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A Trek to La Sal del Rey through the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Footprints and Poop
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La Sal del Rey is a concentrated salt lake in southern Texas near Edinburg. La Sal del Rey means Salt of the Earth. It is one of seven natural salt lakes along the Rio Grande. It is on the Civil War Trail so it was an important resource for soldiers.
We headed south on Highway 281 and turned east on Highway 186. The first entrance we came to on the left side of the road had a sign posted that said from that parking lot it was a one and a half mile walk to the lake and it told us to drive two more miles east on 186 and turn left on Brushline Road for a shorter trail. Brushline Road is a dirt road, but is evenly grated and not bad to drive on. Just a bit dusty.
We came upon a parking area on the left side of the road. From here the sign stated it was only one mile to the lake.
(Note — the day we were there they were working on creating a dirt road another half mile back to a new parking lot with a restroom facility. They said it would hopefully be open by February 1st. Cars will be able to drive further back and park, and then it will only be a half mile walk to the lake.)
The first half mile was the same dirt road with very little shade. The surrounding ground was filled with tall prairie grass and mesquite olive trees. In January all of these trees are barren of leaves. Reaching the restroom facility gave us a nice break.
Then through the new gate for the last trek.
