A Race Against Extinction
A Race Against Extinction
A Race Against Extinction
A Race Against Extinction
A Race Against Extinction
A Race Against Extinction
A Race Against Extinction
The Texas ocelot once roamed freely across the state, but today, roads and development have isolated the last wild population in South Texas. Without urgent action, they could vanish forever. By taking on Tread Across Texas, you’re not just trekking—you’ll help restore habitat, build safe wildlife crossings, and protect these incredible cats before it’s too late.
Trekking through Texas's last wild places
10 days
150 miles
Starting location: McAllen, TX
Your journey begins in McAllen, Texas, leading through ocelot strongholds like Santa Ana, Bentsen-Rio Grande, and Laguna Atascosa. The final stretch crosses Padre Island’s remote backcountry, where dunes meet the Gulf. Trek through protected corridors and wild landscapes, tracing the path of North America’s rarest big cat.
Take on this park-to-park trek and camp under Texas’s wide-open skies.
Checkpoint 1
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
DAY 1
15 Miles
The trek begins in Santa Ana NWR, a dense thornforest teeming with wildlife, including the endangered ocelot. Follow remote trails to Bentsen-RGV State Park, a prime conservation area where bobcats, javelinas, and green jays thrive.
Checkpoint 2
Bentsen-RGV to La Sal del Rey
DAY 2
18 Miles
Leave the river corridor and trek across remote mesquite brushlands to reach La Sal del Rey, a wild, ancient salt lake with a stark, otherworldly landscape that has remained untouched for centuries.
Checkpoint 3
La Sal del Rey to Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
DAY 3
16 Miles
Follow winding dirt paths through the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR, one of the most important conservation corridors in Texas. This huge stretch of protected land connects fragmented ocelot populations and is full of hidden wildlife trails
Checkpoint 4
Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR to Palo Alto Battlefield
DAY 4
17 Miles
Trek through open coastal prairie, a striking contrast to the thick forests before. Palo Alto Battlefield is one of the last intact native tallgrass prairies in the region and a critical habitat for burrowing owls and white-tailed hawks.
Checkpoint 5
Palo Alto to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge
DAY 5
16 Miles
Enter the heart of Texas ocelot country. Laguna Atascosa NWR is one of the wildest places left in Texas, with dense thornscrub, remote trails, and the last known breeding population of Texas ocelots.
Checkpoint 6
Laguna Atascosa to Port Mansfield
DAY 6
15 Miles
Follow isolated backcountry trails through coastal savannah and oak mottes before reaching Port Mansfield, a tiny, remote fishing town where deer roam freely through the streets.
Checkpoint 7
Port Mansfield to Padre Island National Seashore
DAY 7
16 Miles
Leave civilization behind as you trek toward Padre Island National Seashore, the largest undeveloped barrier island in the world. This is a true wilderness, with rolling dunes, vast tidal flats, and zero artificial light pollution.
Checkpoint 8
Padre Island backcountry trek
DAY 8
10 Miles
Spend the day trekking through the wildest, most isolated stretches of the island, where only the wind, waves, and footprints of ghost crabs mark the land. Camp under an open sky full of stars in one of Texas' most remote coastal areas.
Checkpoint 9
The final push – South Padre Island
DAY 9
16 Miles
Head south through untouched coastline, following trails used by endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. The finish line is just ahead—civilization is returning, but the wild journey isn’t over yet.
Checkpoint 10
Finish at the end of the island, where land meets the sea
DAY 10
10 Miles
The trek ends at the farthest wild stretch of South Padre Island, where the last dunes meet the roaring Gulf. No roads, no crowds—just a stunning, untouched finish line that feels truly earned.
Why this trek matters
The Texas ocelot is one of North America’s rarest wild cats, threatened by habitat loss and road collisions. Wild Texas Rescue is restoring land and creating safe crossings—but we need your help. Your trek funds vital conservation to protect their future.
80
Fewer than 80 Texas ocelots remain in the wild
98%
98% of their habitat lost to development
70
70 miles of protected trails in their remaining range
$5000
5,000 fundraising goal per trekker to fund conservation
This isn’t jusT A trek–It’s a mission.
Raise $5,000 to expand habitat, build safe crossings, and support research to protect Texas’ rare ocelots.
We’ll give you everything you need—every step makes a difference.
Spots are limited!
Join this once-in-a-lifetime trek and help protect Texas wildlife.
