird watching. Around this time you will be lucky to see an alligator but another wild life are still active, lots of birds, and small mammals. A gift shop on the left and is on the right of the parking lot for the Observatory. Took pictures of only a small portion of the park for a day hike.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joey 8 months ago on Google
    Drove up here back in January 2019 from San Antonio to come hiking here. This Texas State Park is absolutely beautiful. The temperature on this visit was in the mid 50s. The park had plenty of wildlife including the alligators. Had a lot of fun at this park. Just be careful when hiking around the wildlife animals here.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Morgan W. 2 months ago on Google • 147 reviews New
    Starting off our year trying to visit as many state parks as we can with our pass. This was the 3rd and by far had the best playground, as well as a great gift shop for those who collect patches/pins, etc. they have it ALL here. My 3 kids made it difficult to do a ton of hiking so I can only assess the 40 mile trail and the short one to the observatory across from the nature center but my family had a great time, esp with the baby alligator they let my sons pet. I will prob come back another time with my oldest son to do more hiking 🥾 10/10
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Richard F. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful state park with lots to offer. Has multiple playground for children. Miles of trails that take you through beautiful wooded areas. And of course, American Alligators. If you want to see some gators, head out there on any nice day and walk 40-acre lake or Elm lake and you'll see plenty... Or at least, they'll see you. And be sure to visit the newly renovated Nature Center! They've got really informative and neat things to see, as well as tanks with live snakes, lake life, and baby gators! Beautiful park for Texans and travelers alike!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lauren 2 years ago on Google
    Great park and you’re almost guaranteed to see some gators in the wild! We saw upwards of 20! We walked both the 40 acre lake trail and the elm lake trail which totaled about 4 miles. Trail is good for bikes too and one of the gift shops has baby gators to pet
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bellami B. 1 month ago on Google • 145 reviews New
    It's a beautiful park with many hiking/bike trails. We spent 2 hours riding the bike and didn't get to go on all the bike trails yet. It's close to Houston (35 minutes drive). We got to see many turtles in the river while we were biking. And one mooring, we was a family of deers run across the street. We definitely would stay here again and make sure to stay longer next time.

  • 5/5 Norma S. 5 months ago on Google
    It's one of my favorite parks that are close to Houston! I've been coming here since I was a child, and I will continue to come. There are alligators, snakes and deer here, so be aware and make sure to take extra good care of your children and pets. I have never seen an incident here, but it's always best to be prepared. I have even seen a gator on the trail before, so be careful! This park does have some nice trails that help you find a short getaway from the big city.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alejandra E. 2 years ago on Google
    A very nice and relaxing park to enjoy the day. The tracks are always clean and the scenery always beautiful. You can also camp either in campers, tents or rent a small cabin. Bathrooms should improve. take drinks and food and get ready to walk a lot.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mike H. 4 months ago on Google • 60 reviews
    My second time visiting the state park after so many years. It is still as scenic and fun to visit (for individuals and families alike) as it used to be, though it has experienced its second worst drought recently. Specifically, I enjoyed immersing myself in nature by hiking miles after miles on the park's many well-maintained, beautiful and tranquil trails.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Faith H. 9 months ago on Google
    I used to come here with my family growing up, and we loved it. Coming as an adult was awesome. The campsite was large. The restroom and shower facilities were clean. We saw so many birds and gator sightings aplenty! We met the park hosts, and they were so nice and personable. As a person of color, It was truly refreshing and comforting to meet the first black park hosts in the state of Texas.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christopher K. 2 years ago on Google
    Brazos Bend is the hidden jewel of the entire Texas State park system. The park literally bursts with life, and it’s not one of those parks that feels run down after a few hundred thousand people walk all over it either. Everything feels really wild because most of the areas are definitely places you cannot and do not want to go due to the water and what is inside of it. The birding is incredible. There are species here I do not see elsewhere. Bring binoculars and a telephoto lens for your camera. Do not bury your head into your phone, you literally can trip over an alligator sunning on the trail if you aren’t paying attention to the path in front of you. Yes, it’s safe and it’s very exciting.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Monica W. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow!!!!! Another state park I wished we had more time to explore. We were only here overnight and truly regret that. They have so many hiking trails . I could get happily lost in this park. The sites are huge at this park. They give you lots of room to spread out and relax. We will definitely be back to this park.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 lesley G. 1 month ago on Google • 73 reviews New
    We Love going here. So much to see and do. Amazing hikes, camping, fire pits, grilling, alligators, visitor centres, baby alligators, wildlife, rivers, lakes, cycling the list is endless. Great for picnics and walks. Viewing towers are a must as are the visitor centres where you can get up close to local wildlife like snakes, alligators and spiders. Staff are super helpful and informative.

