Texas contains nationally significant desert, mountain, prairie, forest, and coastal ecosystems.
## National parks and federal protected areas - **Big Bend National Park** — Chihuahuan Desert landscapes, Rio Grande canyons, mountain hikes, and dark-sky viewing. - **Guadalupe Mountains National Park** — home to **Guadalupe Peak**, the highest point in Texas. - **Padre Island National Seashore** — important barrier island habitat and sea turtle conservation area. - **Big Thicket National Preserve** — biologically rich Southeast Texas preserve known for biodiversity.
## State parks and natural areas Texas has an extensive state park system managed by **Texas Parks and Wildlife Department**. Prominent sites include: - **Palo Duro Canyon State Park** - **Enchanted Rock State Natural Area** - **Garner State Park** - **Pedernales Falls State Park** - **Colorado Bend State Park** - **Lost Maples State Natural Area** - **Caddo Lake State Park** - **Balmorhea State Park** - **Monahans Sandhills State Park**
## Major ecological regions - **Gulf Coastal Plains** — marshes, bays, beaches, estuaries. - **Piney Woods** — forested East Texas habitat. - **Blackland Prairie** — much reduced but ecologically important. - **Hill Country** — springs, limestone hills, oak-juniper woodlands. - **South Texas Brush Country** — important for bird and wildlife diversity. - **High Plains and Panhandle** — grasslands and canyon country. - **Trans-Pecos** — desert and mountain ecosystems.
## Wildlife - Texas is known for: - white-tailed deer - pronghorn in some western areas - javelina in South and West Texas - alligators in parts of East Texas and the Gulf Coast - sea turtles on the coast - extensive bird migration routes - The state is especially important for **birdwatching**, including whooping crane habitat along the coast and rich avian diversity in the Rio Grande Valley.
## Conservation notes - A large share of Texas land is privately owned, which shapes recreation and conservation access. - Habitat fragmentation, water scarcity, coastal erosion, wildfire risk, and rapid development are recurring environmental concerns.
