Trails Information
A Forest Full of History
From hiking through an upland pine forest to hardwood bottomlands to exploring a rich cultural history or staying the night, Mission Tejas offers something for everyone. Adventure, discovery and relaxation await.
Trails
All trails are hiking and biking unless otherwise indicated.
This list may not include all trails in the park.
| Trail | Distance | Time | Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Lovett Trail | 0.5 mi. | 30 min. | Moderate | A moderate journey that takes you to many of the park’s historic features. |
| Steep Ravine Trail | 2.4 mi. | 90 min. | Challenging | Taking this challenging hike will allow you to build fitness and explore the wilds of the park. |
| Hardwood Trail | 0.5 mi. | 30 min. | Moderate | A moderate hike in some of the lower lying and ecologically diverse areas of the park. |
| Olen Matchett Trail | 0.5 mi. | 45 min. | Challenging | A short but steep and challenging trek through forest highlands. |
| CCC Bathtub Trail | 0.1 mi. | 10 min. | Easy | A quick trip to visit this mysterious rock feature. |
| Tejas Timber Trail | 0.5 mi. | 20 min. | Easy | This easy walk takes you around the pond and past several outdoor exhibits. |
| Nabedache Loop | 1.1 mi. | 45 min. | Moderate | This moderately easy and invigorating walk in the woods takes you past the remnants of the El Camino Real. |
| Chimney Loop | 0.9 mi. | 45 min. | Challenging | This challenging hike takes you up hills and under a great canopy of pines. |
| Big Pine Trail | 0.6 mi. | 45 min. | Challenging | A challenging trip that connects you to many other trails within the heart of the pine forest. |
| Weches Run | 0.4 mi. | 20 min. | Moderate | This moderate, relatively short trail takes you from pineywoods uplands to the bottomland hardwoods of San Pedro Creek. |
| Lightning Trail | 0.2 mi. | 15 min. | Easy | Wind through the pines on this easy trail and see one of the oldest pines in the park. |
| San Pedro Spur | 0.2 mi. | 10 min. | Easy | This easy walk connects you to the Nabedache Loop and the remnants of El Camino Real de los Tejas. |
| Primitive Loop | 0.8 mi. | 35 min. | Easy | An easy trek through a developing pine savannah with connections to the Hardwood Trail and the Steep Ravine Trail. |
Points of Interest
GPS coordinates shown in decimal degrees.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | 360° Views | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commemorative Mission | 31.5482° | -95.2398° | View outside of the Commemorative Mission View inside the Commemorative Mission |
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934, this building commemorates the original 1690s Spanish mission from which the park takes its name. |
| Rice Family Log Home | 31.5428° | -95.2329° | View outside of the Rice Family Log Home View inside the Rice Family Log Home |
Constructed by Joseph Rice beginning in 1828, this family home received several additions later in the 19th century. It was donated and moved to the park from its original location in 1973. |
| CCC Bathtubs | 31.5447° | -95.2311° | View of the CCC Bathtubs | This mysterious feature has long been called the CCC bathtubs, but we don't know who really built it or why. The CCC camp was a fully equipped barracks a mile away, so it wasn't needed for bathing. Perhaps the CCC or someone else built it as decoration. |
| El Camino Real | 31.5519° | -95.2395° | View of El Camino Real | Beginning in the 1690s, Spain built a great road system extending from Mexico all the way to Louisiana. Remnants of this Royal Road can be seen in the park today. |
| Fire Tower Hill | 31.5442° | -95.2345° | View of Fire Tower Hill | During the 1930s, a fire watch tower occupied this location. Early warning observers used it to spot fires before they got out of control and did severe damage to the forest. |
| Sentry Pine | 31.5475° | -95.2340° | View of the Sentry Pine | One of the tallest and oldest trees in the park, the Sentry Pine bears silent witness to over a century of change. If only it could speak. |
Staying Safe
- Know your limits. Prepare for sun and heat. Wear sunscreen, insect repellent and appropriate clothing/hiking shoes.
- Drink plenty of water. Your body quickly loses fluids when you’re on the trail. Bring a quart (32 oz.) of water per hour of activity. Bringing your furry friend? Don’t forget water for them, too!
- Tell others where you’ll be. If possible, avoid exploring alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Wear a helmet when biking. Always ride to your skill level. Wear a helmet to protect yourself in case of a crash.
- You may not be able to connect. It’s a good idea to take along a cell phone and GPS unit, but don’t count on them.
- Potentially harmful plants and animals live here. You’ll see them more easily if you stay on trails.
Trail Etiquette
- Trash your trash. Keep the park natural. Pack out all of your trash and Leave No Trace.
- Leave feeding to nature. Feeding wild animals will make them sick and more likely to harm people.
- Don’t Pocket the Past. Help preserve Texas heritage. Leave artifacts where you find them and report their location to a ranger.
- Take only memories and pictures. Help preserve nature. Leave all plants and animals in the park.
- Keep pets on leashes for their safety, and to protect wildlife.
- Use only your muscles. To protect park resources, no motor vehicles are allowed on the trails.
