Texas Hiking Trails

Most of the hiking trails included in this section are located in state and national parks.   Check with the appropriate park to obtain trail guides and additional information.   NOTE:   All trail distances are one-way unless otherwise indicated.

• Barton Creek Trail - Austin
  8 mile route - Moderate.
  Trailhead:  Zilker Park
  Trail follows creek-fed stream through lush forest, cavern and cliff areas.   Path crosses stream several times; difficult crossings during heavy rains.   Steep ascent at trail's end.

• Big Brown Creek Trail - Fairfield Lake State Par
  2.5 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  park headquarters
  Trail through woodlands and grasslands crosses Big Brown Creek, following portion of Fairfield Lake Shoreline.   Includes 1.5 mile interpretive trail.    Some footbridges, benches.

• Bosque Trail - Meridian State Park
  2 mile route - Moderately easy
  Trailhead:  CCC building at picnic area - Mostly shady route follows shoreline ok Lake Meridian through stands of oak, pecan and cottonwood.   Creek crossing via footbridge near 1.25 mile mark.   Scenic overlook at limestone Bee Ledge.    Armadillo sightings.

• Buescher Trail - Buescher State Park
  7.8 mile route - Moderately easy
  Trailhead:  parking lot off PR 1C
  Day-use trail within densely wooded area skirts UTA Science Park.   Accesses Pine Gulch Trail at 2.2 mile mark.   Noted grove of isolated loblolly pine.    Moderately easy.

• Cottonwood-Black Creek Trail - Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
  4 mile route - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  Black Creek Recreation Site
  Connects Cottonwood and Black Creek Lakes; passes through some wooded areas.    Colorful autumn foliage, spring wildflowers.

• Cross Timbers Hiking Trail - Lake Texoma
  14 mile route - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  Juniper Point Recreation Area
  Westward winding trail along Lake Texoma's southern shore passes Cedar Bayou and Paw Paw Creek resort areas.   Rocky ledges high above lake offers scenic views.    Many elevation changes in first 2.5 miles.   Additional 2 mile loop accesses penicula.

• Dinosuar Valley Trail - Dinosaur State Park
  6 mile network - Easy
  Trailhead:  park campground
  Series of short loop trails access scenic overlooks and fossilized dinosaur tracks.

• Dogwood Trail - Woodville
  1.5 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  Dogwood Drive
  Double loop trail winds beside Theu-venin Creek banks.   Markers identify many trees, schrub species.   Popular early spring destination when trees blossom.

• East Trail - Lost Maples State Natural Area
  4.2 mile loop - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  picnic area
  Well-marked trail through noted Lost Maples.   Includes 0.4 mile paved Maple Trail along Sabinal River.   Some steep grades, loose rocks as tral winds back along Can Creek to parking area.   Especially colorful in fall.

• Enchanted Rock Loop Trail - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
  4 mile loop - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  parking area past primitive camping area
  Winding trail encircles Enchanted Rock, large pink granite outcropping.  Spur trail has 425 foot elevation gain in 0.6 miles.   Views of Freashman Mountain, Turkey Peak and Bzzard's Roost.   Scenic overlook.

• Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge Trail System - Fort Worth
  25 mile network - Easy to moderate
  Trailhead:  interpretive center
  Trail system located in one of the largest nature centers in U.S.   Includes Greer Island Trail, a 1.5 mile National Recreation Trail; and Limestone Ledge Trail, paved path accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.   Additional trails skirt Lotus Marsh, Lake Worth.   Sightings of buffalo, white-tailed deer and prairie dogs.

• Four C Trail - Davy Crockett National Forest
  19 mile route - Moderate
  Trailhead:  Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area parking area
  Follows abandoned tramways through woodlands.   Crosses streams, portion of Big Slough Wilderness.   Panoramic views of river bottomlands, forests at Neches Bluff Observation Area.   Shorter hikes possible via connecting forest roads.    National Recreation Trail.

• Hill Country Trail System - Hill Country State Natural Area
  32 mile network - Easy to moderately difficult
  Multiuse trails in scenic hill country for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use.    Backpacking and equestrian camping sites.

• Huntsville Trail - Huntsville State Park
  7.7 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  interpretive center
  Encircles Lake Raven; begins along 0.25 interpretive trail and passes marshland, shoreline and dam.   Final portion connects with hiking/biking trail back to trailhead.

• Lighthouse Peak Trail - Palo Duro Canyon State Park
  3 mile route - Moderate
  Trailhead:  parking area off Palo Duro Drive
  Affords views of colorful rock formations and pinnacle named The Lighthouse.    Passes through desert terrain within rugged canyon landscape along mild grade.   Final steep ascent to pinnacle base.

