Things to do in Texas, United States: The Best Hiking Trails

September 17, 2021 Toi Mattera

Texas has great beaches for bird watching, boating, and fishing. Plus golf courses, cowboy and high art culture, and a rich history. Bask on the beach and bird watch between golf games before, during, or after spring break in Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Crystal Beach, or South Padre Island. Explore East Texas from Dallas to Tyler, Texarkana, Jefferson, and Nacogdoches. Enjoy golf and big city life in Dallas or Houston. Visit Galveston's coastal Strand. Tour West Texas and Hill Country from San Antonio, New Braunfels, Austin, and Fredericksburg to Amarillo and El Paso.
Restaurants in Texas

1. Lost Mine Trail

Big Bend National Park, TX http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm
Excellent
83%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 322 reviews

Lost Mine Trail

Five-miles round-trip, this trail is fairly easy compared with many other hikes in the park.

Reviewed By RhondaA646 - South Portland, United States

We enjoyed every trail we did in Big Bend but this almost 5 mile hike up and back was our favorite. The views are simply spectacular. If I can recommend anything is to get there early. Parking is limited at the trailhead. Also in October, though chilly at 8:00am, you warm up quickly so you will be happy to hike up in the shade. The hike up is primarily switchbacks (which makes it an easier downhill as well) so doable for me at 60. There was not a moment in this hike without great views. Make sure you keep walking across the rocks to get to the very top with amazing vistas. This is a must do in the Park.

2. Silvers Trails

7506 County Road 404, Spicewood, TX 78669-4018 +1 512-577-4791 http://www.silverstrails.com/contact.html
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3 reviews

Silvers Trails

3. Mission Hike & Bike Trails

S. Conway avenue, Mission, TX 78572
Excellent
83%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 12 reviews

Mission Hike & Bike Trails

4. Play for all park

151 N A W Grimes Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665 +1 512-218-5400 http://www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks-trails/play-park/
Excellent
91%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 68 reviews

Play for all park

Reviewed By AJv1517

Fantastic park for all abilities! It is great for Littles all the way up to teens. Kids loved the race track to ride bikes around and the cute little town. The zip lines were a huge hit too!

5. Kerrville River Trail

Kerrville, TX +1 830-257-8000 http://www.kerrvilletx.gov/index.aspx?nid=1256
Excellent
83%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 149 reviews

Kerrville River Trail

Reviewed By Baybug2 - Macon, United States

First time here and lovely area. Perfect for day, evening, morning——family, solo, fur babies—-nice restrooms Littles would love splash pad!

6. Brushy Creek Regional Trail

Brushy Creek Regional Trail, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 7 reviews

Brushy Creek Regional Trail

Reviewed By 149kathyl - Urbana, United States

This park offers over six miles of paved trails and many unpaved trails. It is easy walking and beautiful with some shade. Plenty of parking on either end. Soccer fields and play grounds and bathrooms available. Some benches along the way. A great resource in Austin. We will be back.

7. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

2202 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio, TX 78214-2715 +1 210-932-1001 http://www.nps.gov/saan/index.htm
Excellent
74%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,867 reviews

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Historical area that stretches nine miles and contains four important 18th-century missions.

Reviewed By Playsureful - San Antonio, United States

Plenty of Texas History and Spanish architecture with Native flare. Each Mission on the trail is unique with its own limestone rock, unique designed doorways, they have one has a long walled compound with courtyards and barracks, each mission is a different size. My plan was to drive to the last Mission (Mission Espada) on the route and load our bikes onto the Via Bus #41, this bus is just for the Missions. FYI ! Get on the bus stop across the road from parking lot (NOT on the mission side). Get a map to find the bike trail and or ask the ranger or bus driver. They also have bike rental racks for the trail. We rode our bikes to the only 4 on the Mission NP trail. Bus dropped us off at Mission Concepcion, Explored the compound and then rode down surface road to the trailhead, then rode along the trail (about a 6 mile ride) and over surface trail to Mission San Jose, then back down to river trail and crossed over bridge to Mission San Juan. Took Left trail behind mission to river and crossed back over to the last Mission, Mission Espada. Trails are mostly on both sides of San Antonio river, trails have park benches everywhere, plenty of picnic tables and BBQ pits with several pavilions.

8. Elm Fork Nature Preserve

2335 Sandy Lake Rd, Carrollton, TX 75006 http://www.cityofcarrollton.com/departments/departments-g-p/parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-natural-areas/elm-fork-nature-preserve
Excellent
50%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2 reviews

Elm Fork Nature Preserve

9. The Window Trail

Big Bend National Park, TX +1 432-477-2551 http://nps.gov/bibe
Excellent
76%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 320 reviews

The Window Trail

From the road, this spot offers a spectacular view into the canyon below.

Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States

Our group started the Window Trail around 8:30 am, departing from the Chisos Basin Trailhead near the Lodge. It is a gentle downhill grade all the way through the Chisos Basin. Bring your sticks if you normally hike with them. The trail gets rockier and more interesting as you move into the upper portion of the Oak Creek Canyon with its colorful rock formations. As you approach The Window, there is some scrambling as well as a series of smooth stone steps. The creek bed was dry, however. The payoff: the up-close Window view! Just don’t get too close to the edge because the pour-off is slick rocks and there are no railings. The Window was one of my favorite Big Bend hikes. Instead of returning to the Lodge, we took the Oak Spring Trail down and then continued to the Cattail Falls and finally hiked out to Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive where our van was parked. I doubt I could have hiked uphill all the way back to the Lodge without having a heatstroke! Take into consideration the afternoon heat and sun when planning your hikes and bring adequate water. There is little shade in the desert.

10. Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail

Lady Bird Lake First Street Bridge at Lady Bird Lake, Austin, TX 78701 +1 512-974-6700 http://www.austintexas.org/listings/ann-and-roy-butler-hike-and-bike-trail-and-boardwalk-at-lady-bird-lake/4369/
Excellent
75%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,700 reviews

Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail

Scenic trail through lush green parks and peaceful lakes: a great place to bike, hike and run.

Reviewed By DebbieMG130 - Rochester, United States

Coming to Austin from the frozen tundra of Western New York, I absolutely loved how much outdoor activity is going on there. Bikers, hikers, dog walkers, kayaks, canoes, and everything in between. Lady Bird Lake is centrally located near the downtown area, and it has a wonderful 10-mile bike trail encircling it. I rented a bike from Barton Springs Bike Rental (really nice folks), and I spent a wonderful 72 degree afternoon riding on the bike path, and taking it all in. It's a great way to see a different view of Austin, and to work off some calories from all the incredible restaurants.

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