Trail: Angel of Goliad Trail
National Park: City of Goliad
Features: Archeo/paleo/historical
Creek(s)
River(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Activities: Bicycling (any)
Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Roller/Inline Skating
Wildlife observation - Birds

Desc: The Angle of Goliad Trail, a 2-mile hiking, bicycle, pedestrian trail is totally handicapped accessible with multiple entry points for selected distances. The trail took 10 years to complete and serves to link multiple historical sites in Goliad. Named after Panchita Alavez, the “Angel of Goliad”, as so designated by the survivors of the Goliad Massacre during the Texas Revolution on March 27, 1836, where Col. Fannin and 341 of his men who were captured by the Mexican forces at the Battle of Coleto and executed under direct orders of Santa Anna. Panchita was the wife of the paymaster of the Mexican Army and was directly and solely responsible for saving at least 28 lives during several confrontations. Those lives being that of the brave men fighting for Texas Independence.

The trail, paved and with board walks to provide total handicapped accessibility traverses a stretch of the San Antonio River. Natural habitat was preserved along the trail and serves as an excellent retreat for bird watchers and butterfly enthuiasists. Many “winter” Texans visit Goliad State Park and have commented on the natural beauty of the trail in its serene setting. Local high school biology classes identified flora along the trail; then those identifications were studied early spanish and pioneer days; then the local high school art classes composed the artwork of the flora for signs. Goliad is the only incorporated city in Goliad Country. The rural City of Goliad, by the 2000 census has 1,975 inhabitants. Goliad played such an important role in Texas History that many people travel to Goliad to seek out a part of their heritage. Goliad State Park encompasses the restored Mission Espiritu Santo, claimed to be the very first beginning of Cattle ranching in Texas during the Spanish missionary period. The vast lands of Mission Espiritu Santo had somewhere between 30,000 to 45,000 head of cattle in the mid-1700’s and was the main source of beef for other missions in Texas. The City of Goliad maintains the trail.

Trail: Baker Park
National Park: City of Sherman
Features: Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running

Difficulty: Intermediate
Miles: 1.5 miles

Trail: Benbrook Lake Horseback
National Park: US Army Corps of Engineers
Miles: 7.3 miles

Trail: Brushy Creek Regional Trail + Conservation Corridor
National Park: Williamson County
Features: Creek(s)
Geological feature(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Wetland(s)
Activities: Bicycling (any)
Bicycling - Mountain
Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Caving
Rock climbing
Rockhounding
Elevation: 834 ft
Desc: The Brushy Creek Trail and Conservation Corridor was originally planned for 8 miles, but due to it’s initial success and enthusiasm generated by the first section of the trail, a vision of a 30 mile trail is now reasonably foreseen. The trail which connects with parks along it’s route paralleling Brushy Creek, offers users many diverse versions of Texas hill country open space. A 2.5 mile segment completed in December of 2002 through a cooperative effort of the cities of Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, the Brushy Creek and Fern Bluff Municipal Utility Districts and several private landowners coordinated by Willliamson County. Cedar Park will complete a 1/2 mile section in November 2003, which will give us a total of 3 miles of trail. The entities are continuing to work together on the next trail phase to provide a safe and versatile recreation area as well as an alternate means of transporation.

Trail: Cargill Long Park
National Park: Longview Parks and Recreation Dept.
Features: Creek(s)
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Bicycling (any)
Roller/Inline Skating
Wildlife observation - Birds

Difficulty: Easy
Miles: 22 miles
Desc: A heavy walking + jogging trail which travels through residential neighborhoods (Rails to Trails project).

Trail: Chisolm-Bluebonnet
National Park: City of Plano - Parks and Recreation
Features: Creek(s)
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Bicycling (any)
Bicycling - Mountain
Roller/Inline Skating
Fishing

Difficulty: Easy
Miles: 8.5 miles
Desc: Completely within the city of Plano - a suburb of Dallas. Primarily used by local residents.

