Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary

Cradled in a bend of the Rio Grande along the U.S./Mexico border, Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary harbors one of the most beautiful and critical ecosystems of South Texas and northern Mexico, home to many native species of plants and animals that reach the northernmost limit of their Mexican range here and do not occur elsewhere in the United States. Sabal Palms once grew profusely along the edge of the Rio Grande in small stands or groves extending about 80 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Today, only a small portion of that forest remains, protected on 557 acres of this Audubon Sanctuary.

Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary is open and operating under a successful partnership with Gorgas Science Foundation. Sabal Palm remains one of the most treasured birding locations in Texas and is serving children and adults who are both residents and visitors to the Rio Grande Valley.

For more information to plan your visit and find out about the latest happenings at Sabal Palm, please visit http://sabalpalmsanctuary.org/. 

Driving directions to Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary from Brownsville, Texas

• Starting in Brownsville: head east out of downtown Brownsville on Southmost Road (FM 1419).
• Continue East - stay on Southmost Rd/FM 1419 for about 6 miles. After about 6 miles, look for Sabal Palm Grove Rd on the right (south).
• Turn onto Sabal Palm Grove Road and follow Sabal Palm Grove Rd until you reach the entrance/visitor area of the sanctuary at 8435 Sabal Palm Grove Rd.

Overview

• Distance: 6–8 miles east of central Brownsville to the sanctuary’s address.
• Travel Time: Roughly 10–15 minutes by car (typical local traffic).
• The sanctuary sits in a bend of the Rio Grande River on the edge of Brownsville.