If you’re into New Year’s resolutions, why not make one to explore as much of the Lone Star State as possible? Here are 12 of the best hikes in Texas to embark on this year – one for each month. What are you waiting for? Lace up your shoes and let’s go!

  1. January - Guadalupe Peak Texas Highpoint Trail at Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Salt Flat)

AllTrails/Bradley Elliott Why not start the year on a high note (pun intended) by scaling the highest mountain in Texas? This 8.4-mile trail is extremely challenging, with an elevation gain of nearly 3,000 feet, but the sweeping panoramic vistas waiting for you at the top are well worth the effort. Learn more about this amazing hike in Texas. Guadalupe Peak, Texas 79847, USA

  1. February - The Lighthouse Trail at Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Canyon)

AllTrails/Ash Elizondo The Lighthouse Trail is the most popular hike in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and we’re tackling it in February - before the Texas heat has had a chance to take over and ruin the experience. The six-mile trail leads to this unique rock formation, which also happens to be its namesake. Can you see why? Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX 79015, USA

  1. March - Riverplace Nature Trail (West Lake Hills)

AllTrails/James Oliver Spring is a time of whimsy. Nature stretches its limbs after a long winter’s rest, trading barren branches and monochromatic landscapes for lush greenery and colorful flowers. We’re kicking off the season at Riverplace Natural Trail near Austin, a 5.5-mile hike that’s like something out of a fairytale. Winding staircases, footbridges, and trees that form natural archways over the path imbue a sense of magic into every step you take. River Place Nature Trail Canyon Trailhead, 4998 River Pl Blvd, Austin, TX 78730, USA

  1. April - McAllister Park Blue Loop Trail (San Antonio)

AllTrails/Mike Folks Texas is known for its breathtaking wildflowers, and McAllister Park Blue Loop Trail offers one of the best displays in the state. The six-mile loop is bursting with vibrant springtime blooms, and you’ll feel like a kid again as you frolic through the fields. McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247, USA

  1. May - Santa Elena Canyon (Big Bend National Park)

Mark A Paulda / Moment Collection / Getty Images By the time May rolls around, West Texas is typically already feeling the heat. What better way to cool off than with a dip in the mighty Rio Grande? The iconic Santa Elena Canyon Trail leads straight to the water, so you can enjoy a refreshing soak before heading back the way you came. Plus, it’s easy and under 1.5 miles round-trip! Santa Elena Canyon, Texas 79852, USA

  1. June - Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls via Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail (Austin)

AllTrails/Michael Spruiell June is the official start of summer, which means the only hikes we’re interested in are those that involve swimming. The water in the Barton Creek Greenbelt is nice and cold, making this three-mile trail the perfect choice on a sweltering day. Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail, Austin, TX 78746, USA

  1. July - Gorman Falls Trail at Colorado Bend State Park (Bend)

Flickr/Jason St Peter Although you can’t swim in the pool that the 70-foot-tall Gorman Falls cascades down into, the spray from the rushing water is plenty invigorating. All that stands between you and this jaw-dropping natural wonder is a less than 1.5-mile hike each way! You’ll feel like you’re in a tropical rainforest instead of Texas! Gorman Falls Trail, Texas 76853, USA

  1. August - Hamilton Pool Park Trail (Dripping Springs)

Flickr/Jonathan Cutrer The hike to this iconic oasis is hardly a hike at all - it’s more of a leisurely stroll. From the parking area, it’s under one mile to the pool, and the trail is brimming with gorgeous Hill Country views. The best part? The hike ends with you immersing yourself in the gorgeous, blue-green water! Learn more about the outrageously beautiful Hamilton Pool in this article. Hamilton Pool, Texas 78620, USA

  1. September - Lost Maples State Natural Area (Vanderpool)

Richard McMillin / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images Fall begins in September, - although it usually still feels like summer across much of Texas. Autumn foliage helps us get into the spirit of the season, and the trails at Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool are among the best our state has to offer. These eye-popping hues look more like what you’d see on the East Coast than here in the Lone Star State! Lost Maples State Natural Area, 37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885, USA

