Lone Star Mountaineering Path Backpacking Information

Seeking to escape the snow and luxuriate in a backpacking journey with heat temperatures and inexperienced leaves? Then look no additional than the Texas Lone Star Mountaineering Path! Many thru-hikers could dismiss this path as flat and boring, but it surely makes a terrific getaway when the winter blues are at their worst. The mellow terrain makes this a terrific alternative for newbie hikers seeking to get out for per week or for extra skilled thru-hikers seeking to dial in new gear earlier than their subsequent large journey.

A silty creek turns around a bank in a forest of green, leafy trees. Sunlight is shining down through the trees. — Huge Creek Scenic Space is one in every of our favourite sections of the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Fast Information

Distance: 94.8 miles
Days Wanted: 5-7 days
Peak Elevation: 445 ft
Low Elevation: 191 ft in Winters Bayou
Elevation Achieve/Loss (Approximate): 6,282 ft
Finest Time to Hike: January-April
Permits: None
Problem: Simple

A sign with a small tree painted on it reads "high point 445'" and is attached to a post in the woods. — LSHT excessive level. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Highlights

Typically inexperienced and snow-free a lot earlier within the yr than different elements of the nation
Effectively-marked, easy-to-follow path
Flat terrain is simple on the physique and nice for newbie backpackers
A lot of tree range
Huge Creek Scenic Space is attractive
Near Houston space for simple entry
Shorter size makes it doable in per week

Close up of a turtle with its head and legs pulled inside the shell sitting on the ground in some pine needles. — Although the LHT is near the Houston metro space, there’s nonetheless some wildlife to be discovered. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Lowlights

Some hikers discover this path “boring” because of flat terrain and inexperienced tunnel surroundings
Humid year-round
San Jacinto Creek could be tough to cross at instances
A lot of street strolling for such a brief path

An orange and white sign with caution tape sits in front of the trail. A poster is taped to it and says "This section of the LSHT Trail closed today 3/19/2023 for prescribed burning". — Prescribed burns are frequent within the spring. Hikers ought to test with the forest service earlier than heading out to see if any burns are scheduled. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Finest Time to Hike

It’s technically potential to hike the LSHT year-round as a result of mellow terrain and lack of snow within the winter. Nevertheless, summers could be brutally scorching, and the falls are fairly dry. As such, winter and early spring are typically the perfect instances to hike. Water is extra considerable and temperatures are extra nice from January to February.

Close up of some bright, purple flowers. — One of many advantages of mountain climbing in spring is the considerable wildflowers alongside the path. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Problem of Path

Although there are some difficulties related to the LSHT being an in a single day journey, typically it’s thought-about simple compared to different backpacking journeys of comparable size as a result of comparatively flat terrain and well-marked path. In fact, there are at all times concerns when planning any backpacking journey. Beneath are some issues to remember when planning to hike the Lone Star Mountaineering Path.

A wide, dirt trail runs straight away from the viewer through some trees and low plants. — Good, broad path tread on the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

HEAT & HUMIDITY

The LSHT could be fairly heat and humid a lot of the yr, which may current hazards for individuals who are usually not accustomed to those situations. Even in March we discovered most of the nights to be fairly heat for sleeping, and it solely will get worse because the yr goes on. Plan forward to remain cool, drink loads of water, and layer accordingly.

WATER

We didn’t have any points discovering water, however this can be a frequent criticism amongst thru-hikers. Water can be extra available through the winter and spring months versus the dry season of late summer season and fall. Planning to hike throughout wetter months of the yr could make a huge impact on how a lot water you might want to carry. That is very true for individuals who are much less comfy managing water on an extended backpacking journey.

A brown, calm creek is shown with sandy banks on either side of it. — The bridge at San Jacinto creek is out of fee. This could be a tough crossing and will require a reroute after heavy rain. Discover the steep financial institution on the photographer’s aspect. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

ROAD WALKS

There are a stunning variety of street walks given the shorter total size of this thru-hike. Roughly 12 miles of the path is on roads, although a great portion of that’s grime slightly than pavement. The shut proximity to an city space and lack of path tradition imply that it will be tough to hitch round these sections. Unfastened canine roaming on their homeowners’ property is one thing hikers who select to finish the street walks must also pay attention to.

