9 Southwest Highways
10 Hiking Trails for September Strolls
Texas
Lost Mine Trail Big Bend National Park
Big Bend has plenty of good hiking trails, and my favorite is the Lost Mine.
It starts on the curvy Basin Road, and winds up into the Chisos Mountains offering picturesque views at every turn. When hiking the Lost Mine Trail, you get to see the area's unique flora, fauna, and landscape up close and personal. The trail ends at the top of a ridge, with amazing views of Pine Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico. 4.8 Miles Round Trip
Trailhead is on the Chisos Basin Road, 1.5 miles north of Chisos Basin VIllage.
5.5 hours from El Paso, 6.5 hours from San Antonio.
Lighthouse Trail Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon offers breathtaking vistas and amazing scenery, and is a dramatic change from the high plains that surround it. The Lighthouse trail leads to the park's most iconic landmark; the lighthouse rock formation.
The trail is multi-use, so you can hike, bike, or ride your horse. The trail is moderately strenuous, and take plenty of water. 5.5 miles round trip.
Palo Duro Canyon is 14 miles east of Canyon, TX on SH 217
40 minutes from Amarillo, 1.75 hours from Lubbock.
Sundew Trail Big Thicket National Preserve
Big Thicket National Preserve is made up of several units in southeast Texas.
The preserve has over 40 miles of trails, offering hikes through many different ecosysytems. The Sundew Trail is made up of a 1/4-mile inner loop, and a 1-mile outer loop. Both loops cross a small bog, where you can spot two species of carnivorous plants from the boardwalk; the Pitcher Plant and the Sundew. This is one of the best places to see birds in the preserve. The inner loop leads to a savannah filled with wildflowers in spring, and the outer loop leads you through longleaf pine forest.
Trailhead is located in the Hickory Creek Savannah Unit, 13.7 miles north of Kountze on US 287.
40 minutes from Beaumont, 1.75 hours from Houston.