  1. October - El Paso Tin Mines Trail at Franklin Mountains State Park (El Paso)

AllTrails/Deshea Thomas What better way to celebrate spooky season than with a hike to an abandoned mine? The 6.6-mile El Paso Tin Mines Trail is eerie, scenic, and loaded with local history. You can even venture inside the mines - if you’re brave enough, that is. Franklin Mountains State Park, Tom Mays Park Access Rd, El Paso, TX 79930, USA

  1. November - Garner State Park (Concan)

Richard McMillin / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images Garner State Park is the most popular summer camping destination in Texas, but it’s equally worth visiting in the fall. The trees lining the Frio River erupt in a spectacular show of seasonal color, creating the most beautiful reflections on the water. There are lots of trails to choose from, so feel free to create your own unique adventure. Garner State Park, 234 RR 1050, Concan, TX 78838, USA

  1. The Window Trail (Big Bend National Park)

AllTrails/Matt Lockridge Our year of hiking comes to a close with The Window Trail, one of the most photographed spots in Texas. Metaphorically, this hike serves as a way for you to reflect on the highs and lows of the year - think of the “window” as a rear-view mirror. As one chapter ends and another begins, take what you need and leave what you don’t. If you’re into New Year’s Resolutions, a solid one would be to get out and explore more of Texas! Window Trail, Texas 79834, USA

How many of these trails have you explored? Which ones are still on your bucket list? Tell us in the comments! Looking for more of the best hikes in Texas? Here are seven that belong on your bucket list.

AllTrails/Bradley Elliott

Why not start the year on a high note (pun intended) by scaling the highest mountain in Texas? This 8.4-mile trail is extremely challenging, with an elevation gain of nearly 3,000 feet, but the sweeping panoramic vistas waiting for you at the top are well worth the effort. Learn more about this amazing hike in Texas.

Guadalupe Peak, Texas 79847, USA

AllTrails/Ash Elizondo

The Lighthouse Trail is the most popular hike in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and we’re tackling it in February - before the Texas heat has had a chance to take over and ruin the experience. The six-mile trail leads to this unique rock formation, which also happens to be its namesake. Can you see why?

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 State Hwy Park Rd 5, Canyon, TX 79015, USA

AllTrails/James Oliver

Spring is a time of whimsy. Nature stretches its limbs after a long winter’s rest, trading barren branches and monochromatic landscapes for lush greenery and colorful flowers. We’re kicking off the season at Riverplace Natural Trail near Austin, a 5.5-mile hike that’s like something out of a fairytale. Winding staircases, footbridges, and trees that form natural archways over the path imbue a sense of magic into every step you take.

River Place Nature Trail Canyon Trailhead, 4998 River Pl Blvd, Austin, TX 78730, USA

AllTrails/Mike Folks

Texas is known for its breathtaking wildflowers, and McAllister Park Blue Loop Trail offers one of the best displays in the state. The six-mile loop is bursting with vibrant springtime blooms, and you’ll feel like a kid again as you frolic through the fields.

McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247, USA

Mark A Paulda / Moment Collection / Getty Images

By the time May rolls around, West Texas is typically already feeling the heat. What better way to cool off than with a dip in the mighty Rio Grande? The iconic Santa Elena Canyon Trail leads straight to the water, so you can enjoy a refreshing soak before heading back the way you came. Plus, it’s easy and under 1.5 miles round-trip!

Santa Elena Canyon, Texas 79852, USA

AllTrails/Michael Spruiell

June is the official start of summer, which means the only hikes we’re interested in are those that involve swimming. The water in the Barton Creek Greenbelt is nice and cold, making this three-mile trail the perfect choice on a sweltering day.

Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail, Austin, TX 78746, USA

Flickr/Jason St Peter

Although you can’t swim in the pool that the 70-foot-tall Gorman Falls cascades down into, the spray from the rushing water is plenty invigorating. All that stands between you and this jaw-dropping natural wonder is a less than 1.5-mile hike each way! You’ll feel like you’re in a tropical rainforest instead of Texas!

