Lake D'Arbonne State Park: White and Yellow Trails (Blog Hike #1058)

Trails: White and Yellow Trails
Hike Location: Lake D'Arbonne State Park
Geographic Location: west of Farmerville, LA (32.77652, -92.47566)
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A loop hike through dense pine forest and passing Lake D'Arbonne.
Park Information: https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-darbonne-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980681
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Farmerville, take SR 2 west 5.5 miles to Evergreen Road and turn left on Evergreen Rd.  Drive Evergreen Rd. south 0.3 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main park road to its end at picnic pavilions #1 and #2.  Park near the picnic pavilions.

The hike: Located in northern Louisiana northwest of Monroe, Lake D'Arbonne State Park protects 655 acres on the north shore of its namesake lake.  The lake was formed in 1961 when the Louisiana Department of Public Works built a 2450 foot long and 51 foot tall concrete dam on Bayou D'Arbonne.  The bayou and hence everything else gets its name from the Arbonne commune in extreme southwest France, another indication of Louisiana's heavy French influence.

            The well-amenitied park features the usual aquatic recreation on Lake D'Arbonne in addition to an excellent 58-site developed campground, 16 cabins, 2 group lodges, several picnic areas, and a disc golf course.  For hikers, the park offers 5 trails totaling over 7 miles, and the park's best trails feature the large bald cypress trees that grow along the park's lakeshore.

            At over 4 miles long, the White Trail is this park's longest trail, and most of the park's other trails are short-cuts for the White Trail, which traces the perimeter of the park.  While you could stay on the White Trail for its entire distance, this hike follows the White Trail most of the way while taking a short-cut on the Yellow Trail.  This particular short-cut avoids a couple of road crossings and gets you to the scenic lakeshore faster.

White Trail exits picnic pavilion area

            Pick up the White Trail as it leaves the east side of the picnic pavilion area; a small green sign that says "Cypress Bend Trail" marks this trailhead.  On my visit the initial segment of trail was decorated with Christmas lights even though I came here in late February.  White paint blazes and white plastic diamonds mark the way.

Hiking the White Trail

            Soon the trail curves left to begin climbing gradually roughly parallel to the park road.  A couple of side trails exit left to head for the road, but this hike stays with the White Trail.  Pine trees grow everywhere in this part of the park, and I saw 1 red-headed woodpecker while hearing several more.  You pass in and out of several small ravines until, 1 mile into the hike, you reach the park's north boundary and the highest elevation on this hike.  This elevation is only about 125 feet above the lake's elevation, so while this hike has some steep areas, the steep areas never last long.

Climbing out of a ravine

            After passing through a particularly steep ravine, just past 1.3 miles you reach a trail intersection with the park's gatehouse in sight.  The White Trail continues straight to form a short loop across Evergreen Road, and you could go that way if you wanted to be a purist and do the entire White Trail.  This hike skips the loop by turning left, crossing the park entrance road just east of the gatehouse, and starting the Yellow Trail, which is one of this park's several connector trails.

Start of Yellow Trail near gatehouse

            The Yellow Trail descends and curves right to reach the paved park road that accesses the park's group lodge.  Turn right to walk this road to the group lodge parking lot, then look to the right for the next white trail marker: it is a white plastic diamond located on a wooden post beside orange and red diamonds.  This white diamond means you are back on the White Trail, and thus the brief Yellow Trail short-cut is over.

Trailhead at group lodge

            1.75 miles into the hike, you reach a power line corridor, where you need to turn left to stay on the White Trail as it begins heading southwest under the power line.  Keep your eyes peeled for the trail markers at 2.1 miles: the White Trail curves left to leave the power line corridor, and it is easy to keep mindlessly following the power line.  The next section of trail heads gradually downhill toward the park's cabin area.  I have read that this section can become overgrown, but I had no trouble following the trail when I came here.

Hiking under the power line

            At 2.5 miles, you enter the park's cabin area.  Follow the white trail markers through the cabin area and exit the cabin area on the east side.  The cabin area lies close to Lake D'Arbonne, and thus passing through the cabin area marks the beginning of the last leg of this hike: the leg along the lake.  This leg is the most scenic part of the hike because it stays closest to the lake, but it is also the most developed part of the hike because most of the park's amenities are along the lakeshore.  Watch for the white trail markers carefully to stay on the trail.

