Texas Opens 18,000 Wild Acres on the Devils River. What to Know Before You Go

Texans have a new place to get far away from it all.

The Dan A. Hughes Unit of Devils River State Natural Area officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Oct. 9, at the unit's headquarters, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced. Located about an hour north of Del Rio, the 18,000-acre unit brings the natural area to more than 37,000 acres of protected land with access to the Devils River.

The river ties the new unit to the older Del Norte Unit, which sits 13 miles upstream. Both are in Val Verde County, according to TPWD's park page.

Why this land matters

Former TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith said the original owner of the ranch donated a conservation easement through The Nature Conservancy because he wanted it permanently protected.

"You don't have to look very far to see why," Smith said. He pointed to "10 miles of frontage along the clearest and purest and most pristine river in all of the state of Texas," on land where brush country, Hill Country and Chihuahuan Desert meet.

Dan A. Hughes Jr., a former chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, led the effort to secure funding, and the unit is named for his father. "My father loved land; He loved Texas, the outdoors and his family," Hughes said. "He would be very, very proud of this day."

TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz said the opening was possible "because people were willing to listen, be flexible, and then committed to getting the job done."

Camping is primitive

Do not expect hookups. The unit offers a handful of primitive campsites along the river, with no water or electricity. Visitors can choose drive-up or walk-in sites, and composting toilets are nearby, TPWD said.

The park page says to pack in all supplies, including water, and pack out all trash. TPWD's release recommends reservations for day use and overnight camping, and the park page says they are required, so book before you drive. The two units are very far apart by road, so make sure you head to the correct one. The Dan A. Hughes Unit's listed address is 15166 Private Road 1500, Del Rio. The park can be reached at (737) 289-3250.

The park page also showed active alerts this week. Check them before you leave home.

Paddling takes planning

The Devils River is famous for kayaking, but TPWD warns that paddling from Del Norte down to the Hughes Unit can be strenuous and should be tried only by experienced paddlers carrying three days of supplies.

Paddlers on an extended trip who plan to use the natural area or its paddler camps need a Devils River Access Permit, which costs $10. A stretch called Devils Back on the Hughes property can be part of a paddling trip only with that permit and an authorized TPWD guide or shuttle service concessionaire.

Fishing, hiking and wildlife

Largemouth and smallmouth bass on the river are catch-and-release. There are several spots to swim or wade.

Hikers get about 10 miles of trail with views of the river, cliffs and canyons. White-tailed deer and javelinas live here, along with birds including bald eagles and scaled and bobwhite quail. TPWD says the unit is a good place to watch the fall monarch butterfly migration, and the night sky is among the darkest in Texas.

The Amistad National Recreation Area shares five miles of boundary with the Hughes Unit, the park page says.

Leave it better

TPWD asks visitors to leave no trace, pack trash in and out, and "don't pocket the past." If you find an artifact, leave it where it lies and tell a ranger.

Fall is a fine time to go. If the drive west is too far this year, there are plenty of closer state parks with fall color. But for a family that wants quiet water, big sky and a long look at what God made, this may be one of the best new places in the state.