Sunset Lake Park
Portland, TX
Sunset Lake Park spreads across 333 acres where Portland meets Corpus Christi and Nueces Bay, with a roped off swimming area marked by buoys that opens up once the weather turns warm. A two mile hike and bike trail winds along an old roadway through the marsh, and boardwalks carry walkers out over the wetlands without ever getting their feet wet.
A genuinely pleasant bay park with real swimming and a standout marsh trail, though it's a calm bay swim rather than a beach day, so it's a different kind of trip than the Gulf side.
How we score beachesCome for the birding as much as the swim. The boardwalks through the marsh put you closer to wading birds than almost anywhere else on this side of the bay.
A paved lot is free and open at the park entrance on Sunset Drive.
The park is ADA compliant, with boardwalks over the marsh sections and a flat approach to the designated swim area.
Leashed dogs are allowed.
The swimming area is roped off and marked for the warmer months, generally spring through early fall, while cooler months shift the draw toward birdwatching as migrating flocks pass through the marsh.
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