• Lone Star Hiking Trail - Sam Houston National Forest
  140 mile route - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  FR 219 & FM 149
  Transects Sam Houston National Forest.   Begins in relatively flat area; becomes more rugged after first 15 miles.   Some creek crossings require wading.    Several loop trails and access points.   National Recreation Trail.

• Longleaf Pine Trail - Camden
  2 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  FM 62
  Leads through stand of virgin pine timber.   Many trees over 100 years old.    Habitat for rare, red-cockaded woodpeckers.

• Lost Pines Hiking Trail - Bastrop State Park
  8.5 mile loop - Moderately easy
  Trailhead:  parking area
  Footpath through loblolly pine woodland.   Trail crisscrosses creek at 3.9 mile mark along loop return.   Last section back to trailhead accesses 0.4 mile spur trail at Overlook Junction.

• Mesquite Trail - Laguna Atascosa Nation Wildlife Refuge
  1.5 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  visitor center parking area
  Figure-eight loop through recovering vegeation.   Sightings of Texas tortoise, spiny lizard, white pelican and greater roadrunner.

• North Mountain Trail - Hueco Tanks State Historical Park
  1.5 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  parking area near park headquarters
  Well-worn path within region noted for petro-glyphs, geologic formation known as huecos.    Skirts North Mountain, one of three rock masses.   Summit accessible via moderate climb.

• Northshore Trail - Grapevine Lake
  9 mile route - Moderately easy
  Trailhead:  Rockledge Park
  Hiking/biking trail winds westward along Grapevine Lake, terminating at Twin Coves Park.    Wildlife sightings include rabbits, foxes and waterfowl.    Additional trail accesses along public roads.   National recreation Trail.

• Palmetto Trail - Palmetto State Park
  0.3 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  PR 11
  Short hike within former Ottine Swamp region skirts lagoon, passes small pools, flowering vegetation and dwarf palmetto stands.   Stream crossings via bridges.    Armadillo sightings.

• Sawmill Hiking Trail - Angelina National Forest
  5.5 mile route - Moderate
  Trailhead:  Boulton Lake Recreation Area
  Trail through Piney Woods region.   Follows Neches River bottom, passing two abandoned sawmill sites.   Old Aldridge mill reached via 0.75 mile spur trail.    Big Creek crossing via swinging footbridge.   Ends at Boykin Springs Recreation area.

• Scenic Mountain Trail - Big Spring State Park
  2.5 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  park entrance
  Looped nature trail.   Corresponding brochure identifies plant and animal species and geologic features.   Prairie dog sightings.

• Singing Chaparral Trail - Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
  1.5 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  PR 43
  Short, looped trail through streamside woodlands, brushland, called "chaparral."    Trail named for songs heard from abundant birdlife in surrounding brush.    Benches.

• Somerville Trailway - Lake Somerville State Park
  12 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  Interpretive center
  Connects units of Lake Somerville State PArk.   Hike passes through dense yaupon and oak forests.   Scenic overlooks, water crossings, colorful wildflowers during spring.   Abundant wildlife; bird checklist available.    Barrier-free loop trails at termini.

• Sweetleaf Nature Trail - W. Goodrich Jones State Forest
  1 mile loop - Easy
  Trailhead:  off FM 1488
  Looped path through woodland setting.   Booklet referencing plant species, geological points of interest is available.

• Town Lake Walk and Bikeway Trail - Austin
  8.4 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  south shore parking area
  Hike in urban park follows Town Lake shoreline; provides views of massive bald cypress trees.   Many bridge crossings.   National Recreation Trail.

• Trail Between the Lakes - Sabine National forest
  28 mile route - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  Lakeview Recreation  Area
  Extends along McLemore Hills from Toledo Bend Reservoir toward Sam Rayburn Reservoir.    Several road crossings allow shorter hikes.   Primitive camping along route.

• Upper Canyon Trail - Caprock Canyon State PArk
  7 mile loop - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  parking area adjacent to Little Red Tent Camp
  Loop trail highlights red sandstone formations and rugged canyons.   Follows Canyon Loop Trail first 1.5 miles then climbs upstream along North Prong of Little Red River to Fern Cave.   Ridge crossing, aternate trail access at Haynes Ridge Overlook.   Steep descent into South Prong of Little Red River before final stretch back to trailhead.

• Wild Azalea Canyon Trail System - Burkeville
  2 mile network - Moderately easy
  Trainlhead:  1.8 miles off FM 1414
  Series of short hiking trails within canyon noted for longleaf forest, rock cliffs and wild azaleas.   Landscape especially colorful mid-March - early April.    Some steep and slippery sections.   Trail open March - April ONLY.

