LIVING TEXAS | STATEWIDE
Find Your Wild on the Lone Star Hiking Trail
Photo from Wild courtesy Fox Searchlight
By Leah Fisher Nyfeler
Enchanted by the sweeping vistas in Reese Witherspoon’s movie, Wild? Waiting impatiently for Robert Redford’s adaptation of the travel classic, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, in which author Bill Bryson recounts his adventures with bears, blisters, and candy bars? If so, it may be that you’ve developed an itch for thru-hiking. Did you know that you can scratch that long-distance trail itch right here in Texas? That’s right—the state’s longest continuous footpath, the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT), traverses a total of 128 miles (including loop trails), winding its way through Sam Houston National Forest just 50 miles outside of Houston, and covering three counties. Thru-hiking refers to a self-supported, continuous hike, from one
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trailhead to the other end. Neither Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, or Bryson were experienced hikers, nor did they actually cover the complete distance of their respective trails. Thru-hiking trails such as the PCT and AT are a huge, expensive, and time-consuming undertaking, so it makes sense to build skills and practice before attempting a thousand-mile journey. That’s where local resources come in handy. While the LSHT is handily accessed from most of the state, the true benefit lies in its most ardent fans, members of The Lone Star Hiking Trail Club (LSHTC). The LSHTC was formed specifically to “educate the public about location, use and needs of the hiking trails of Texas, with emphasis on the Lone Star Hiking Trail.” The club celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 6, 2015—National Trails Day. Members volunteer their time