Travel & Outdoors
Paddling Down the Rio Grande in the Shadow of a Drought

David Courtney, a.k.a. the Texanist, is a staff writer.
Welcome to Party Island on Lady Bird Lake

Lauren Larson is a former features writer and editor.
Latest
After a Long Saga, a Weird Little Texas Cave Critter Is Staying on the Endangered Species List
The blind, elusive Bone Cave harvestman was at the center of a right-wing attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act.
I Wrote a Book Called ‘The Leopard Is Loose.’ Then a Leopard Got Loose in Dallas.
An escape in 1950 inspired my novel. The wildly different public reactions show how much our relationship to animals has changed.
Why the Deer Are Bigger and the Hunting Is Easier in Texas
Wildlife biologist Larry Weishuhn explains the changes he’s seen in his lifetime of Texas woodsmanship.
TM This Week
And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades.
It’s easy to forget that fire ants are actually an invasive species.
Big Bend, Big Crowds
What happens when hundreds of thousands of people go to the same place looking for a little quiet time? One of our two national parks is finding out.

Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
But It’s Not a Dry Heat, Actually
State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon says we need to be ready for more triple-digit days and more humidity.
“We Lived a Wacko, Crazy Life” on Caddo Lake
Dottie Carter shares her memories of life in Uncertain, Texas.
Whither the Wild Pecan?
Our state tree has been genetically transformed to meet the global nut market’s demand. But what’s good for the world may not be great for Texas.
An Ode to Texas’s Disappearing Swimming Holes
I’ve spent the past half century immersing myself in Texas’s clear, cool waters. But if development and drought have their way, I may be the last of my kind.
Texas Is the Only State That Doesn’t Protect Mountain Lions. Should That Change?
Proposed regulations have prompted an intense backlash from hunters, trappers, and landowners.

Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Welcome to Palo Pinto, Texas’s Next State Park
Set to open later this year, it'll give North Texans 4,871 scenic acres to roam.
Inside Frisco’s Lavish, Enormous New Golf Resort
Here’s what half a billion dollars buys in luxury golf amenities.

Tom Foster writes about business, innovation, and creative people.
I Fell in Love With Camping at Stephen F. Austin State Park
This peaceful spot near Houston is perfect for families, history buffs, and first-time campers.
Take a Hike on New Year’s Day, and You’ll Have Good Luck All Year
Well, that might be a stretch. But these six Texas hikes will start your 2023 off right.