• Wolf Mountain Trail - Pedernales Falls State PArk
  7.7 mile loop - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  parking area adjacent to park headquarters
  Popular hiking leading to Pedernales River.   Skirts both Wolf and Tobacco mountains.   Some creek crossings.   Boulder-strewn gorge and Twin Falls viewed from overlook.
  
  
  Guadalupe Mountains National Park Trails
  
  Guadalupe Mountains National Park preserves over 86,000 acres of remote wilderness typical of the American west.   Over 80 miles of trails access the peaks, canyons and desert of the Guadalupe Mountains.

• Bush Mountain Trail
  17 mile route - Difficult
  Trailhead:  Pine Springs Campground
  Strenuous hike accesses 8,631-foot-high Bush Mountain, second highest peak in Texas.    Rocky Tejas Trail ascends Ping Spring Canyon, where Bush Mountain trail continues along canyon's north rim to partially wooded mountain summit.   Views of desert floor, mountain peaks and salt flats 4,000 feet below.   Descends through West Dog Canyon.

• Devil Hall Trail
  2.1 mile route - Moderately easy
  Trailhead:  Pine Springs Campground
  Named for rock formation within steep walls of Pine Canyon.   Relatively easy climb follows portions of equestrian trail.   Route along canyon bottom crosses stair-step formation and leads to narrow hall of limestone rock.

• El Capitan Trail
  9.4 mile route - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  Pine Springs Campground
  Offers views of towering El Capitan cliff.   Winds through grasslands and foothills before descending into Guadalupe Canyon.   Good views of slat flats from overlook via Salt Basin Trail loop.   Terminus at Williams Ranch.    Park permission necessary for ranch access.

• Guadalupe Peak Trail
  4.2 mile route - Difficult
  Trailhead:  Pine Springs Campground
  Accesses Guadalupe Peak, highest peak in Texas at 8,749 feet.   Excellent views of surrounding area from rocky summit.   Many switchbacks and optional routes via equestrian trails as hike ascends Pine Canyon.   Small monument dedicated to transcontinental mail route at summit.

• McKittrick Canyon Trail
  10.9 mile route - Difficult
  Trailhead:  McKittrick Canyon Visitor Center
  Trail through steep-walled canyon in region noted for foliage and rugged landscape.    Accesses Pratt Cabin, homestead of early settler.   Some stream crossings, grotto picnic site with limestone formations.   Especially steep section before reaching McKittrick Ridge.   Trail ends at Tejas Trail access.
  
  
  
  Big Bend National Park Trail
  
  Big Bend has several hiking trails providing access to the natural beauty and unique geology of the Chisos Mpuntains, Chihuahuan Desert and portions of the mighty Rio Grande.   Walks and hikes range from short, self-guided strolls to treks across the park.

• Emory Peak Trail
  4.5 mile route - Difficult
  Trailhead:  Basin Campground
  Steep spur trail leads to 7,825-foot-high Emory Peak, highest elevation in park.    Begins with steady climb then switchbacks.   Access to Pinnacle Pass located before final mile to summit.   Last portion difficult aascent along sheer wall.   Excellent panoramic views on clear days.

• Grapevine Hills Trail
  1.1 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  designated parking
  Trail through desert region formed by volcanic action.   Area noted for massive boulders, rock formations.   Short route follows sandy wash.    Mild ascent last 100 feet to arch formed by balanced rocks.

• Lost Mine Trail
  2.4 mile route - Moderately difficult
  Trailhead:  parking area at Panther Pass
  Offers good views en route to promontory adjacent to Pine Canyon.    Steady climb through mixed forest; steep switchbacks after Juniper Canyon.    Views of surrounding Chisos Mountains at terminus.

• South Rim Trail
  13.5 mile loop - Difficult
  Trailhead:  Basin Campground
  Longest trail within park.   Strenuous trek with strenuous switchbacks skirts Toll Mountain, Emory Peak.   Moderate climb to Pinnacle Pass, Boot Canyon.   Distant views of Mexico, mountain ranges and desert floor before trail continues to Laguna Meadow.   Final descent leads back to trailhead.    Scentic portion along East Rim closed during falcon-nesting season.   

• Window View Trail
  0.3 mile route - Easy
  Trailhead:  Chisos Basin
  Paved trail of The Window - notch between Carter Peak and Vernon Bailey Mountain offering vista of distant valley.   Bench at lookout point.    Barrier-free.
  
  
  
  
  
  All info taken from Texas Atlas and Gazetteer (Highly recommend)
  Copyright 1995  Delorme

 

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04/27/99