In this episode of the Trailblazing Texas Podcast, I sit down with Ranger Megan from Big Thicket National Preserve to explore one of the most misunderstood and wildly diverse landscapes in the National Park System.

When most people hear “National Park,” they picture towering mountains or deep desert canyons. Big Thicket flips that script. Ranger Megan shares her journey with the National Park Service, what brought her to Southeast Texas, and why this preserve left such a powerful first impression.

We dive into why Big Thicket is called the “Biological Crossroads of North America” and what that actually means on the ground. From longleaf pine forests and cypress sloughs to blackwater bayous and carnivorous pitcher plants, the Thicket isn’t just one ecosystem—it’s several, woven together. Megan breaks down how these habitats blend, what ...