Boca Chica State Park is located in the Boca Chica Sub-Delta of the Rio Grande River near Brownsville, Texas, the park is a sandy peninsula that is separated from Mexico by the river, and the Brazos Santiago Pass detaches the park from the South Padre Island.
The park is an undeveloped park that borders the south shore of South Bay and fringed by black mangroves that die in a freeze. The park is always open and at over 1,000 acres is full of recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, kite surfing and bird watching. The land is owned by the State of Texas, therefore making it a state park, but there are no facilities available for visitors.
The park is very easy to access. Take Highway 4 east from Brownsville to the very end. You then turn right to go to the mouth of Rio Grande or left towards the north ends across from South Padre Island.
There are many birds that can be spotted during the spring and summer at the park. These include Roseate Spoonbill, American Osprey, Curve-Billed thrashers, Brown Pelican, Peregrine Falcon, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Laughing Gull, Greater Gull and Franklin's Gull.
Boca Chica was the site of the last battle of the Civil war - The South battle, even though the war had been ended for several weeks. Several Civil war ships are wrecked on the beach and are able to be explored.
The beach is very quiet as there are no streets, houses or buildings to take away from the scenery of the beach. Once spring break is over the local schools have Beach Clean-up days where the students clean the beach.
There are no camping facilities at Boca Chica or South Padre Island Beach, although is visitors have 4WD access to the beach they are able to camp. Camping is available at nearby areas such as Isla Blanca park which is a RV and picnic park with 600 RV sites, 140 tent spots and Cabanas for rent. Adolph Thomae Jr. County Cameron Park has 10 tent sites and 35 waterfront RV sites with showers and bathroom facilities. Rio RV Park in Brownsville has tent spaces with fire rings, picnic tables, running water, some sites with electric and cable television. The showers have private dressing rooms.
In the mid-valley area is Bentsen State Park that has wilderness style camping with restrooms, electricity close to the campground. Cars are not permitted in this park and visitors are required to walk 2/3 of a mile of catch the afternoon tram.
In the upper valley is Falcon State park with facilities such as screened shelters, water, electricity and sewerage. A Playground and kitchen is also available in this state park. There is primitive camping options at Starr County Park and El Rio RV Park and the San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary has tent camping.
Boca Chica State Park is subject to offshore storms during any season and tropical storms and hurricanes are known to affect the area from June through to November.
