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.