LBJ National Grasslands

LBJ National Grasslands: Located NW of Dallas/Fort Worth, LBJ National Grasslands are an understated mix of rolling oak woods and savannas with widely scattered lakes. Keep your eyes open for wild turkey year round and soaring Mississippi Kites in the summer. Winter brings in migrant sparrows from north and west. This largely wooded grassland consists of a crazy patchwork of land as if a checkerboard was staked out by an utterly blotto giant. There are a fair number of loop trails particularly in the more contiguous areas like Tarda Point in the center and more in the units to the north. Many of these loop trails are probably more geared by length to horseback riding or backpackers than to day hikers, but there are enough road crossings that you can easily choose your preferred length of hike and loop back on the lightly traveled gravel roads. Look for Great and Snowy Egrets on the ponds and keep your eyes open for the elusive but stunningly beautiful Painted Bunting on brushy edges. There is grazing and some oil development on the grasslands so don't be surprised to turn a corner and see an oil derek with tanks all dressed down in khaki colored paint.