Matagorda Bay Nature Park is a 1600-acre park located on the Matagorda Peninsula at the mouth of the Colorado River channel where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Matagorda Bay Nature Park is an ecological gem that will be preserved and developed for sustainable tourism by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The Matagorda Bay Nature Park is destined to become a world-class birding destination! The unique river channel, the wetlands of the bays and estuaries and the Gulf coast are home to thousands of shorebirds and many migrating birds, ducks and geese are enticed to spend a season here. Where there are birds, there are fish and shellfish.

This area is already known as an incredible fishing spot and a wonderful environment in which to study wetland soils, vegetation and hydrology, bays and estuaries, aquatic organisms, coastal dunes and flora, organisms of the salt marsh and shoreline shells.

To view the park, coast and surrounding area, visit Tex-Maps and view the East Matagorda Bay aerial map.

Recreational and educational programs available now:

• boating safety
• angler education
• beginning birding
• teacher workshops
• scouting and youth programs
• guided kayak wetlands trail trips
• educational programs for students

Recreational activities and facilities available now:

• picnic shelters
• bird watching
• beach combing
• beach tent camping
• 2.5-mile wetlands kayaking trail
• fishing from three free public piers
• 22-mile beach with vehicle access
• hiking trail to shaded wildlife viewing area

This park will fill a void in coastal parklands created when Matagorda Island changed from a State Park to a State Wildlife Management Area due to budgetary concerns. While the Matagorda Bay Nature Park is not as remote as Matagorda Island, this park does have facilities such as potable water, showers and toilets and road access that were lacking on the Island.

A new 70-site RV Park with full hookups is scheduled to open by summer 2006. The RV Park will be located along the Colorado River channel, within walking distance of the beach, the natural science center, the group pavilion, the picnic facilities, the hiking trail and the fishing piers.

Other facilities to be open by summer 2006 include:

• playground
• food and drink service
• Natural Science Center
• ADA-accessible facilities
• 1/2-mile pedestrian beach
• rest rooms and outdoor showers
• group pavilion with covered picnic table
• equipment rentals: kayak, fishing gear and beach umbrellas

The nearby town of Matagorda has restaurants, lodging, shopping, fishing guides, boat rentals and many other attractions. For area information, please view the Visit Matagorda County website.

View map from Matagorda, Texas to Matagorda Bay Nature Park from Ask.com.

Tags: Matagorda Bay Nature Park, Colorado River Meets Gulf, world class birding, easy coastal fishing, RV Park on Texas coast,kayak trail, Natural Science Center