Bald cypress trees in Lake D'Arbonne

            The trail passes through the park's cabin area, campground, and yurt area in that order before passing in front of the Visitor Center.  A sign calls the trail leaving the Visitor Center area the Owl Heaven Trail, and the White and Blue Trails run conjointly here.  Large beautiful bald cypress trees line the lakeshore.

Lake D'Arbonne

            At 3.6 miles, you re-enter the picnic pavilion area where you started.  Rather than heading straight for your car, turn right to take a short detour to the picnic pavilion fishing pier.  This pier extends well out into Lake D'Arbonne, and it provides my favorite lake view in this entire park.  Walk back up the pier and into the picnic pavilion area to complete the hike.

Fort Boggy State Park (Blog Hike #1057)

Trails: Campbell, Leon Prairie, and Lake Trails
Hike Location: Fort Boggy State Park
Geographic Location: south of Centerville, TX (31.18322, -95.97777)
Length: 3.1 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A fairly flat double loop through forest, prairie, and lakeside areas.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/fort-boggy
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980554
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming February 13, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: About halfway between Dallas and Houston, take I-45 to SR 7 (exit 164).  Exit and go east on SR 7.  Drive SR 7 east 0.6 miles to SR 75; turn right on SR 75.  Drive SR 75 south 4.9 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and drive the main park road to the main parking area just west of the lake.  Park here.

The hike: Located in eastern Texas about halfway between Dallas and Houston, Fort Boggy State Park occupies 1847 acres of reverting farmland.  The park exists due to a generous land donation from Eileen Crain Sullivan in 1985.  Fort Boggy State Park opened only in 2001, making it one of Texas' newer state parks.  The park is named for a pioneer fort that was built here in 1840, which in turn was named for nearby Boggy Creek.  Nothing of the original Fort Boggy remains.

            Today the park is centered around 15-acre Sullivan Lake, and fishing in the lake is the most popular activity here.  In terms of lodging, the park offers only a small primitive campground, but it does offer 5 cabins for rent.  For hikers, 4 trails totaling 3.5 miles beg to be explored.  This hike forms a double loop by combining 3 of those trails with a road walk through the developed area, and it offers a good sample of the park's lakeside and upland areas.

Cabin area trailhead

            Both loops of this double loop start at the main parking area, so you could hike the loops in either order or hike just one of them.  I hiked the western loop first by walking the park road that accesses the cabin area uphill to the west.  The trailhead is located near the parking lot for the cabin restroom building; only a yellow pole marks the trailhead.

Primitive Campground #1

            The entrance trail heads west, and after only a couple hundred feet the trail splits upon intersecting a pipeline corridor; this split forms the western loop.  I turned left to begin the unsigned Campbell Trail and hike the loop clockwise.  The Campbell Trail's main purpose is to access the park's 5 primitive campgrounds, and shortly after curving right to leave the pipeline corridor you pass Primitive Campground #1.  Each primitive campground features a firepit, a picnic table, and a pole with hooks beside a flat grassy area that looks perfect for pitching a tent.  I came here as a day-use visitor, but I kind of wished I had brought a tent.

Hiking the Campbell Trail

            The meandering trail heads gradually downhill through young forest that is dominated by pine trees.  Interpretive signs identify common plants in the forest, and the wide dirt trail makes for easy if unremarkable going.  At 1.4 miles, you reach the lowest elevation on this hike, almost 100 vertical feet below the cabin area, as you re-emerge at the pipeline corridor and reach another trail intersection.  The Campbell Trail ends here, and the Tunnel Trail goes straight to lead to the park's entrance station.  This hike turns right to begin the Leon Prairie Trail.