Gorman Falls Trail, Texas 76853, USA

Flickr/Jonathan Cutrer

The hike to this iconic oasis is hardly a hike at all - it’s more of a leisurely stroll. From the parking area, it’s under one mile to the pool, and the trail is brimming with gorgeous Hill Country views. The best part? The hike ends with you immersing yourself in the gorgeous, blue-green water! Learn more about the outrageously beautiful Hamilton Pool in this article.

Hamilton Pool, Texas 78620, USA

Richard McMillin / iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection / Getty Images

Fall begins in September, - although it usually still feels like summer across much of Texas. Autumn foliage helps us get into the spirit of the season, and the trails at Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool are among the best our state has to offer. These eye-popping hues look more like what you’d see on the East Coast than here in the Lone Star State!

Lost Maples State Natural Area, 37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885, USA

AllTrails/Deshea Thomas

What better way to celebrate spooky season than with a hike to an abandoned mine? The 6.6-mile El Paso Tin Mines Trail is eerie, scenic, and loaded with local history. You can even venture inside the mines - if you’re brave enough, that is.

Franklin Mountains State Park, Tom Mays Park Access Rd, El Paso, TX 79930, USA

Garner State Park is the most popular summer camping destination in Texas, but it’s equally worth visiting in the fall. The trees lining the Frio River erupt in a spectacular show of seasonal color, creating the most beautiful reflections on the water. There are lots of trails to choose from, so feel free to create your own unique adventure.

Garner State Park, 234 RR 1050, Concan, TX 78838, USA

AllTrails/Matt Lockridge

Our year of hiking comes to a close with The Window Trail, one of the most photographed spots in Texas. Metaphorically, this hike serves as a way for you to reflect on the highs and lows of the year - think of the “window” as a rear-view mirror. As one chapter ends and another begins, take what you need and leave what you don’t. If you’re into New Year’s Resolutions, a solid one would be to get out and explore more of Texas!

Window Trail, Texas 79834, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Hikes in Texas December 20, 2022 Sarah M. What are some of the best short and sweet hikes in Texas? We all want to appreciate the beauty of Texas, but sometimes we’re not in the mood for an all-day, 20 mile, strenuous hiking route. Fortunately, there are plenty of places in our state with shorter trails that still award you the same experience you would get otherwise. Here are some of the best short and sweet hikes in Texas:

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail (Big Bend). There’s no denying that Big Bend has some of the best hikes in Texas, but not everyone has the time and stamina for a grueling, all-day trek through the mountains. Luckily, the Chihuahuan Desert Natural Trail is only half a mile long, and its views are no less breathtaking than those offered by the harder hikes. Brackenridge Park (San Antonio). Although not a typical hike in a remote area with rugged terrain, Brackenridge Park is still a great place to go for gorgeous scenery and a little exercise. Walking around the whole park is about two miles, but it isn’t difficult at all. You might even forget you’re being active at all when you get lost in the Japanese Gardens. Gorman Falls (Bend). This is the view you have to look forward to after an easy 1.5 mile hike at Colorado Bend State Park. Gorman Falls, a nearly 70-foot tall waterfall, looks like it belongs in a tropical paradise rather than Texas! McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (Salt Flat). Fall is the perfect time to take this hike in the Guadalupe Mountains - although it’s gorgeous in all four seasons! During autumn, the leaves change into beautiful reds and oranges, and you’ll have the energy to enjoy them because the trail is only 0.9 miles long. Plus, it’s at the base of the mountains, so you’ll get to admire their towering majesty in front of you. Maple Trail (Vanderpool). It just so happens that the most scenic trail at Lost Maples State Natural Area is the shortest as well. In just .8 miles, you’ll see views more spectacular than you knew existed. You certainly won’t feel like you’re in Texas anymore. Galveston Island State Park (Galveston). Galveston’s beaches might not be the prettiest, but its state park is actually gorgeous, not to mention peaceful. The trails are less than four miles altogether, but they take you far enough from the mainland to enjoy some solitude. Something about wandering down boardwalks over bodies of water is so serene.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Hikes in Texas

December 20, 2022

Sarah M.

