Tours

The Foundation offers free public tours on most Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. Please be sure to check the calendar below to ensure we will be hosting tour that day. Reservations are required. We are a private property, so Foundation staff will meet you at the Refuge’s main gate off HWY 77, as it will be locked at all times.

Reservations required

Thursday Tours (3:00-5:00 p.m.)

Please make reservations at least one day in advance. 

Call our main office, (361) 364-2643, or register online HERE

Tours begin with a visit to our Museum where visitors learn about the Foundation’s origin, mission, goals, and programs from a staff member or interpretive volunteer. The museum houses the Donald Bowman Bird Collection and Francis Lee Jaques Art Collection. Next, visitors take a 10-mile, driving tour of the Welder Wildlife Refuge. The tour takes visitors through a variety of habitats ranging from upland mesquite-mixed-grass communities to freshwater wetland lakes. Many species of birds and wildlife are generally seen on these tours.

Private Tours

Private tours are similar to Thursday tour with the exception that visitors also have the opportunity to visit areas not normally seen by the public including our Natural History Specimens Collections and Library. Private tours may be arranged for groups consisting of 10 members or more. Reservations must be made through the Foundation at (361) 364-2643 or contact our Education Program Coordinator 

Directions to the Welder Wildlife Refuge 

Below is the physical address to the front gate of the Refuge and Foundation. It is important to note that you must use Google Maps when searching for this address on a mobile device. We have also listed driving directions from nearby towns below.