Trying 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 Mountain climbing Path! Many thru-hikers could dismiss this path as flat and boring, but it surely makes a fantastic getaway when the winter blues are at their worst. The mellow terrain makes this a fantastic alternative for newbie hikers trying to get out for every week or for extra skilled thru-hikers trying to dial in new gear earlier than their subsequent huge journey.
Fast Details
- 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
- Greatest Time to Hike: January-April
- Permits: None
- Issue: Straightforward
Highlights
- Usually inexperienced and snow-free a lot earlier within the yr than different components of the nation
- Properly-marked, easy-to-follow path
- Flat terrain is simple on the physique and nice for newbie backpackers
- A number of tree variety
- Huge Creek Scenic Space is beautiful
- Near Houston space for straightforward entry
- Shorter size makes it doable in every week
Lowlights
- Some hikers discover this path “boring” attributable to flat terrain and inexperienced tunnel surroundings
- Humid year-round
- San Jacinto Creek will be tough to cross at occasions
- A number of highway strolling for such a brief path
Greatest 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. Nonetheless, summers will be brutally scorching, and the falls are fairly dry. As such, winter and early spring are usually the very best occasions to hike. Water is extra ample and temperatures are extra nice from January to February.
Issue of Path
Although there are some difficulties related to the LSHT being an in a single day journey, usually it’s thought of 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. Under are some issues to bear in mind when planning to hike the Lone Star Mountain climbing Path.
HEAT & HUMIDITY
The LSHT will be fairly heat and humid a lot of the yr, which might current hazards for many who usually are 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 widespread criticism amongst thru-hikers. Water will probably be extra available in the course of 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 big effect on how a lot water you’ll want to carry. That is very true for many who are much less snug managing water on an extended backpacking journey.
ROAD WALKS
There are a shocking variety of highway walks given the shorter total size of this thru-hike. Roughly 12 miles of the path is on roads, although a superb portion of that’s grime reasonably than pavement. The shut proximity to an city space and lack of path tradition imply that it could be tough to hitch round these sections. Free canines roaming on their house owners’ property is one thing hikers who select to finish the highway walks must also pay attention to.
SHUTTLING
As a result of this can be a point-to-point hike, it’s mandatory to rearrange a shuttle journey both originally or finish of this hike. We usually choose to guide a shuttle for the start of a visit to keep away from dashing to satisfy a deadline or sitting round ready for an appointment on the finish of a visit. There are people on the Lone Star Mountain climbing 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. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless simply doable, even for a newbie, with some willpower. When planning a thru-hike, we discovered the Lone Star Mountain climbing Path Membership web site to be useful, notably the turn-by-turn PDF accessible 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 Mountain climbing Path Fb group can be a fantastic useful resource for planning or arranging a shuttle.
CAMPING
A lot of the yr, tenting is allowed anyplace on public land. Nonetheless, hikers hitting the path throughout looking season ought to be sure that to camp in designated looking camps. Pitching a tent in different areas throughout this time of yr just isn’t solely prohibited, but additionally a security concern. Designated looking camps are listed on the Lone Star Mountain climbing Membership web site. Searching season spans from late September to late January.
Which Approach 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 reasonably than the start. One other advantage of that course is that it feels extra like mountain climbing downhill, although this distinction is negligible on such a flat path. General, we recommend selecting a course based mostly on which trailhead is nearer to the place you may be coming from.
Getting There
Each the east and west path heads are situated 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 simply 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.
Find out how to Resupply
It is extremely doable to hike the LSHT while not having to resupply, notably for extra skilled backpackers. For individuals who want to hike at a slower pace, there are a handful of comfort shops, grocery shops, and resorts that may be accessed from the path. Comfort shops will be reached with lower than 2 miles of strolling, a technique, from trailheads #7, #11, and #14. Different resupply places and lodging are finest accessed utilizing a shuttle or Uber. The Lone Star Mountain climbing Path Membership has a listing of resupply places on their web site on the thru-hike web page below the “assist” tab.
Gear Record
Be certain to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing necessary.
Under 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 intensive analysis and hands-on testing by our crew of out of doors consultants.
BACKPACK
Conclusion
The Lone Star Mountain climbing Path is nice for many who want a fast reprieve from winter’s grasp. With its comparatively simple terrain and entry to a significant metropolis, this Texas path is one to take a look at in your subsequent stint of PTO.
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