Hiking the Leon Prairie Trail

            The Leon Prairie Trail follows the pipeline corridor for its entire distance, and thus it is almost dead straight.  The pipeline corridor forms a narrow strip of prairie surrounded by the young forest you have been hiking through.  After climbing moderately on a wide dirt track, you close the loop at 1.8 miles.  Turn left, walk the park road downhill back to the main parking lot, and then continue downhill through the mowed grass area to reach the lake.  Notice the nice stone restroom building that serves the lake area.  The signed trailhead for the Lake Trail is located beside the lake at the right/south end of the mowed grass area.

Stone restroom building

Start of Lake Trail

            True to its name, the Lake Trail forms a loop around Sullivan Lake, but the steep ravines that feed the lake provide more up-and-down than you might expect for a lakeside loop.  After topping a ridge, the trail curves left to pass through an area that was very muddy from recent rains on my visit.  2.6 miles into the hike, you climb to another ridge where traffic noise from nearby SR 75 comes in from the right.

Sullivan Lake

            The wide dirt trail descends back to lake level, and at 2.9 miles you reach the east side of the earthen dam that forms the lake.  Walk across the dam and climb slightly to reach the Lake Trail's north trailhead.  A short walk across the mowed-grass area returns you to the parking lot to complete the hike.

McKinney Falls State Park: Upper and Lower Falls (Blog Hike #1056)

Trails: Rock Shelter, Homestead, Picnic, and Onion Creek Trails
Hike Location: McKinney Falls State Park
Geographic Location: east side of Austin, TX (30.18338, -97.72627)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A semi-loop along Onion Creek passing Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and other points of interest.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980506
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 26)

Directions to the trailhead: On the south side of Austin, take I-35 to William Cannon Drive (exit 228).  Exit and go east on William Cannon Dr.  Take William Cannon Dr. east 3.4 miles to McKinney Falls Parkway and turn left on McKinney Falls Pkwy.  Drive McKinney Falls Pkwy. north 1.2 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and follow signs for the upper falls parking area, which is just west of the Visitor Center.  Park here.

The hike: Established only in 1976, McKinney Falls State Park is a 744 acre green oasis on the rapidly developing east side of Austin.  The park is located at the confluence of Onion and Williamson Creeks, and those creeks provide the park's scenic core.  The park is named for Thomas McKinney, who owned and lived on a ranch here in the 1850's.  McKinney is most famous for his work supporting the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution against Mexico in 1835 and 1836.

            McKinney Falls State Park boasts 2 developed campgrounds totaling 81 sites, but the areas along the creeks remain the most popular areas due to their fishing and hiking.  The park offers 7 trails totaling over 10 miles, but I came here on a cold near-freezing afternoon in late February, which forced me to keep my hike short.  The short loop described here passes both of the park's major waterfalls in addition to some other scenic creekside areas, thus providing a short but thorough tour of this park's scenic core.

Upper Falls Trailhead

            From the parking lot west of the Visitor Center, start by heading for Upper Falls, which is reached by making a pair of left turns on the park's asphalt Onion Creek Trail.  After a short descent, you reach Upper Falls in only about 500 feet.  Upper Falls is less than 10 feet tall, but it occupies a rugged spot in an area with lots of bare rock.  With the right amount of water, Upper Falls is a scenic cascade with water falling in 3 strands into a large plunge pool.  After a thunderstorm Upper Falls would be a simple ledge waterfall, and during a drought it would dry up completely.

Upper Falls

            The Onion Creek Trail continues upstream along Onion Creek, but there are no more waterfalls or points of interest upstream.  Thus, I turned around, walked northeast around the Visitor Center, and picked up the Rock Shelter Trail as it follows Onion Creek downstream.  At 0.25 miles, you cross a long footbridge and pass Old Baldy, a massive 100-foot-tall bald cypress tree that was named Austin's Tree of the Year in 2012.  Old Baldy dates to over 500 years old.  Imagine the stories it could tell about how much this area has changed over time!

Old Baldy

            Past Old Baldy, the trail climbs over a bluff before angling left to descend under a cliff line that contains the large rock shelter for which this trail is named.  Experts think people have been using this limestone overhang as a shelter for 8000 years.  While I did not find anyone in the shelter, I did see a heron and some cardinals enjoying Onion Creek downhill to the left.