  • 5/5 Anastasia M. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful location featuring all kinds of wildlife. We were thrilled to encounter a wider variety of birds, and their reptile companions. Alligators were in abundance and came in all sizes - we even saw baby ones! You’ll have to keep your eyes open to spot them as their camouflage is impressive, and bringing binoculars will help spot the birds at a distance. Highly recommend!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nate C. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful. Great place to visit, simple trails, lots of area to explore with fascinating animals to see. Check it out if you can make the drive down! The amount of alligators you see will depend on the day, time, and season. You’re also likely see a ton of different birds, hear some swampy animal chatter, and will see plenty of plants, bugs, spiders, and anything else as you explore. You can run on the trails, just take a simple stroll, or observe pretty much anywhere in the park. It is a lovely experience and I hope to return sometime!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steph S. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful park that is well maintained and quiet during the week. Loud on the weekend and lots of people. Awesome trails around small lakes. It's not too full for fishing. Boating is not allowed due to the alligators. It's a great place to view birds. Biking the trails is a lot of fun. Great playground and day use area. Clean restrooms and showers. Wonderful place to camp! It was so much fun. We'd definitely come back and stay 2 weeks!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gabriel Villazan I. 11 months ago on Google
    Amazing experience. Lots of alligators. We went there in mid April. Bring plenty of water as it can get really hot. Great spot to see exotic birds as well. Try to get to the main observatory if you have time. Around 2 hours should be enough. Ticket is 7$ per person and parking is free.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin L. 2 months ago on Google • 12 reviews New
    One of the larger state parks in TX at well over 5000 acres with a diversity of habitats to explore and miles of prairie, wetland, and wooded trails. I'd recommend 40 Acre Lake Trail for viewing gators or birds and Red Buckeye/White Oak Trail for a woods hike and to see the Brazos River. Incredible number of Alligators, even during December we spotted about twenty total. Innumerable birds out here, lots of herons and ibis. In the woods we heard a pileated woodpecker but couldn't spot it. The park rangers at the nature center are very knowledgeable, even had baby gators you can pet. As a bonus the HMNS observatory is here. Definitely worth the trek.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christine G. 10 months ago on Google
    Beautiful state park. We started out at the visitor center and checked out the live animal displays. They had some very cute baby alligators that we were able to touch. From the visitor center we walked the Pilant Slough trail (1.2 miles). We also walked around Elm lake which I highly recommend!!! We saw several large alligators and an abundance of birds and other wildlife. The campground was very clean and the shower facilities had great water pressure. We were only able to stay one night and it wasn’t nearly enough- I can’t wait to return.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 H J. 5 months ago on Google
    Good trails to go for long walk and hiking. They have two parking lots which I could see, good idea to go one time at one spot and next time another. No food unfortunately there, even that area. Please take own food! You could see alligators.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Scott H. 2 years ago on Google
    Such a wonderful park for warm and cold weather. The trees are so beautiful and the trails are awesome! Definitely a must see and camp at state park. 10 out of 10!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 George S. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely beautiful park, we couldn’t get over how big it was. The hiking trail were well maintained and easy to walk. The camp site are spaced very well, ours had water and electric. The staff were helpful and friendly. Park Police patrolled the grounds on a regular basis, we felt very safe.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jackie D. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a lovely park! Enjoyed a New Year’s Day walk out amongst the gators. There was a line to get in at the gate but once in you don’t really see many people which is nice! Saw tons of birds, turtles, gators & other little small animals! Great place for kids just keep your eyes open at all times!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aaron T. 1 year ago on Google
    This place is awesome. Great adventure day. Lots of trails to walk or bike. We looked all over for gators but came up short. The cold front and drought probably didn't help much. We did see other wildlife, deer, armadillo, ducks, turtles. Overall a great trip.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cynthia O. 7 months ago on Google
    Beautiful park, well maintained and friendly staff. The nature center has wildlife that you can interact with and its very well cared for. August 2023 is very dry and a tough time for the park - but so much beauty is still found here. Not much water sadly, but lots of plants surviving this drought and wildlife to entertain you. Can’t wait to come back during the cooler temps!

