Neches River National Wildlife Refuge, National wildlife refuge in Cherokee County, Texas.
Neches River National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area covering about 7,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests in Cherokee County. It has eight marked trails of different lengths that wind through various habitats and ecosystems.
The refuge was established in 2006 to protect important habitats for native plants and animals. Its creation was supported by the Texas Conservation Alliance and local conservation groups dedicated to preserving the river ecosystem.
The river has long been central to hunting and fishing for the people who lived here, from Native Americans to early settlers. You can still sense this connection to the water when you walk through the refuge today.
You can reach the refuge from US Highway 79 between Palestine and Jacksonville, with access near the river crossing. Wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for wet, muddy conditions and changing weather typical of forested river areas.
The refuge protects one of the last remaining bottomland hardwood forests in Texas, as more than 90 percent of similar habitats have vanished. This makes it a critical refuge for plants and animals that have lost most of their natural home elsewhere.
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