Trail: Doeskin Ranch Trail System
National Park: U.S. Fish + Wildlife
Features: Archeo/paleo/historical
Creek(s)
Geological feature(s)
Grove(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Meadow(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Spring(s)/geyser(s)
Valley(s)/canyon(s)
Waterfall(s)
Activities: Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals
Hunting (any)
Hunting - Archery
Hunting - Big game
Hunting - Bird
Elevation: 1300 ft
Miles: 3.5 miles
Desc: Doeskin Ranch offfers the public, school groups, and organizations the chance to experience and learn about the history, nature, and resource management on the refuge. This is the largest, most ecologically diverse area on the refuge open to the public. Visitors can enjoy the wide array of habitats by walking the four trails totalling 3.5 miles. Those unable to walk two of the more difficult trails can still learn about the area through guided nature walks, interpretive exhibits, and other programs.
The three primary trails begin near each other so that it is easy to go from one trail loop to the next. Trails weave in and out of the trees so that at least part of the time hikers can seek shade from the hot central Texas sun. To prevent disturbance as much as possible, the trail system was created using old roads, existing trails, and other disturbed areas. In an effort to protect the relatively fragile riparian habitat and to prevent visitors from making their own trails to the creek, a spur trail was constructed near the place visitor s would have their first access to the creek. The spur goes along the creek in a agravel shoreline where vegetation and soil is mostly absent. a bluff on the other side prevents visitors from crossing the creek.
These trails were constructed by the Central Texas Trail Tamers, Boy Scouts of America, and the Friends of Balcones NWR. The Central Texas Trail tamers are “professional trail builders” that construct trails the correct way to minimize future maintenance.
Special events such as the two-weekend celebration during National wildlife Refuge Week and the Texas Songbird Festival are held. Volunteers, signs, and supplies are contributed by the Friends group, Travis Audubon society, National Wldlife Federation, Horned Lizard Society, Lago Vista Chamber of Commerce, Capital Area Master Naturalists, Highland Lakes Master Naturalists, and the Sun City Nature Club.
Trail inspection, construction, and maintenance are performed primarily by volunteers. Virtually all programs and guided nature walks are conducted by volunteers.
Doeskin Ranch offers visitors a chance to see a canyon, prairies, wooded areas, and sweeping scenic vistas of the Texas hill country. Hikers can see an area being transformed from a prairie to the shrubby habitat of the endangered black-capped vireo, as well as the wooded habitat of the endangered golden-cheek warbler. The refuge was established to provide habitat for these two endangered species.

Trail: Fort Worth Nature Center + Refuge (formerly Greer Island Nature)
National Park: City of Fort Worth Parks + Community Services
Features: Creek(s)
River(s)
Lake(s)/pond(s)/reservoir(s)
Scenic viewpoint(s)
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Wildlife observation - Birds

Difficulty: Intermediate
Miles: 25 miles
Desc: There are an interconnecting series of trails totaling about 25 miles in length. The trails take visitors through representative north TX landscapes, including limestone prairie, post oak savanna, riparian woodlands + wetlands.
Exit Texas Hwy 199 (Jacksboro Hwy.) west from Interstate Loop 820 on the northwest side of Fort Worth. Travel 4 miles west to the Farm Rd. 1886 (Confederate Park Rd.) exit. After exiting, turn right at the stop sign onto Buffalo Rd. to enter the Refuge

Trail: Four C National Hiking Trail
National Park: Davy Crockett National Forest
Activities: Dogs - On leash
Wildlife observation - Birds
Wildlife observation - Mammals
Camping - Backpacking
Camping
Fishing
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Hunting (any)
Hunting - Small game
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation: 325 ft
Miles: 20. miles
Desc: The trail not only passes through several distinct vegetation communities, but the entire landscape surrounding the trail is a vast cultural resource. The 4-C NRT is named for the Central Coal + Coke Company, which logged virgin timber from the region in the early 1920s. The Civilian Conservation Corps planted the trees that are now the forest surrounding the trail.
The southern trailhead for the trail is at Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area. Ratcliff Lake was the log pond for the sawmill operations of the Central Coal + Coke Company. Much of the 4-C NRT travels along abandoned railroad tramways once used to transport lumber.
The 4-C NRT passes through pine stands, bottomland hardwoods, sloughs and upland forests, as well as the 3,900-acre Big Slough Wilderness Area, one of only five National Wilderness Areas in East Texas. The first ¾-mile of the 4-C NRT has been developed to be wheelchair accessible.
At twenty miles, the 4-C NRT offers visitors hiking experiences in a diversity of environments, and lends itself well to hiking either in sections, as a one-way, 20-mile (two day) trip or a two-way, 40-mile (four day) backpacking trip. The 4-C NRT is one of only a handful of trails in East Texas of substantial length, i.e. greater than 3 - 4 miles.

From Crockett, TX, take State Hwy 7 East for 20 miles to Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area. The Four-C trail head is located inside the recreation area.

Trail: Lone Star
National Park: Sam Houston National Forest
Activities: Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running

Miles: 128 miles
Desc: The Lone Star Hiking Trail is 128 miles of ‘footpath only’ trails stretching from north of Montgomery, passing south of Huntsville and Coldspring, and ending northeast of Cleveland, Texas.