What are some of the best short and sweet hikes in Texas? We all want to appreciate the beauty of Texas, but sometimes we’re not in the mood for an all-day, 20 mile, strenuous hiking route. Fortunately, there are plenty of places in our state with shorter trails that still award you the same experience you would get otherwise. Here are some of the best short and sweet hikes in Texas:

Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail (Big Bend). There’s no denying that Big Bend has some of the best hikes in Texas, but not everyone has the time and stamina for a grueling, all-day trek through the mountains. Luckily, the Chihuahuan Desert Natural Trail is only half a mile long, and its views are no less breathtaking than those offered by the harder hikes. Brackenridge Park (San Antonio). Although not a typical hike in a remote area with rugged terrain, Brackenridge Park is still a great place to go for gorgeous scenery and a little exercise. Walking around the whole park is about two miles, but it isn’t difficult at all. You might even forget you’re being active at all when you get lost in the Japanese Gardens. Gorman Falls (Bend). This is the view you have to look forward to after an easy 1.5 mile hike at Colorado Bend State Park. Gorman Falls, a nearly 70-foot tall waterfall, looks like it belongs in a tropical paradise rather than Texas! McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (Salt Flat). Fall is the perfect time to take this hike in the Guadalupe Mountains - although it’s gorgeous in all four seasons! During autumn, the leaves change into beautiful reds and oranges, and you’ll have the energy to enjoy them because the trail is only 0.9 miles long. Plus, it’s at the base of the mountains, so you’ll get to admire their towering majesty in front of you. Maple Trail (Vanderpool). It just so happens that the most scenic trail at Lost Maples State Natural Area is the shortest as well. In just .8 miles, you’ll see views more spectacular than you knew existed. You certainly won’t feel like you’re in Texas anymore. Galveston Island State Park (Galveston). Galveston’s beaches might not be the prettiest, but its state park is actually gorgeous, not to mention peaceful. The trails are less than four miles altogether, but they take you far enough from the mainland to enjoy some solitude. Something about wandering down boardwalks over bodies of water is so serene.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

We all want to appreciate the beauty of Texas, but sometimes we’re not in the mood for an all-day, 20 mile, strenuous hiking route. Fortunately, there are plenty of places in our state with shorter trails that still award you the same experience you would get otherwise. Here are some of the best short and sweet hikes in Texas:

  • Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail (Big Bend). There’s no denying that Big Bend has some of the best hikes in Texas, but not everyone has the time and stamina for a grueling, all-day trek through the mountains. Luckily, the Chihuahuan Desert Natural Trail is only half a mile long, and its views are no less breathtaking than those offered by the harder hikes.
  • Brackenridge Park (San Antonio). Although not a typical hike in a remote area with rugged terrain, Brackenridge Park is still a great place to go for gorgeous scenery and a little exercise. Walking around the whole park is about two miles, but it isn’t difficult at all. You might even forget you’re being active at all when you get lost in the Japanese Gardens.
  • Gorman Falls (Bend). This is the view you have to look forward to after an easy 1.5 mile hike at Colorado Bend State Park. Gorman Falls, a nearly 70-foot tall waterfall, looks like it belongs in a tropical paradise rather than Texas!
  • McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail (Salt Flat). Fall is the perfect time to take this hike in the Guadalupe Mountains - although it’s gorgeous in all four seasons! During autumn, the leaves change into beautiful reds and oranges, and you’ll have the energy to enjoy them because the trail is only 0.9 miles long. Plus, it’s at the base of the mountains, so you’ll get to admire their towering majesty in front of you.
  • Maple Trail (Vanderpool). It just so happens that the most scenic trail at Lost Maples State Natural Area is the shortest as well. In just .8 miles, you’ll see views more spectacular than you knew existed. You certainly won’t feel like you’re in Texas anymore.
  • Galveston Island State Park (Galveston). Galveston’s beaches might not be the prettiest, but its state park is actually gorgeous, not to mention peaceful. The trails are less than four miles altogether, but they take you far enough from the mainland to enjoy some solitude. Something about wandering down boardwalks over bodies of water is so serene.