La Sal del Rey Reserve


The 530-acre La Sal del Rey (Salt of the King) derives its name from a colonial Spanish law that awarded 20% of all harvest to the Crown. At this hypersaline lake, atop an estimated 4 million tons of salt, that amounted to a lot for the king. The 1-mile trail walk from the parking lot to the lakebed is great for ground animals like javelina and bobcat, but the real draw is bird-watching at the water's edge.

From McAllen take I-69C north to TX 186, then turn west. The reserve entrance is a small parking lot on the left after 10.6 miles.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Museum of South Texas History

16.08 MILES

The Museum of South Texas History covers transborder history with interactive multimedia exhibits that take visitors through frontier ranch houses and on…

2. Villa de Cortez

25.61 MILES

Opened on New Year's Eve in 1928 as the Cortez Hotel, this four-story beauty was the first of what would becomes many Spanish Mediterranean–themed…

3. Quinta Mazatlan

25.69 MILES

This 1930s Spanish Revival adobe hacienda is one of McAllen's best-preserved historic buildings. It also happens to be part of the World Birding Center,…

4. Weslaco Museum

25.77 MILES

Informational displays and authentic artifacts help bring to life the long history of Weslaco and the Rio Grande Valley from the Native American and…

5. Frontera Audubon

26.36 MILES

Despite the fact that it's only 15 acres and surrounded by the city, wandering the mile or so of nature trails through this well-conceived nature center…

6. Estero Llano Grande State Park

28.27 MILES

The geographic center of the World Birding Center properties in Texas, the 230 acres of reserve here are mostly wetlands and contain over 5 miles of…

7. National Butterfly Center

29.7 MILES

Who isn't enchanted by butterflies? This park is both a learning center and a sanctuary for butterflies and endangered plants. More than 300 species of…

8. La Lomita Chapel

29.71 MILES

While the current structure is believed to date back to 1920, chapels have stood on this lomita (hilltop) since at least 1899, when the area was made the…