Texas

Dinosaur Valley is located in the small town of Glen Rose about an hour and a half Southwest of Dallas. While the main purpose of the park is the continual preservation of dinosaur tracks that were fossilized at the edge of an ancient ocean millions of years ago, there are also tons of activities...

If you're staying at Chisos Basin, the sunset at Window View Trail is one to see. The Window View Trail is a paved, wheelchair-accessible, 0.3 mile loop that starts near the Chisos Basin Store and leads to a viewpoint. The viewpoint provides an excellent view of the desert floor framed by the Ch...

Big Bend Ranch State Park is certainly one of Texas most beautiful "hidden" gems. Boasting over 300,000 acres of wild, rugged high desert terrain, this park is an explorers paradise. Bordering the Rio Grande, the line between the US and Mexico quickly blurs by through mesas and desert peaks. Sta...

Most people don’t know that there are 8,000-foot peaks in Texas, but in the exceptionally remote southwest corner of the Lone Star State, Big Bend National Park’s Chisos Mountains soar high over the Chihuahuan Desert. The South Rim of the mountain bowl features a few backcountry sites that allow ...

Hueco Tanks is comprised of 3 mountains and 1 spur (a lateral offshoot of a mountain). North Mountain has the most dense bouldering but access requires a reservation. East and West Mountain also offer amazing climbing, but you are required to have a guide to gain entrance to those mountains. The ...

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a free, fantastic get-away for a quick dose of the outdoors in the middle of the busy city. Safe and family-friendly, this preserve has a wide variety of visitors doing every type of activity, from jogging to mountain biking to drone flying. The playground sits nex...

Garner State Park is one of the best parks in Texas Hill Country if you are looking for some hiking with elevation. It is incredibly scenic, has plenty of campgrounds, and is also nearby to Lost Maples State Natural Area - a park very well-known for its fall foliage. If you happen to visit Garner...

Lost Maples State Natural Area is the go to place if you want to escape to New England-like Fall scenery in Texas, which is hard to believe for some. Tucked away deep in Hill Country near Vanderpool, TX, Lost Maples has a unique supply of Maple trees thanks to the deepness of the canyons found in...

The Hike This nearly 8.2-mile out-and-back hike starts almost a mile above sea level and has more than 2,800 feet of elevation gain. The beginning 1.5 miles include a lot of switchbacks, and hikers quickly gain elevation. The second part of the trail up the North-facing slope is shady as it goes...

The route to the summit of El Capitan starts from the Guadalupe Peak trail some 300ft below the summit where you can first see the full vista of El Capitan stretching out before you. There is no trail to the peak, so you will have to navigate and find the best route possible. There are four prom...

I love McAllister Park. Sure it can get a little stinky after the torrential Texas rains sweep through, but on a clear, dry day you can always find a new and LOVELY trail.  The Mud Creek Loop (or the Green Loop) is a 1.5 mile dirt trail used by hikers and mountain bikers. The trail itself is rela...

Park in the circle in the Boykin Springs Recreation Area (see map) to access the trail. This is a dog-friendly trail that doesn't get crowded.

Spicewood Spring is a spring-fed swimming hole in Colorado Bend State Park and can be reached in one of two ways. There is an out and back trail that will take about 3.6 miles round trip if you just want to swim, but I prefer turning it into a scenic hike that takes you through Spicewood Canyon a...

Park in the lot off of Lakewood Drive (see map) to access the trail. This trail is good for all skill levels and is dog-friendly. 

Walnut Creek Park has a TON of little side trails that make this a must do if you are in or near the area. This particular trail (1 of 2 major ones) is a 15 mile loop but can be done as a shorter out and back. Once you park in the parking lot head southwest to find the trailhead and you're good t...

Galveston Island State Park is one of the several state parks in Texas offering coastline to the Gulf of Mexico. The park is good to visit during any time of the year, and offers several hiking, biking and paddling trails. In order to take advantage of the paddling trails you must bring your own ...