- State: TX
- NPCA Region: Texas
- Est. Date: 1968
Air Quality Conditions
View the Polluted Parks ReportVisibility
Unsatisfactory
Health
Unsatisfactory
Nature
Significant Concern
Climate Change Threats
Travelers might not picture stunning beaches and undisturbed lagoons, marshlands, and coastal prairies when they think of Texas, but Padre Island National Seashore preserves the largest undeveloped barrier island in the world with a range of unspoiled natural features. The varied types of geography at the park make it an ideal stopover for a range of migratory birds on the Central Flyway seeking food and shelter, and the American Bird Conservancy has designated the park a Globally Important Bird Area. An estimated 380 different types of birds inhabit Padre Island over the course of a year—nearly half the total number of bird species in the entire country.
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Blog Post
After the Storms: 9 Signs of Hope on the Coast
Above-normal hurricane activity is predicted for this summer. What does this mean for national parks? See how sustainable practices and technology-based solutions are strengthening them amid climate change.
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More about Padre Island
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Read more about Behind the Scenes at Padre Island
Podcast Episode Behind the Scenes at Padre Island Award-winning journalist Ben Goldfarb shares some of the unexpected adventures that shaped his new feature story in National Parks magazine — and how he built his career traveling to exciting places and writing about them.
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Read more about Into The Wind
Magazine Article Into The Wind At Padre Island National Seashore, not even a gale can ruin your trip.
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Read more about Turtle Troubles
Magazine Article Turtle Troubles New research from Padre Island National Seashore highlights the toll that ingesting plastic is taking on green sea turtles.
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Read more about The Rarest Sea Turtle in the World
Blog Post The Rarest Sea Turtle in the World Staff at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina found three nests belonging to the rarest sea turtle species in the world — an animal not commonly found in the state.
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The national parks are the hearts of every community, they are parts of the history. More so every park relates to the culture of the people. They are the real beauty within ... — Edita Samson
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Read more about Your Favorite Park Photos and Stories
Blog Post Your Favorite Park Photos and Stories People around the country have shared some of their most poignant and intriguing moments in national parks on NPCA’s recently relaunched MyParkStory site.
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Read more about 11 of America’s Best National Park Beaches
Blog Post 11 of America’s Best National Park Beaches Need some sun and surf in your travel plans? NPCA staff highlight top beach vacation spots at national parks around the country.
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Read more about A Legacy Threatened
Report A Legacy Threatened NPCA's photo book shows the damage to parks caused by the 2017 hurricanes.
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Read more about Fleeting Beauty: 9 Natural Phenomena You Won’t Want to Miss
Blog Post Fleeting Beauty: 9 Natural Phenomena You Won’t Want to Miss National parks offer remarkable experiences no matter the hour or the season. Sometimes, though, it helps to be in the right place at the right time to witness something extraordinary. You have to think ahead to catch these nine ephemeral delights — so start planning now!
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Read more about Working Like a Dog: See How Pups Help Park Rangers in These 12 Unusual Jobs
Blog Post Working Like a Dog: See How Pups Help Park Rangers in These 12 Unusual Jobs From sniffing out turtle eggs to keeping mountain goats out of parking lots, four-legged rangers carry out many duties that help preserve national park resources and make sure visitors have a pleasant and safe park experience.
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Read more about Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding
Blog Post Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Find out which national park sites have the most bird species, with a highlight of what you might see at each place.
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Read more about Trivia Challenge: The Longest Stretch of Undeveloped Barrier Island in the World
Blog Post Trivia Challenge: The Longest Stretch of Undeveloped Barrier Island in the World Q: Barrier islands make up about 10 percent of the world’s coastline, and the United States has the greatest number of them with more than 400. The U.S. also holds the world record for the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island, which happens to be located in a national park. Can you guess which park?
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Read more about Texas Pride
Report Texas Pride This report profiles the 13 national park sites here in Texas, visited annually by nearly 5.5 million people. They are the pride of our state and economic boons to local communities, with national park tourism providing nearly 5,000 jobs and $308 million annually for state and local economies.
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