Panhandle Plains · Outdoors & Wildlife
Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge on the western High Plains is Texas's oldest national wildlife refuge and is especially known for winter concentrations of lesser sandhill cranes around playa wetlands and native grasslands.
Photography: Wyman Meinzer · Public domain · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Plan the visit
The place
Established in 1935, Muleshoe is the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas. Its conservation significance comes from the High Plains relationship between grassland and shallow playa basins, which can hold water episodically and become critical resting and feeding habitat for migratory birds.
The refuge is best known for large numbers of lesser sandhill cranes that use the area between fall and spring. The spectacle depends on weather, water and migration timing, so the experience varies from year to year rather than functioning like a fixed attraction.
Muleshoe's remoteness is part of its appeal. Visitors should expect wind, broad horizons, limited shade and fewer services than at a developed park, making advance fuel, water and weather planning important for photography, hiking or primitive camping.
The details
Quick answer
Field notes
Conditions, closures, fees and availability can change. Use these notes to plan, then confirm the latest details with the official site before making the drive.
Build the trip
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