Like many Texans, writer Wes Ferguson strolled the San Antonio River Walk as a child during family vacations. But revisiting the river again recently, the former Texas Highways editor discovered that decades of restoration and preservation efforts along the river have expanded both its appeal and accessibility. Ferguson returns to our pages this month for a deep dive into the San Antonio River, one of the of the state’s most famous urban waterways.

Additionally, our very own “River King” Joe Nick Patoski takes us on a journey down the more than 800-mile Brazos from the High Plains to the Gulf of Mexico.

Also in this issue, photographer Joel Salcido shares breathtaking images of the oft-maligned mesquite tree, which some Indigenous peoples called “the tree of life.”

Our river issue is full of refreshing stories and glittering photographs of our state’s impressive waterways.