West Texas Outdoors: A Trans Pecos Wildlife Guide

In Midland, a trip to the naturally sublime is a short one. More than country music and United States Presidents, Midland is the gateway to one of the most biologically diverse—and visually spectacular—areas in North America: The Trans Pecos Region of West Texas. Through its terrain and wildlife you’ll find a system of trails—and communities—that make Midland a paradise for any lover of the outdoors.

The Trans Pecos is unique—it’s not only the most mountainous area in the state of Texas, it’s also part of the largest desert in North America, the Chihuahuan Desert. Because it lies at a point where multiple ecosystems meet, Midland and its surrounding areas enjoy an abundance of wildlife, a biodiversity rivaling any in the nation.

Here are three perfect places to start your journey through Midland and its place in the Trans Pecos.

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Where To Go

I-20 Wildlife Preserve: There may be no better way to begin to experience Midland’s natural bounty than through the I-20 Wildlife Preserve—this 100-acre riparian forest features grasslands, floodplain thickets, and, as its centerpiece, an 86-acre urban playa lake that provides habitat for countless native species. As a nonprofit conservation effort, this preserve offers the beauty of a park with the experience of the wild. Capitalize on a wellness or education program, but keep an eye out for the sandpipers and egrets flying overhead, or catch a glimpse of a bobcat hunting in the marshland.

Sibley Nature Center: With 50 sprawling acres in Hogan Park, this Midland gathering place honors not only the natural legacy of the Trans Pecos, but its history. Founded by two Midland teachers with the desire to educate the community on its roots, Sibley Nature Center operates independently, meaning there are no entrance fees or registration requirements to enjoy everything worth exploring: nature trails, interpretive programs, education and wildlife-viewing gardens, even Spring and Fall Nature Festivals.

Midland Trail Park: Nearly eight miles of mountain biking trails traversing 120-acres, hiking and running trails, disc golf, and all a few minutes drive from downtown Midland: the Midland Trail Park is the newest addition to Midland’s network of trail systems and outdoor recreation gateways. There are no entrance fees for Midland Trail Park, only miles of open trail for fun—and a peaceful Permian Basin backdrop.

What To Look For

Animal-Life: Look for the Desert Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn, and Javelina that make the Trans Pecos a hub for big game hunting—but your time may be best spent on what is one of America’s richest/most diverse areas for birds. Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons call this region home, along with a host of incredible finds: Peregrine Falcon, Red-Wing Blackbird, Roseate Spoonbill, and Greater Roadrunners. Countless hummingbird, woodpecker, and waterfowl species highlight the diversity of this world-class region for birding. You may even be lucky enough to spot a bobcat or gray fox stopping for a cool drink from a natural spring.

Plant-Life: Midland, so rich in ecosystems, offers you the choice between mountain and desert. Traverse higher elevations and you’re sure to see live and scrub oak, juniper, and pinyon pine thriving with higher rainfall. Explore the desert and marvel at the beautiful native yucca and striking cholla cacti. Ocotillo, Strawberry, Scarlet Hedgehog, and Texas Rainbow Cacti add brilliant pops of color to the landscape. Prairies of desert grasslands define the central region of the Trans Pecos—you can expect to see prairie grass like black grama, long-rooted mesquite trees, and creosote basking in the sunshine here.