Rock shelter

Heron in Onion Creek

            After climbing around the end of the cliff line, you reach the north end of the Rock Shelter Trail just shy of 0.4 miles.  You could turn right here if you wanted a very short hike, but I turned left to head further downstream for Lower Falls.  You are now officially on the Homestead Trail, though no signs indicate such.  At 0.5 miles, you emerge on a large open slab of bare limestone rock.  The park map tells you that El Camino Real de Tejas, a primitive 2500 mile road that connected Mexico with Louisiana, used to run over this rock.

Limestone slab, formerly El Camino Real de Tejas

            At the north end of the rock, you reach Lower Falls.  Lower Falls looks much like Upper Falls except that 1) the water strands are more spread out and 2) a small beach below the falls gives the perfect angle for a photo.  If you want to extend this hike, the Homestead Trail crosses Onion Creek on stepping stones just above the falls, and in another 0.2 miles it reaches the ruins of the McKinney homestead.  I wanted to keep my hike short, so I turned around after viewing Lower Falls and headed back across the bare rock.

Lower Falls

            To add some variety to my return route, at the next trail intersection where the Rock Shelter Trail goes right, I angled left to begin the Picnic Trail.  True to its name, the Picnic Trail is a flat and wide dirt/gravel trail that heads through the park's main picnic area.  Some playgrounds and restroom buildings are also passed.  At 1.3 miles, you reach the Picnic Trail's south end at an intersection with the Onion Creek Trail.  Turn right on the Onion Creek Trail, and in only a few hundred feet you return to the Visitor Center parking lot to complete the hike.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park: LBJ Walking Trail (Blog Hike #1055)

Trail: LBJ Walking Trail
Hike Location: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Geographic Location: west side of Johnson City, TX (30.27650, -98.41811)
Length: 0.9 miles
Difficulty: 0/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A flat gravel loop past farm buildings from the 1800's.
Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/lyjo/index.htm
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980445
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 10, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 290 and US 281 in Johnson City, take US 290 west 0.8 miles to the signed parking lot for Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park on the left.  Park in this area.

The hike: For my introduction to President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and the Texas Hill Country state and national parks that bear his name, see the previous hike at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site.  Whereas the previous hike featured the state park, this hike features the national park.

            The most popular site at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is the famous LBJ ranch, which features a show barn, the Texas White House, the reconstructed LBJ Birthplace, and the Johnson Family Cemetery.  While a very interesting tour road explores the LBJ ranch, the ranch has no hiking trails.  Thus, the park's best (and almost only) hiking trail is the short LBJ Walking Trail, which is located in Johnson City 18 miles east of the ranch.  The LBJ Walking Trail takes you through a reconstructed pioneer village, and it is designed to give you an idea of how wild and remote Texas Hill Country was in the early 1900's when LBJ was growing up here.

US 290 parking area trailhead

            There are 2 places from which you could begin the LBJ Walking Trail: the national park's Visitor Center or the parking area on US 290.  I came here late in the day when I knew the Visitor Center would be closed, so it was more efficient for me to start at the parking area on US 290.  Hike in the 500 foot long entrance trail, then angle right to begin the loop around the reconstructed village.

2 barns

Dogtrot Cabin

            The first 2 buildings you pass are barns, but the first one is more noteworthy: it was owned by James Polk Johnson, the nephew of LBJ's grandfather.  Next you reach the Dogtrot Cabin.  This cabin was used by LBJ's grandfather as the headquarters for his cattle droving business.  Past the cabin is the Event Center, which contains many photos and much information about these buildings.  I lingered awhile in the Event Center partly to learn from the exhibits and partly to take advantage of the building's heater on the cold near-freezing late afternoon that I came here.

