Austin: Enchanted Rock
This 6.4-mile loop circles the best scenery in Texas Hill Country: amazing pink rock formations, picturesque ponds, and a giant granite dome.
| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Texas featured hikes / reader trips
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Austin: Barton Creek Greenbelt SouthWaterfalls, swimming holes, and shady lunch spots highlight this 10.4-miler, just a short bus ride from downtown. Austin: Lost Pines Hiking TrailThis 7-mile circuit offers a Texas treasure: a chance to hike and camp under an isolated stand of loblolly pines where countless birds nest and sing. Bring a bird ID book. Big Bend National Park: Santa Elena CanyonPaddle the Rio Grande through massive gorges on this exciting overnight. This 22-mile trip is easily done in 2 days.
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Where Can I Find: Fall's Best Birdwatching?Looking to catch some migrating birds? Find out where to look. 
Top 3 Paddling TreksThese weekend float trips have side hikes that rival the paddling for scenery and solitude. |
How to See More BatsWhether you fear, respect, or applaud these complex creatures of the night, the tips below will help you find and observe them. Three Southwestern Hikes to Test Your SensesJoshua Tree, Zion, and the Guadalupe Mountains are three hike-worthy desert destinations. Paddling's Greatest Getaways16 wild ways to find backcountry solitude and big-time scenery. All this, and you can bring the ice chest, too. |
Photos + Videos
Sleeping Bag Water Test Pt. I:
In this gear test, Shannon Davis jumps in three sleeping bags and we hose them down to see how each one handles high-force rain.
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Sleeping Bag Water Test Part II:
Yeah, we know you probably won't ever get fully submerged in a raging river while in your sleeping bag, but that's not good enough for us.
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The Works: Hike Vermont's Long Trail
Sample the best section of the country's first thru-hike.
Secrets Of Saguaro National Park
The name doesn't say it all: Arizona's premier cactus preserve conceals a cool mountain escape.
Luxe Camping
Cozy shelter and trail-side restaurants from Washington to Maine.
Canyon Confidential: Utah's Grand Gulch
To discover the best-kept secrets in Utah's Grand Gulch, you need to start at the bottom.
Top 3 Fire Tower Hikes
Want a backcountry room with a view? Climb these lookouts from Vermont to Washington.
Texas
Courtesy of Earl Nottingham/Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
| Most Popular |
Dallas: Cross Timbers Trail Big Bend National Park: Mesa de Anguila Dallas: Dinosaur Valley |
Get Fit for Any Hike
No gyms, no weights–and, with our
easy-to-follow plan–no bonking on the trail.
Backpacker's Ultimate Fix-It Guide
Learn how to make your gear last forever with our guide to the 55 most
common repairs and maintenance musts.
Sleeping Bag Center
Our guide to sleeping bags fit for all occasions and sleep tips guaranteed
to give you a good night's rest. 
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