Take a Hike
8 stunning hikes over 8 miles within 8 hours of Houston
Sep 14, 2017, 8:00 am
It's time to make some outdoor plans for the fall. While many of us will venture close to home, many will experience the outdoors within a day’s drive of Space City. Here are eight hikes over eight miles within eight hours of Houston. For local hikes, check out more articles from CultureMap.
Sam Houston National Forest
Time from Houston: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Just north of Houston, you will find a beginner hiker’s paradise. As you pass through the pines and waltz among the hardwoods, you’ll experience a true sense of tranquility. The 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail is the longest hiking trail in all of Texas, with several day-hiking loops along the way. Local wildlife includes white-tailed deer, feral hogs, bald eagles, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers.
Tips:
- Always plan your trip and carry enough water and food.
- November and December is hunting season, so get an orange vest for safety.
- For detailed maps, weather reports, and more information, go to Lone Star Hiking Trail Club.
Big Thicket National Preserve
Time from Houston: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Enjoy a stroll through the rolling landscape of the Big Thicket National Preserve, headquartered in Kountze, Texas. More specifically, enjoy the 15-17 mile Turkey Creek Trail, which boasts one of the largest natural collections of carnivorous Pitcher plants in the world.
Along with the Turkey Creek Trail, there are 40 miles worth of beautiful Southeastern Texas scenery. Again, you’ll see a mixture of native birds and other wildlife throughout this secluded trek.
Tips:
- Make sure you bring high DEET bug spray; the mosquitoes will eat you alive out here.
- If you plan on doing backcountry camping, obtain a permit before entering the preserve.
- For more information, check out the National Park Service’s website.
Ouachita National Forest
Time from Houston: 6 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Located outside of Mena, Arkansas, the Ouachita National Forest boasts a wide variety of terrain, difficult for even the most experienced hiker. The 26-mile Eagle Rock Loop changes from a gentle beaten down path along the Little Missouri River, to a taxing ascent and descent of +/- 4,500 feet along the west side of the trail. You will also face knee- to waist-deep river crossings, extremely rocky terrain, and parts of the trail that aren’t well marked. Again, this is not for the faint of heart.
Tips:
- Ticks are everywhere in Arkansas — make sure you bring bug repellent and tweezers and constantly check your body for those little suckers.
- This trail is best done in three days and two nights, but remember to bring a bear canister or properly hang your food, because there are several black bears in the mountainous region.
- Check the Little Missouri River water levels. In 2010, dozens of people died in a flash flood when the river rose 15 feet in under an hour. So again, take proper precaution.
Kisatchie National Forest
Time from Houston: 4 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Heading over to our sister state to the east, Louisiana is home to the Kisatchie National Forest. Just southwest of Alexandra, the Kisatchie National Forest has one of the longest trails in Louisiana, the Wild Azalea Trail, at over 20 miles. Best hiked in cooler temperatures in the winter, the wild azalea bloom in the spring is a sight to see. You will pass by creeks and hills and plenty of wildlife in this gentle, picturesque trail.
Tips:
- Despite being along a creek, the southern portions may go long distances without a water source, so plan accordingly.
- Make sure to camp at least 30 feet from the trail, preferably in a pre-established campsite.
- For more information, check out Pack & Paddle, as well as other hiking trails throughout Louisiana.
Colorado Bend State Park
Time from Houston: 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
About two hours northwest of Austin lies the hidden gem of Central Texas, Colorado Bend State Park. This park is everything an outdoor enthusiast asks for: rolling hills, rushing rivers, waterfalls, and caves. Besides hiking, other outdoor activities such as fishing, biking, and RVing are allowed. You name it, Colorado Bend State Park offers it. With 35 miles of trails total, there is plenty to see, but the main attraction is Gorman Falls. Towering over 70 feet high, Gorman Falls is one of the most beautiful in all of Texas.
Tips:
- The park charges an entrance fee, so look up rates before you leave.
- The trail can be very rocky and slippery sometimes. Make sure you have good ankle support.
- Bring a map. There are several trails that cross paths, so it is imperative that you go in the right direction.