Eastern half of loop

            The eastern half of the loop contains no historic structures, but it offers nice views across an open meadow that is sparsely dotted with trees.  Town Creek flows just east of the loop, and a side trail heads east across a wooden bridge to the park's Visitor Center, the other place from which you could start this hike.  Near the close of the loop, you pass an old windmill, water tank, and cooler house, all essential support structures for ranching.  Upon closing the loop, turn right to head back to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site (Blog Hike #1054)

Trail: Nature Trail
Hike Location: Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site
Geographic Location: Stonewall, TX (30.23758, -98.62702)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A mostly flat gravel trail passing a living history farm.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980446
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming April 10, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: The entrance to Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site is on the north side of US 290 1 mile east of Stonewall, TX.  Park in the large parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Few American Presidents of the 20th century had as much influence on our society as our 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson.  Known commonly as LBJ, Johnson is best known for implementing the Great Society social net, expanding the country's civil rights, and leading the first few years of the Vietnam War.  Yet the stuff that made Johnson who he was came from deep in the heart of Texas Hill Country.

            When Johnson was born in Stonewall, TX in 1908, Texas Hill Country was one of the most remote and wildest parts of the United States.  The area's rocky soil made farming a difficult proposition, and LBJ came from a poor family who lived in a small farmhouse with no electricity.  Johnson's upbringing gave him a grittiness and groundedness that only that lifestyle can, and many people view Johnson as the last American President to come from a frontier background.

            Two parks west of Austin, TX protect the area where LBJ grew up: a state park and a national historical park.  Both parks offer interesting sites to see, and both parks offer a system of short trails for hikers.  I came here on a cold near-freezing afternoon in mid-February, and I was happy to keep my hikes on that day short.  This hike forms a grand tour of the state park, while the next hike explores part of the national park.

Exiting the Visitor Center breezeway

            From the main parking lot, walk east through the Visitor Center breezeway, and then continue heading east on a wide dirt/gravel trail.  The first stop on your tour of Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site is the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farm, and a sign indicates that you are heading in the right direction.  Most of the park consists of active or recovering farm or grazing land.  Thus, most of the land is open grassland today, but the areas around the streams are densely wooded.  At the first intersection, angle right to dip through a ravine and keep heading to the living history farm, as directed by another sign.

Sheep at Sauer-Beckman Farm

            At 0.3 miles, you reach the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farm.  The Sauer-Beckman Farm is designed to let you experience a 1918 German/Texas Hill Country farm similar to the farms that were here when LBJ was a kid.  The farm features live animals, including sheep and chickens, and 3 buildings: the farmhouse, the barn, and a blacksmith shop.  Costumed interpreters help bring the farm to life in season.

Farmhouse at Sauer-Beckman Farm

            After walking past the farmhouse, turn left to head around a short loop through the densely wooded shallow ravine.  Next you walk around the first of two longhorn pastures.  Both of these pastures had several longhorns grazing in them on my visit, and I saw lots of deer in this area as well.

Hiking through a shallow ravine

            At 0.8 miles, you intersect an old road at a major trail intersection.  We will eventually turn softly right here to head around the north side of the Visitor Center and parking lot, but first turn sharply right to quickly reach Ranch Road 1.  Across the road stands the historic entrance to the LBJ Ranch, which is part of the national park.  The historic entrance is not open to the public, but it offers a nice view of the Pedernales River.  Imagine the dignitaries and famous people that drove in here many years ago.

Historic LBJ Ranch entrance

LBJ statue

            Back at the major trail intersection, the trail heads northwest before curving left to reach an impressive statue of LBJ.  Next the trail heads around the north side of the main parking lot before crossing the lot's Ranch Road 1 exit road and heading around the second longhorn pasture.  The park map tells you that this is an official Texas Longhorn Herd, and they live in a much larger pasture than the first one you passed.

Official Texas Longhorn Herd

            1.7 miles into the hike, you reach the Danz Cabins, a collection of pioneer structures that date to 1865.  Thus, these structures predate both LBJ and the living history farm.  The trail curves right at the cabins and ends at a small secondary parking lot about 500 feet later.  Only 1 trail leads to this parking lot, so the only option is to retrace your steps back past the Danz Cabins and around the official Texas Longhorn Herd to return to the main parking lot and complete the hike.

