Top 10 Hiking And Trekking Spots In Texas, USA

1. Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail

Located in Austin, Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail is 13.8 miles (22 km) long trail, which is dog-friendly, making it a perfect trail for you and your fur buddy. It is an out and back trail, which is the most beloved green trail by the locals. With a difficulty level of moderate, this trail is ideal for people who have some hiking experience in their diary. The trail is not only for hiking but also very popular amongst mountain bikers and rock climbers. With a waterfall, this rocky and dry trail is available all year round for access.

Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail

Address: Austin, Texas

Accessiblity: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

2. Gorman Falls Trail, Colorado Bend State Park

This highly scenic trail is located in Bend, the state park of Colorado Bend. This is a moderate difficulty trail with a length of about 2.6 miles (4km). It is a very popular spot in the neighborhood, making it pretty crowded all around the year. Hence, it is recommended to make an advance booking for park entry. Your fur buddy can accompany you on this trail as well, however, they should be kept leashed. The hike leads you to the beautiful Gormon Falls, the beauty of which makes it all worthwhile. This trail is also accessible all year-round.

Gorman Falls Trail, Colorado Bend State Park

Address: Bend, Colorado Bend

Accesiblity: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

3. Kirby Nature Trail, Big Thicket National Preserve

Kirby Nature Trail is located near Kountze. It is an easy trail thus making it usable by people of all skills in hiking. You can take your dogs along on this trail, but it is advised to keep them on a leash and check them for ticks later on. This trail features a river as well, making it very scenic and picturesque, so do carry your camera. It is advisable to visit this trail between March through October, as this is the duration during which it offers the best service and activities.

Kirby Nature Trail, Big Thicket National Preserve

Address:Near Kountze

Accesiblity: March - October

Difficulty: Easy

4. Guadalupe Park Trail

Guadalupe Park Trail is a moderate difficulty trail near Canyon Lake Texas. It is about 1.9 miles (3km) long and can be used by dogs if they are kept on a leash. This area is used for various purposes, camping, hiking, walking, to name a few. There is a lake along this trail, which is used extensively for fishing and is a famous fishing spot. You can visit this trail all-year-round but it is best used from October to December.

Guadalupe Park Trail

Address: 6510 S Access Rd, Canyon Lake, TX 78133, United States

Website: Guadalupe Park Trail

Accessiblity: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

5. Davy Crockett National Forest

This densely spread national forest has about 10 trails which can be explored by travelers. The difficulty ranges from easy to intermediate. These are the trails which can be explored in Davy Crockett forest: National Recreation Trail, Steep Ravine Trail, Tall Pines Trail, Orange Trail, Yellow Trail, Blue Trail, White Trail, El Camino Real, Hardwood Trail, Primitive Loop. They also have lakes, recreation areas, cabins, and resting places, so apart from hiking, you will find yourself many other activities that will keep you occupied.

Davy Crockett National Forest

Address: Texas

Accesiblity: All year

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

6. South Rim Trail, Big Bend National Park

This 11.5-mile-long (17-km) trail is rated at a high difficulty level. This is accessible all year round, however, you may expect some increase in the traffic during Christmas and Thanksgiving vacation. This place also sees a good number of the crowd during Spring Break. Regarded as one of the most premier trails, be ready and equipped with a lot of water and the right clothes. You will experience a wide range of flora and fauna and a great view of the canyons on this trail.

South Rim Trail, Big Bend National Park

Address: Big Bend

Accesibility: All year

Difficulty: High

7. River Place Nature Trail

River Place Nature Trail is a beautiful trail situated near Austin, Texas. This trail is a scenic combination comprising of three sub trails namely: Panther hollow trail, Canyon trail, and Little fern trail. The difficulty level has been termed as a little high to moderate. A lot of hikers love to run along this trail, as it not too long. You do require a good amount of water to keep yourself hydrated as you would encounter many steps during the course of this trail. One more thing to be noted about this place is the fee they charge for the hike. During the weekdays it is free, so try to visit at this time. On the weekends, they do charge a considerable amount of fee.

River Place Nature Trail

Address: Austin, Texas

Accessiblity: All year

Difficulty: Moderately high

8. Lighthouse Trail, Palo Duro Canyon

Located in Canyon Texas, the Lighthouse Trail is a part of Palo Duro State Park. This is a 5.7-mile (9km) long trail. You will find a lot of wildflowers along the way on this trail, the beauty of which is enchanting. This trek has been rated moderate by travelers. Your furry friends will love this trail and can accompany you, provided that they are leashed. This place is open from 7 am to 10 pm and it is recommended to be visited during the duration of September up until May, after which, it would be too hot to hike.

Lighthouse Trail, Palo Duro Canyon

Address: Canyon, Texas

Accessiblity: September - May

Difficulty: Moderate

9. Enchanted Rock Summit Trail

The Enchanted Rock Summit Trail is a moderately difficult trail located in Texas, near Llano. It is a fairly short trail of about 1.3 miles (2.9 km). The trail features a river and plenty of activities. This trail is accessible all year round. You have to buy passes to get into this and these might be available only online during the peak season. Saturday, Sundays, holidays and school breaks see a lot of crowds on this trail. This can be accessed all year-round.

Enchanted Rock Summit Trail

Address: Llano, Texas

Accessiblity: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

10. Eagle Point Trail, Caprock Canyon State Park

Eagle Point Trail in Caprock Canyons State Park is located in Quitaque, Texas, and it is 4.3 miles (7 km) long. The trail is known for its natural bridge, which is marked by a bench next to it. You can sit on the bench and enjoy the view. It is of moderate difficulty level and is available all year-round. Your pet can accompany you on this trail, however, they must be kept leashed. It is unlikely to get any water on the way, so make sure to carry enough water. The path can be a little sandy, depending on the season, so ensure to carry appropriate items.

Eagle Point Trail, Caprock Canyon State Park

Address: Quitaque, Texas

Accessiblity: All year

Difficulty: Moderate

Spend time outdoors

If you are an adventurous soul, you need to visit one of these places as soon as possible. These hikes are sure to fill your cameras with beautiful pictures, your soul with a lot of rejuvenation and your life with experiences. Get ready with your hiking shoes, pick up a big water bottle and set out to enjoy these hiking spots. Don’t forget to carry a lot of snacks, a good camera, and nice music.