Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

11/09/2026

Thank you Stephanie!

You do an amazing job leading our volunteers to over 6,500 Volunteer hours last year.

11/09/2026

You know what our favorite thing to do it on a rainy day? Plan our next outdoor adventure. All hikes through January 2 are now posted. Weekend hikes, Hikes and . Check out our events Calendar for November - January 2. https://www.friendsofbalcones.org/events

11/09/2026

11/09/2026

10/30/2026

🐟 RAIN TODAY, FISHING TOMORROW! ☀️

Just because Mother Nature is giving us a little rain today doesn't mean the fun is washing away! Tomorrow is shaping up to be a GREAT day for our Refuge Round Up! 🎉

Check out these catfish making their grand entrance! A HUGE THANK YOU to Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery for bringing the fish and helping make our kids' catfishing experience possible! We can't wait to see all the little anglers trying their luck!

So grab the family, bring your friends, and come spend the day with us! We've got fishing, hayrides, raptor show, hands-on activities, and SO MUCH MORE!

📅 Tomorrow, October 31
⏰ 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge 24518 FM 1431 Marble Falls TX 78654

🎃 BEST OF ALL... IT'S FREE! 🎃

Don't let a little Friday rain keep you home. The fish are ready, we're ready, and we can't wait to see YOU tomorrow!

Let's make it a fantastic Refuge Round Up!

10/27/2026

REFUGE ROUND UP
Join us at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge for a day of family-friendly FUN at our annual Refuge Round Up! Everything is FREE
October 31, 2026
10:00 AM–2:00 PM
24518 FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX 78654
Costumes are welcome!
Come dressed up and enjoy a fun-filled day celebrating wildlife, conservation, and the great outdoors! Plus get some candy in the process!
*The Raptor Show starts at 11:30, brought to you by the Last Chance Forever Birds of Prey Conservancy!*
**Enjoy the new Tracks and Treats Trail and the Hayride!**
Bring your family, bring your friends, and come Round Up some fun with us!
We can't wait to see you there!

09/02/2026

🎃 REFUGE ROUND UP 🎃

Join us at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge for a day of family-friendly FUN at our annual Refuge Round Up! 🦅🎯🎃

📅 October 31, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
📍 24518 FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX 78654

👻 Costumes are welcome! 👻
Come dressed up and enjoy a fun-filled day celebrating wildlife, conservation, and the great outdoors!

Bring your family, bring your friends, and come Round Up some fun with us! 🤠🎃

We can't wait to see you there! 🦅🎃🌿

08/20/2026

🐛🦋 GOING BUGGY! — Homeschool Field Trip 🦋🐞
Calling all homeschool families! Come explore the amazing world of insects at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge!

📅 November 5th
⏰ 10:00 AM–1:30 PM
📍 Doeskin Ranch
10645 FM 1174, Bertram, TX 78605

Students will rotate through 6 hands-on stations exploring the fascinating world of insects:
🐜 What Is an Insect?
🐝 Beneficial Insects
🌱 Insect Habitats
🔬 Studying Insects & Insect Families
👀 Insect Senses
🥾 Insect Safari Hike

Geared toward 3rd–5th grade, but all ages are welcome!

⚠️ REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED — THIS EVENT IS BY REGISTRATION ONLY.

To register your homeschool group or individual student, please email [email protected] and include:
• Your name
• How many students will attend
• Ages of the students

Come learn, explore, and get a little BUGGY with us! 🐛🌼🦋
We can't wait to discover the incredible insect world at Doeskin Ranch! 🌿🔍

07/31/2026

🌀 A Chimney Swift’s Busy Day at Balcones Canyonlands NWR! 🌀

Ever wondered what’s happening inside that chimney? 👀

This little Chimney Swift is making a quick trip into the chimney to feed its hungry babies—and then right back out into the sky! 🐦

🔊 Turn up the sound! You can actually hear the babies calling from inside the chimney as mom arrives with a meal. Those little voices are basically saying, “Mom! We’re hungry!” 🐣

Chimney Swifts spend much of their lives flying, catching insects right out of the air. When it’s time to raise their young, they often build their nests inside chimneys, where their specialized feet and claws help them cling to vertical surfaces.

And just like that… delivery complete! 🐛

🎥 Watch (and listen!) as this busy parent disappears into the chimney, feeds her babies, and heads right back out to continue the hunt.
Nature is happening all around us at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge—sometimes you just have to look up… and listen! 🌿🐦

06/29/2026

What an incredible morning at Doeskin Ranch! 🦅

A huge thank you to the Austin Area Wildlife Rehabilitation for joining us last Saturday for an unforgettable raptor presentation. They brought 11 amazing raptors, and our visitors had the opportunity to learn about these incredible birds, their unique adaptations, and the important work that goes into rehabilitating injured wildlife. It was truly an outstanding program!

We'd also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers who gave their time to help make the event run smoothly. We couldn't have done it without your support, and we truly appreciate everything you do for the refuge.

Finally, thank you to everyone who came out to spend the morning with us. We were thrilled to see such a great turnout and so many people sharing their enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation.
Based on the wonderful turnout and positive feedback, we're already looking forward to doing it again in the future! Stay tuned for more exciting programs at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.