Danz Cabins

            While you are in the area, you should drive across Ranch Road 1 to the historic LBJ ranch.  The ranch has no hiking trails, but it has an interesting tour road, a show barn, the reconstructed LBJ Birthplace, the Johnson Family Cemetery, and the Texas White House.  Thus, the ranch is replete with unique area and presidential history.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: Summit Trail (Blog Hike #1053)

Trail: Summit Trail
Hike Location: Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Geographic Location: north of Fredericksburg, TX (30.49772, -98.82019)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 9/10 (Difficult)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A steep out-and-back, mostly over bare granite, to the top of Enchanted Rock.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980298
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 26)

Directions to the trailhead: From Fredericksburg, take RM 965 north 16.8 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and park in any of the parking lots near the main trailhead.

The hike: Just as Colorado has Pikes Peak, Yosemite has Half Dome, and Georgia has Stone Mountain, no landform screams Texas like Enchanted Rock.  The bare granite dome's location nearly 20 miles from the closest town typifies the wide open rural landscape that much of Texas is known for.  Yet in spite of its remote location, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area annually ranks as one of the most popular state parks in Texas.  Of the 11 state parks I visited on my February 2025 hiking trip to Texas Hill Country, Enchanted Rock is the only one that required me to buy a timed entrance permit.

            The park's reputation is well-earned: a steep but manageable climb up bare granite rock leads to spectacular 360-degree views as far as the eye can see.  The park was established in 1978 when the State of Texas bought 1640 acres from Charles Moss via The Nature Conservancy, and today Enchanted Rock is a National Natural Landmark.  True to the land's designation as a state natural area rather than a state park, the site has limited amenities that include only a 35-site primitive campground and a few picnic tables.

              What Enchanted Rock State Natural Area lacks in amenities it makes up for in trails: 8 trails totaling over 11 miles.  The park offers several noteworthy hikes, but the park's signature hike is the Summit Trail described here; it is the only trail that leads to the top of Enchanted Rock.  Though only 0.75 miles one-way, the Summit Trail involves climbing over steep bare rock, and you should allow at least 2 hours to hike the trail and take in the view from the top.  This hike will be a hot and sunny one during the warmer months, so dress and hydrate accordingly.

Trailhead for Summit Trail

            From the restroom building and picnic shelter at the rear of the parking lot, pick up the signed Summit Trail, which begins as a wide dirt track.  The Summit Trail descends some steps to dip through a wash that is dry much of the year before beginning its climb of Enchanted Rock.  The scenery is very desert in nature with a few cedar/juniper trees and some prickly pear cactus, but the surroundings feature more rocks than plants throughout this hike.

Dirt/rock trail below the bare granite

            After climbing some stone steps through a rocky area, you reach the smooth bare granite at 0.4 miles.  The Echo Canyon Trail exits left to cut across the corner of the bare rock, but our hike heads straight up the bare rock, as indicated by a wooden sign.  The first 20 feet on the rock are the steepest of the climb; step slowly and make sure 1 step is solid before taking the next one.  The park closes this trail after rain because wetness makes the rock too slippery for safe hiking, and shoes with good traction are necessary at all times.

Entering the bare granite

Low cliff ahead

            There are no blazes or trail markings on the rock, so you have to get to the summit using whatever route seems most feasible; just keep heading up.  Looking ahead after the first steep section, you can see a low cliff that you will have to get around.  You could go around the cliff on either side, but switchbacking around the left side is slightly less steep and direct.  Thus, I chose the left option.

US Coast and Geodetics Survey marker

            After climbing another steep section above the cliff, the grade moderates, indicating that the summit is near.  Just shy of 0.75 miles, you reach the US Coast and Geodetics Survey metal disc marker that marks Enchanted Rock's summit.  The summit is surprisingly flat given how hard you worked to get here, and it provides 360-degree views across the heart of Texas Hill Country.  Lower bald granite domes dominate the foreground, including Little Rock to the west and Freshman Mountain to the east.  Larger mountains stand in the distance.  Some vernal pools dot the summit area, and the park brochure warns you not to disturb those fragile habitats.  These are some of the best views in Texas, so take some time and enjoy them.

View west from summit

View north from summit

            There is only 1 trail to Enchanted Rock's summit, so the only way down is the way you came up.  Do not underestimate the descent: the vast majority of hiking accidents occur when the hiker is going downhill.  Also, remember that there are no trail markings, and it is easy to get headed the wrong way on the bare rock.  Keep an eye on the dirt trail below the rock leading back to the restroom building and picnic shelter, and walk downhill in the general direction of that trail to stay oriented in the right direction.