- When the parking lots are full, the park closes its gates, so get there early and check the Facebook page for real-time information.
Davy Crockett National Forest
Time from Houston: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
West of Lufkin, the Davy Crockett National Forest provides hikers with the 20-mile long 4-C trail. Named for the Central Coal and Coke Company, the 4-C trail is made up of abandoned tramways built by the company. Keep an eye out for the towering oak trees along the trail.
Tips:
- Water sources are scarce along the trail, so try caching water at different points before you depart.
- The beaten path and low elevation change are perfect for hiking with your dog (but keep an eye out for snapping turtles and alligators in the pond).
- Walnut Shelter is about halfway along the trail and a great place to camp.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Time from Houston: 8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
In the heart of the Texas panhandle lies the second biggest canyon in the United States, Palu Duro Canyon. Step into this Georgia O’Keeffe painting and hike the 30-plus miles worth of trails the canyon provides. The most notable is the lighthouse trail, a 5.75-mile loop that ends in a famous obelisk, dubbed the lighthouse. Overall, the “Grand Canyon of Texas” is 120 miles long and is home to several plant and wildlife species including roadrunners, deer, and the occasional mountain lion.
Tips:
- Please pre-hydrate and plan on carrying plenty of water throughout the canyon.
- Flash floods may occur; watch the weather before departing H-town.
- You must pay the camping fee for overnight trips, and the park does not allow open fires due to the risk of wildfires.
Big Bend National Park
Time from Houston: 8 hours
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous
You may need to speed a little to get to Big Bend in eight hours, but it sure tops our list. Deep in the heart of Southwest Texas is the mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. It contains more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals. I would suggest for more extreme adventures to hop on the Outer Mountain Loop, which is a 30-mile circuit that covers much of the park's diverse topography. Take a day trip into the canyon as well, you surely will not be disappointed.
Tips:
- Again, cache water along the trail. Make sure you put your name and date when you will pick it up.
- Backcountry permits are required. You may obtain them at the ranger station before entering the park.
- Mexican black bears are present in the mountainous regions, so make sure to store or hang your food properly.
- Temperatures fluctuate drastically between day and night in the desert, so wear and pack appropriate clothing.
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If the Astros were going to win one series and lose the other on their six-game road trip out of the All-Star break, they got it right in taking two out of three games at Seattle then losing two out of three to lousy Oakland. Had they inverted those results, the Astros would not be alone atop the American League West starting this weekend’s series against the Dodgers at Minute Maid Park.
By the schedule the Astros’ sledding now gets tougher. The Dodgers are rolling toward their 11th National League West crown in 12 years, despite their pitching staff having been battered by injuries every bit as much as the Astros’. The Astros will face three rookie starters this weekend. National League Rookie of the Year candidate (non-Paul Skenes division) Gavin Stone goes Friday. Saturday it’s Justin Wrobleski making his fourth big league start, Sunday River Ryan makes his second. 325 million dollar addition Yoshinobu Yamamoto last pitched June 15. Tony Gonsolin is out for the year without throwing a pitch. Clayton Kershaw’s first pitch Thursday marks the first of his season. Tyler Glasnow’s Wednesday return from the Injured List means the Astros won’t face him this weekend.
Aside: Astros’ fan favorite Joe Kelly is back in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was activated from the IL out of the break, so the opportunity to welcome him back to Minute Maid Park looms!
After the Dodgers, the Pirates hit town with Skenes slated to pitch Monday opposite Jake Bloss. Gulp. Hey, in one game, you never know. Skenes has been the most electric rookie pitcher since Dwight Gooden with the Mets in 1984.
Sleepless in Seattle
The Mariners’ unraveling has reached historic proportions. It’s not easy losing six straight matchups with the lowly Angels but the Mariners were down to the challenge and pulled it off. The M’s have stumble-bummed their way to a 9-20 record over their last 29 games. That’s actually a better winning percentage than the Astros’ had after staggering from the starting gate to a 7-19 mark. Like the Astros did, the Mariners can right their ship, though if they don’t add quality offense before Tuesday’s trade deadline it seems unlikely. Seattle has scored more than two runs in one of its last eight games, the only win among those eight when the Mariners got to Ronel Blanco and Seth Martinez Sunday to avoid an Astros’ sweep. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers whipping up on the laughingstock Chicago White Sox this week has their World Series title defense very much alive and a threat to overtake both the Astros and Mariners.
