Feather Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
9500 North Loop Drive in the Mission Valley El Paso, TX 915.54.5157
Feather Lake is a 43.5-acre wildlife sanctuary based on a 40-acre wetland built by the City of El Paso in 1969 as a stormwater-retention basin. Since 1976, the El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society has leased this land from the City and managed it for wildlife.
On a spring day you might see muskrats swimming across the water; spiny softshell turtles and pond sliders basking in the marsh, and Trans-Pecos striped whiptail lizards skittering ahead on the trail. Over 200 different species of birds, especially those associated with water, have been observed at the sanctuary.
Feather Lake’s water sources are irregular; the lake is sometimes dry. When there is water in the basin, Feather Lake is open to the public on weekends, September through May. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and 2 p.m. to dusk on Sunday. Admission is free. For classroom, group or individual visits at other times, call (915) 545-5157.
To get to Feather Lake, take I-10 east to Americas Avenue (Exit 34), then go south/right for 1.2 miles on Americas to North Loop. Turn right onto North Loop and go 0.4 miles to the stoplight at Bordeaux Street; the Feather Lake entrance is on your left.