Longhorn Cavern State Park: Backbone Ridge and Karst Discovery Trails (Blog Hike #1052)

Trails: Backbone Ridge, Warbler Walk, and Karst Discovery Trails
Hike Location: Longhorn Cavern State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Burnet, TX (30.68469, -98.35052)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: February 2025
Overview: A short, mostly flat loop on the roof of Longhorn Cavern.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/longhorn-cavern
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=980233
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming February 10, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Burnet, take US 281 south 4.9 miles to Park Road 4 and turn right on Park Road 4.  Drive Park Road 4 west 6 miles to the signed entrance for Longhorn Cavern State Park on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in any of the parking lots near the Visitor Center.

The hike: Formed when an ancient underground river eroded its surrounding limestone, Longhorn Cavern's history as an important site dates to at least the mid 1800's.  Confederates mined bat guano here to make gunpowder during the Civil War, and in the 1920's the cavern's main room was used as a dance hall and music venue.  The State of Texas acquired the cavern and surrounding land from private owners between 1932 and 1937, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked to build this park from 1934 until 1938.  The park opened in 1938, and the cavern was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1971.

            The CCC's buildings still serve the park well today, and the cavern remains the park's main attraction.  While cave tours start at $25, hiking here is free.  The park offers 2 short trails, and this hike combines both of them to form the longest possible route without retracing your steps.  This hike traverses classic arid Hill Country scenery, and it forms a nice tour of this park's above ground scenery either before or after your cave tour.

Main entrance to Longhorn Cavern

            If you do not plan to take a cave tour, then either before or after your hike you should visit the main entrance to Longhorn Cavern.  Walk behind the left (east) side of the Visitor Center and descend more than 50 stone steps to arrive at the locked gate that blocks the entrance.  The cave opening is impressive, but even more interesting are the limestone rock bridges that tower over your head when you stand in front of the entrance.  Take a few minutes to enjoy the scenery and shade at this site.

Trailhead behind Visitor Center

            After seeing the cave entrance, return to the right (west) rear of the Visitor Center to find the signed start of the Backbone Ridge Nature Trail.  The wide dirt trail heads southwest through fairly flat terrain with the limestone bedrock close to the surface.  Juniper/cedar trees are everywhere, and interpretive signs help you identify common plants in the forest.

Hiking the Backbone Ridge Trail

            Where a short-cut trail exits right to head for the park road at 0.3 miles, turn left to continue the Backbone Ridge Nature Trail.  A few hundred feet later, you reach a very short add-on loop called the Warbler Walk.  The Warbler Walk is less than 500 feet long, and it features interpretive signs that identify common birds in the area.

Limestone bedrock

            0.5 miles into the hike, you reach another major trail intersection.  A sign tells you that the Backbone Ridge Nature Trail goes right, and you could go that way if your cave tour time is almost here.  To extend the hike, turn left to begin the Karst Discovery Trail.

Rocky section of Karst Discovery Trail

            As its name suggests, the Karst Discovery Trail takes you through a drier and rockier area with lots of prickly pear cactus in the understory.  This trail also takes you through the deepest ravine in the park, which is about 45 feet deep.  At some points all of the rocky surroundings look the same, so pay attention to the yellow and blue paint blazes on the rocks to stay on track.  I thought I might see some sinkholes or alternate cave entrances in this area, but any of those features that are here blended into the rockiness.

Observation tower and picnic shelter

            At 1.1 miles, you reach the end of the Karst Discovery Trail where it intersects the park's picnic area loop road.  Usually the interesting part of the hike would be over here, but this picnic area contains possibly the most interesting thing on this hike other than the cave: a collection of CCC-built buildings including picnic shelters, a cabin, and an observation tower.  The combination observation tower and picnic shelter requires climbing a narrow winding stairway to reach the observation deck, but the tower's location on the highest land in the park ensures a nice view.  Walk through the picnic area to return to the Visitor Center and complete the hike.