Hiking and Backpacking in Texas

Texas offers a wide variety of hiking and backpacking from the hills of Big Bend to the plains of east Texas – you can always find something that meets your fancy from flat nature trails to rugged climbs with stunning views. Take a Hike in Texas!

In 2006, Backpacker Magazine selected the South Rim trail in Big Bend as the 9th in "The Best Day Hikes in America" and Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe National Park was also mentioned.

Click here to view all of the best hiking in Texas according to Trails.com. You can see the list of some of Texas Outside's favorite hiking and biking trails on this page.

Area	Near	Brief Description
Hill Country State Natural Area	Bandera	40 miles of multi-use trails - try Routes 1 & 6 for a 5.8 mile hike over rocky hills and down canyons or Route 5B up a steep, rocky staircase to the top of Twin Peaks for a majestic countryside view
Sam Houston National Forest	Huntsville	Try the 27 mile section of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (128 miles) which goes through thick brush and swampy ares, and crosses several creeks - you'll likely see deer, turkey, quail, and rabbits
Lake Georgetown Good Water Trail	Lake Georgetown	A 23 mile trail with multiple tail heads and several campgrounds that circumnavigates Lake Georgetown and traverses limestone cliffs, open prairie grasslands, and streams
Lake Somerville State Park	Lake Somerville	An easy sandy 13 mile trail that crosses meadows, creeks, and ponds and is great for bird watching with lots of great blue herons, canvasbacks, mallards, and ducks
Caprock Canyons State Park	Quitaque	Dramatic canyon and peaks of red sandstone and siltstone with trails along 3600' cliffs - over 90 miles of trails
Guadalupe Mountains National Park	El Paso	You can hike to the highest point in Texas, the 8749' Guadalupe Peak, in this 86,415 acre park of desert, canyons, windswept mountains with strenuous hikes with breathtaking views
Big Thicket National Preserve	Jasper	100,000 acres managed by the National Park Service with a vast ecosystem of meadows, swamps, and forest and a multitude of different species of trees, ferns, orchids, and carnivorous plants
Davis Mountains State Park	Fort Davis	A beautiful and scenic 4.5 mile trail connects Davis Mountains State Park and the Fort Davis National Historic Site
Lost Maples State Natural Area	Vanerpool	Try this trail in the fall with the changing colors of the Bigtooth Maples or anytime to enjoy the clear Sabinal River, with swimming holes and waterfalls
Inks Lake State Park	Kingsland	A variety of trails with a variety of scenery over granite, along streambeds, and beside the lake