Hiking The Eskimo Curlew Loop And Oak Mott Loop In Galveston Island State Park

The Eskimo Curlew and Oak Mott Loop trails are scenic and accessible hikes located in the Bayside area of Galveston Island State Park.

These easy, family-friendly loops are perfect for a casual afternoon outing and are open to leashed pets as well.

Each trail is approximately half a mile long and begins at the same trailhead (29.20072, -94.9616). As you explore, you’ll pass through several ecosystems and get a close-up view of the park’s ongoing wetlands restoration efforts.

An observation deck along the way offers panoramic, 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape.

If you’re up for more adventure, a boardwalk extends over the water and connects to the Clapper Rail Trail — a one-mile path winding through the bayous.

One unique feature of the Eskimo Curlew Loop is a sculpture memorializing the likely extinction of the Eskimo Curlew, adding a thoughtful, reflective touch to the hike.

This area is also a hotspot for birdwatching, so keep an eye out for wading and shorebirds like the Clapper Rail and Crested Caracara. We even caught some great photos of a large bird perched on the boardwalk during our visit.

Unfortunately, when we went, the boardwalk where the Eskimo Curlew Loop meets the Clapper Rail Trail was damaged, and access beyond the statue was closed. The rest of the loop was also off-limits, so we had to skip that portion.

You can reach the Clapper Rail Trail via the main road as an alternative, but a sudden rain shower kept us from checking it out.

Despite the closures, we really enjoyed the parts of the trail we were able to hike and are already planning a return trip to complete the full experience.