Texas Area Backpacking

Sponsored by Troop 204, The Woodlands, TX.

In addition to our regular camping program, we like to go backpacking now and then. We have trouble finding information about backpacking trails in the Texas area on the web. (There are some good books). We would like this site to be your best on-line backpacking resource for the area.

From the links on the left, you can get to:
    Trails -- Descriptions of trails we know about
    Maps -- Topographical maps you can print and take with you. Some of these are annotated with GPS coordinates from someone who has walked the trail. These maps come from TopoZone.com and we annotate them with the GPS coordinates. Generally these maps are 1:25000 scale to they have the detail you need to find (not make) a suitable campsite.
    Leave No Trace -- Find out how to use the outdoors responsibly.
    Hints -- Helpful hints on what to take, and more importantly, what you can leave behind to lighten your pack. Seasonal Gear lists, Gear Reviews, etc.
    Recipes -- Backpacking recipes that fill your stomach, not your pack.

Backpacking Introduction

There are several areas around Houston that are tremendous for introduction to backpacking for Scout Troops. Listed here are some of the tried and true locations with specific comments to help plan for Troop outings. Since most of these areas are basically flat with only subtle (if any) rolling hills, the difficulty depends primarily on distance and available water supply. The list is broken down into two categories - Introduction and Intermediate. Introduction trips (Backpacking 101) are purely for exposure to the backpacking experience. They are designed to teach scouts how to protect food, how to pack, what to pack, tips and techniques on future gear purchases, and most importantly to learn if they like this kind of camping. You will find that many do not. The intermediate list of trips (Backpacking 201) include areas of greater distance and generally more demanding than backpacking the groomed trails of a State Park. These trips are perfect to fulfill the three – 15 mile, 2 night trips required for the Backpacking Merit Badge. Advanced trips options (backpacking 501) to fulfill the 5 day Backpacking Merit Badge requirement have intentionally not been included as they are far too numerous to mention.

Other Trails

If you have a trail you would like to share with others, please send a description of it to the webmaster. Tell us what the trail was like, how long it took to hike, what you saw along the way. We will try to include it on this web site. If you have a GPS trace or accurate Lat-Long or UTM coordinate waypoints, please include them too.