Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island is the longest remaining undeveloped barrier island in the world. The National Seashore protects 133,000 acres of the vanishing habitats associated with these fragile islands. It has lovely white sand beaches, interior grasslands, ephemeral ponds, beautiful wildflowers, and the Laguna Madre, a windsurfing hot spot. The area provides habitat for coyotes, waterfowl and other birds, amphibians and reptiles, including endangered nesting sea turtles, and many types of insects and sea creatures, including jellyfish, mollusks, and fishes of all shapes and sizes. While providing food, water and shelter for a multitude of wildlife, the island remains a mecca for tourists, providing a variety of recreational opportunities. Sunbathing, windsurfing, fishing, camping, and birdwatching are some of things visitors find to do there.

There is only one paved road into the park, but, beach driving is permitted. The Gulf beach is open to conventional vehicles for the first five miles, but it is recommended that only four-wheel drive vehicles venture beyond that point. Malaquite Beach, also known as Closed Beach, is a 4.5 mile stretch of Gulf shoreline that has been closed to vehicular traffic. Visitors may walk here in nearly complete isolation as well as swim, sunbathe, or hunt for shells.

Padre Island is home to more than 350 species of birds. The best time to bird in the area is during the fall and winter, when thousands of birds either migrate through or spend the winter here. During the summer, birders spot many common shore and marsh birds, songbirds, and some raptors. This area is the northern limit of many species commonly found only in Central America and southern Texas, such as the Green Jay and Northern Jacana. Occasionally birds whose normal range is much farther south find their way here, so the area can offer many unexpected and exciting species.

All sea turtles found in the Gulf of Mexico are either endangered or threatened with extinction. A multi-agency program is underway to increase sea-turtle nesting at Padre Island National Seashore. The Atlantic Ridley (also known as Kemp's Ridley), the most endangered sea turtle in the world, is one of those. During late spring and summer, patrolling volunteers and staff collect sea turtle eggs for incubation at a facility located with the ranger station. After hatching the sea turtles are released into the Gulf. Loggerhead, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Green Turtles also nest on the seashore’s beaches.