A German Shepherd Dog wearing an orange backpack and a Border Terrier are sitting on the shoulder of a two lane road. The area to the left is open and grassy. There is a line of trees bordering the road to the right. — The LSHT passes underneath I-45 on one of many street walks. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

SHUTTLING

As a result of this can be a point-to-point hike, it’s crucial to rearrange a shuttle experience both at the start or finish of this hike. We typically choose to e-book a shuttle for the start of a visit to keep away from speeding to satisfy a deadline or sitting round ready for an appointment on the finish of a visit. There are people on the Lone Star Mountaineering Path Fb group who’re prepared to assist out thru-hikers.

Planning Your Itinerary

Assets for this hike are a bit extra restricted in comparison with longer, better-known trails. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless simply doable, even for a newbie, with some dedication. When planning a thru-hike, we discovered the Lone Star Mountaineering Path Membership web site to be useful, significantly the turn-by-turn PDF out there on the thru-hiker web page. We downloaded the information to our telephone and used that together with a GPX file on GAIA GPS to navigate. The Lone Star Mountaineering Path Fb group can also be a terrific useful resource for planning or arranging a shuttle.

A red and white metal blaze with the number "96" is attached to a tree using nails. The tree has another blaze and some pink surveyor's tape around it and is surround by leafy, green trees. — Along with white blazes, there are mile markers alongside the whole path. Markers are numbered west to east. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

CAMPING

Many of the yr, tenting is allowed anyplace on public land. Nevertheless, hikers hitting the path throughout looking season ought to be certain that to camp in designated looking camps. Pitching a tent in different areas throughout this time of yr isn’t solely prohibited, but additionally a security concern. Designated looking camps are listed on the Lone Star Mountaineering Membership web site. Searching season spans from late September to late January.

A close up picture of a small mushroom growing among some moss. — There are numerous small wonders on the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Which Option to Hike

Hikers actually have their alternative on whether or not to hike this path eastbound or westbound. Some thru-hikers report preferring to hike eastbound to take care of the Winters Bayou mud on the finish of their thru-hike slightly than the start. One other advantage of that route is that it feels extra like mountain climbing downhill, although this distinction is negligible on such a flat path. Total, we recommend selecting a route based mostly on which trailhead is nearer to the place you can be coming from.

A board walk runs through a mucky area surrounded by leafy trees. — Many of the water crossings and marshy areas have bridges. Nevertheless, some areas can turn out to be moist after heavy rain. Winters Bayou (pictured) is a type of locations. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Getting There

Each the east and west path heads are positioned about an hour from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The whole lot of the LSHT is north of Houston and the drive between LSHT Trailhead #1 and #9 is barely about 40 minutes on farm roads. Each ends of the path have decent-sized parking heaps, and hikers can go away automobiles parked for as much as two weeks at their very own danger. We discovered them to be simple to entry utilizing GPS navigation when driving in from out of city.

A woman holding a small Border Terrier and a German Shepherd dog are both sitting in front of a trailhead sign in the woods. — The jap terminus of the Lone Star Mountaineering Path. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Tips on how to Resupply

It is extremely doable to hike the LSHT without having to resupply, significantly for extra skilled backpackers. For individuals who want to hike at a slower pace, there are a handful of comfort shops, grocery shops, and motels that may be accessed from the path. Comfort shops could be reached with lower than 2 miles of strolling, a technique, from trailheads #7, #11, and #14. Different resupply areas and lodging are greatest accessed utilizing a shuttle or Uber. The Lone Star Mountaineering Path Membership has an inventory of resupply areas on their web site on the thru-hike web page underneath the “assist” tab.

A brown sign says: "Little Lake Creek Wilderness. Sam Houston National Forest" — There are a number of wilderness and scenic areas on the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Gear Listing

Be certain that to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing vital.

Beneath you’ll discover our present favourite backpacking gear. If you wish to see further choices, our curated gear guides are the results of a few years of in depth analysis and hands-on testing by our crew of out of doors specialists.

BACKPACK

A white blaze is nailed to a pine tree in a forest. — The LSHT is nicely marked with blazes. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Conclusion

The Lone Star Mountaineering Path is nice for individuals who want a fast reprieve from winter’s grasp. With its comparatively simple terrain and entry to a serious metropolis, this Texas path is one to take a look at in your subsequent stint of PTO.

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