  • 5/5 Michelle F. 8 months ago on Google
    I love this park! First time visiting and its so big!!!!! You can walk and explore for hours! I enjoyed seeing the alligators and many different birds! I will definitely come back again!

  • 4/5 Nadine Brubaker H. 1 year ago on Google
    We're visiting from dry California, so the humidity and heat while doing a short flat stroll was a surprise in mid September! There are beautiful moss-draped trees everywhere - grand old Live Oaks are my fave. And beautiful GREEN lawns with trees, picnic tables, BBQs, old-style playgrounds. Nice restroom. The various lakes look so green-brown and muddy to me, but I think that's what you get, so close to the Gulf. The Rangers (?) at the visitor's center were very nice and engaged well with the public. Of course the best part was an up-close with a 13 month old alligator. The sun dial is interesting and educational.

  • 5/5 Phil R. 1 year ago on Google
    This is one of our favorite parks in the Texas Parks system. There are over 20 miles of bike/hike trails, some of which have very few visitors. While most visitors come to the 40-Acre lake and/or Elm lake to view the alligators and picnic, the Hale lake area is typically quieter and also has a nice picnic area and quieter trails. Visiting a few days ago, we walked nearly 10 miles of trails, saw deer, lots of smaller 'gaters (4-6 feet), a couple of mid-size ones (around 9 feet) but none of the 12-footers that are normally showing themselves off. The water levels reflect the severe drought we have experienced in the area, Hale lake being lower than I remember in 30 years of visits. The low water on 40-Acre/Elm has allowed the lotus to temporarily dramatically take over. Highly recommended as a great place to visit.

  • 5/5 Maegan P. 4 months ago on Google
    We camp at least twice a year. Spring and fall. This year both were at Brazos Bend. It's a favorite with my family. It's close to home, and there's enough to do to occupy for a few days. The water is definitely low since we went in the spring, but there's enough gators and wild life to see. The spot we rented deer came through almost everyday. It was enjoyable except my parents had to pay extra for me. I got called into work and had to come later. Since I wasn't with them they had to pay more for my extra car AND daily fees for our entire stay. My mom has the park pass and I was listed on the online booking BUT because I wasn't "in the car on arrival" they hit us for all of it. Not to mention, the group that had our spot before us wouldn't get off at noon. The park police had to be called. They were pulling their lunch out and everything expecting to stay all day. Well the rules are, you can stay on your spot till noon. You must be packed up and off, but you can stay in the park in day use till closing. They didn't understand apparently. Once they left they trashed the spot. Poured juice and coke everywhere so we had an ant infestation. It was manageable though. We always bring ant bait. Overall it's a favorite and we'll be back.

  • 5/5 Jay S. 3 months ago on Google New
    Wonderful place to spend with family. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast like me this has a great twist and turns very less traffic and lots of interior roads to explore. I have a group of adventurous biker and we usually hit this road once or sometimes even twice a month.

  • 4/5 Tanuja J. 5 months ago on Google
    It has nice trails and quite a few alligators just chilling here and there. We spotted blue herons and turtles as well. It was a good day learning more about nature and gators.

  • 5/5 Hanna S. 7 months ago on Google
    Expansive park with lots of different trails, sceneries and wildlife sightings, nature center friendly & knowledgeable park rangers. Despite being one of the hottest days in Texas, we still enjoyed our brief stop & exploration of the park. We would love to come back in the fall to hike more trails and camp, nice camp sites, and Observatory on Saturday nights.

  • 5/5 NGUYEN Thanh V. 1 year ago on Google
    Less than one hour from Houston you are in an oasis for hiking, biking, fishing, birds and alligators watching, picnicking event sky watching at the observatory (weather permitted). If you camp in the park at a beautiful night, there’s always some neighbors who brings their telescopes with them. They are willing to show you Saturn, Jupiter and another stars, it’s amazing. Late fall is a good time to visit the park. The weather is cooler, water level is low so you could see a bunch of alligators at 40 Acres Lake, located near the entrance of the park. We bit our record of alligator counting last week, 26 alligators excluding babies.

  • 5/5 Hemaswi G. 2 months ago on Google • 6 reviews New
    It was fun hiking a 10 mile trail, a great place to take pets. I visited the place in fall and it was kinda spooky cause of the dried trees and everything, which made the journey more interesting and fun... But can't wait to come back in the spring 🌱. Hopefully I'll see some mama and papa alligators once they are back from the hibernation 💚🐊


Call +1 979-553-5101 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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