Veteran Mental Health Awareness Ruck Hike - Free Community Event

Join us for support, connection, and remembrance through rucking together as a community.

We'll have several self guided routes to choose from: a 0.8mile course (Lake Mina Loop), a 1 mile course (Co. 1805 trail), a 1.5 mile course (Ol' 9 Loop) or a guided 3.3 mile course of all three trails combined (see course details below). Participants can do as many laps as they want and can choose to hike weighted or unweighted. The 1.5 mile Ol' 9 Loop is an ADA trail, the Lake Mina loop is wheel friendly and Co. 1805 loop is wheel-friendly but does have two steep dips/hills and one long slow grade uphill and downhill sections along the trail. Community organizations that provide support for veterans, mental health and well being will be available with activities and information. This event is rain or shine. No pre-registration is required. 

When: Saturday, Sept. 26 at 9:30am. 

Where: Refectory and Tree Army Trails

Who is Invited: Everyone is invited! This is a free community event! All members of the public, all ages, and all abilities are welcome to join the ruck and educational community booths. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

What is a Ruck? First, rucking is welcome but not required to participate. To "ruck" is to walk or hike while wearing a weighted backpack. This originated as a military training exercise and has grown into a fitness trend to build endurance and strength. Memorial ruck events help connect veterans to their service days, builds camaraderie, community relationships and raises awareness for veteran suicide and mental health. "Rucking for veterans builds community, awareness and hope for those who have served." - Rucking for Veterans Inc. Nonprofit group

Fill Your Ruck Pack and support Pets For Patriots: If you are rucking, please provide your own weighted pack. If you'd like to weigh down your pack with with canned or bagged dog or cat food or treats, you can donate those items to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter by dropping the items off inside the Refectory at a designated table at the end of the event. 

Prepare: Dress for the heat and weather. Closed toe shoes are recommended. Bring at least one liter of water per person per mile that you plan to hike. 
We also encourage you to bring flags or wear memorabilia, if you'd like. 

Check-in: Please arrive before 9am and park at the Refectory/pool parking lot or the Interpretive Center parking lot. 

Courses: 

Option 1: Family friendly short hike. Majority of the trail is unshaded. The Lake Mina Loop is a 0.8 mile long paved trail that is flat, even and 6 feet wide. The loop trail leads you to the half acre pond Lake Mina. Enjoy watching wildlife at the lake like birds, fish and turtles while sitting on the historic CCC made red sandstone benches built in the 1930's. Then make your way back under some shade trees and watch for wildflowers, pollinators and birds. 

Option 2:  A little more adventurous. Co. 1805 Loop (named after one of our Civilian Conservation Corps companies that built the park in the 1930's) is a one mile paved trail loop that is 6 feet wide. This trail is the most shaded trail out of the three options. Enjoy hiking under tall pines, read educational interpretive signage along the trail side, listen and watch for birds like Pine Warblers, Pileated, Red Bellied and Red Headed Woodpeckers, and many more. This trail does have two sections of quick steep dips and one section of a steady slight incline and then decline. 

Option 3: ADA Trail Loop. The Ol' 9 Loop is a 1.5 mile paved trail that is 9 feet wide over flat/even terrain. This trail is mainly unshaded and takes you around the areas that used to be the original 9 hole golf course that was built by the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's but closed permanently in 2015. Find varying views of an area returning to native habitat through active restoration and resource management. Keep your eye out for many beautiful native wildflowers, grasses and the pollinators, birds and other wildlife that depend on this pine-oak- savanna ecosystem. 

Option 4: All three trails will make a 3.3 mile loop. First take The Ol' 9 Loop, then jump on the Co. 1805 loop, and lastly the Lake Mina Loop. 

Veterans & Active Duty Military: Check out our Parklands Passports, which provide you with free entry to all Texas State Parks. You can bring your documentation and register for your passport in Park HQ at any time.

If ADA assistance is required, please request modifications using this form, or email accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov at least one month in advance. We will have a GRIT chair available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.