Hiking Trails & Parks in Texas
36,500 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 288 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Texas. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Texas
Texas has 36,500 mapped hiking trails and 288 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 229 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 229 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Texas
A spatially-sampled view of 639 trail and park locations across Texas’s counties.
Texas Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 229 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Texas
Parks & Campgrounds in Texas
Longest Trails in Texas
Curated Guides for Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Texas?
Yes — we have 36,500 mapped hiking and walking trails in Texas, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Texas?
Capitol Peak Trail near Wayside is rated expert — the toughest classification among Texas's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Texas for families?
1-2 near Tesuque is one of the best family picks in Texas — easy difficulty, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Texas?
Each of the 36,500 trails in Texas has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Texas?
Texas has 288 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (56 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Texas?
Yes — 53 of Texas's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is ROCKY CREEK (SOMERVILLE LAKE) with 150 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Texas
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Texas, Ranked
Texas's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichTexas's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Texas trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Texas
Ten gentle, well-marked Texas trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Texas
Texas's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Texas
Federal parks and recreation areas in Texas ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Sergei AkulichBest Waterfall Hikes in Texas: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Texas's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.