By Rachel Hall, reporting for Bluebonnet News
Perhaps it is time to unplug and unwind in nature. Find serenity within the 30,000 acres at the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge.
“We are the best kept secret in East Texas,” said TRNWR Headquarters Office Assistant Bonnie Campisi.
Originally established in 1994, the Refuge is designed to protect the remnant of the bottomland hardwood forest found along the Trinity River. Being part of the national network of managed lands and waters benefits the community, habitats, and wildlife, according to Campisi.
With several access points spanning North to South and East to West across Liberty County, it is no wonder why so many people choose to get away from the hustle and bustle of life closer to home. Yet, many residents and neighbors are not aware of everything the Refuge has to offer.
“We have been here for 25 years and we still get questions from the public,” explained Campisi.
Maps of Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge are available online and at the headquarters located in Liberty. All of the public-use access points have parking available and the trails are usually cutback and marked, including with distances of the paths.
Nature enthusiasts and hikers, including school and community groups, are encouraged to visit the refuge for a chance to see organisms – great and small – thriving in their natural habitat. Those who are a little less nature enthusiastic are also encouraged to explore the refuge to the extent of their comfort level, even if just for a couple of photo opportunities.
“Our most popular public use area is Champion Lake. Our more secluded areas are our hiking trails in the park and our other locations around the Highway 105-Trinity Bridge area,” said Campisi.
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is also well-known for its impressive moth list of hundreds of moths identified by Refuge Manager Stuart Marcus. The annual Moth Night Out will be held on July 27.
For additional details about Trinity River Wildlife Refuge, visit the website at www.fws.gov/refuge/Trinity_River/ or visit the social media page at www.facebook.com/TrinityRiverNWR/