The trade deadline is this Tuesday
Tick-tock toward Tuesday’s 5PM Central Time trade deadline. General Manager Dana Brown is on the clock. Let’s start with starting pitchers. Tarik Skubal! Garrett Crochet! Jack Flaherty! Any would be a fabulous addition. If Brown acquires one, he will have done phenomenal work cajoling the trade partner into thinking the Astros’ offer the best. Frankly it seems impossible. The Orioles are in the starting pitcher market. Their farm system runs laps around what the Astros have. Numerous other teams on the hunt for pitching have higher rated minor league talent. The Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys are having a fabulous season, but until the Astros Thursday moved up soon to be 24-year-old Jacob Melton (who was batting just .248 with a .307 on-base percentage at Double-A Corpus Christi) there was not one non-pitcher of any consequence younger than 25 on the roster. Pedro Leon, Shay Whitcomb, Will Wagner, and include Joey Loperfido: it would be shocking if any of them can be the best player in an offer good enough to land one of the potential big trade fish. All four of them wouldn’t be enough to land a Skubal or Crochet.
On the hitter side, if the Blue Jays shop Vlad Jr. and/or the Rays take offers for Paredes, of course Brown better try. Either would be a sharp upgrade over Jon Singleton, and Guerrero can’t become a free agent until after next season, with Paredes under team control through 2027. Reality check time. Seattle’s offense is in dire straits. The Mariners have four prospects rated higher than any Astros’ prospect. If the Mariners didn’t make a winning offer over what the Astros proposed, Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto would look like a timid clown.
That said, there will be several second and third tier starters and relievers moved who would boost the Astros. If Spencer Arrighetti and Jake Bloss are both still in the Astros’ starting rotation after the deadline, Dana Brown will have failed. That said, the Astros could well stand pat and win the Mild, Mild West. They could also finish third.
Go for the gold!
With the Olympics underway, a medal podium-style ranking of the Astros’ greatest trade deadline acquisitions:
No medal but cannot be omitted: Randy Johnson. It was a brief fling with “The Big Unit” in 1998 but it was spectacular. It elevated Houston as a baseball city. In 11 regular season starts Johnson went 10-1 with a 1.28 earned run average. He threw shutouts in his first four Astrodome starts. He spiked attendance like no other player in franchise history. Even though the San Diego Padres beat Johnson twice (Johnson pitched fine, the Astros scored two runs total in the two games) and bounced the Astros in a National League Division Series, and prospects Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen included in the deal both went on to have excellent careers, it was a trade that in hindsight you make 100 times out of 100.
Bronze: Jeff Bagwell. Reliever Larry Andersen was outstanding in helping the Boston Red Sox win the AL East in 1990, but the BoSox got swept in the ALCS and Andersen left as a free agent. Bagwell has the greatest offensive resume in Astros’ history (I know, I know, postseason aside) and is quite arguably one of the 10 greatest first basemen of all-time.
Silver: Yordan Alvarez. He has longevity to prove but to this point in his career, while not the all-around player Bagwell was, Yordan is clearly the more destructive force in the batter’s box. Throw in his three monstrously significant home runs in the 2022 Astros’ title run, and his awesome 2023 postseason, and what could still lie ahead for him and the Gold could be his if we revisit this topic 10 years from now. Imagine the Dodgers if they hadn’t gifted Yordan to the Astros for Josh Fields.
Gold: Justin Verlander. Astros’ World Series championships pre-JV, zero. With him, two. Even though his World Series resume is terrible. The finishing piece to the Astros’ initial championship winner in 2017 with a 1.06 ERA in five starts ahead of winning the 2017 ALCS MVP, a second crown in 2022, two Cy Young Awards and a Cy runner-up. Interesting decision to make for the cap on his Hall of Fame plaque. Much more body of work with the Tigers but the championships and legend cemented with the Astros.
*Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.