Walking enthusiasts may have heard of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, two long paths in the US. Many states have their own state-wide trail, however, Texas doesn’t.
But that may be changing.
Currently, the longest trail in Texas is the Lone Star Hiking Trail, which clocks in at 96 miles. And Texas is a whole lot bigger than that, so a proposed 1,500-mile trail, called the xTexas Trail, or the xTx, would join the epic US trails.
By comparison, those renowned trails clock in at 2,190 miles for the Appalachian, and 2,653 for the Pacific Crest trails.
Recently, a group of volunteers camped in Kirbyville as day one of the “Sweaty Taste of the xTx: First 100 Miles” group ground-proofing project.
Fourteen volunteer hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians began from the start of the proposed trail at Quicksand Creek at the Sabine River near the Louisiana border on a group ground-proofing project. The majority of the group will travel 20-miles each day, gathering information for the xTexas Trail Project’s first 100 miles of trail conditions, water sources, camping locations, re-supply stops, and more.
Two members of the group will travel the full 1,500 miles of the route in March and April.
The full 1,500-mile xTexas Trail Project route has been conceived, mapped, and ground-proofed by project founder, Charlie Gandy, who is leading the group expedition. The group ground-proofing departure is the beginning of phase 2 of the project.
The new xTexas Trail Project would see the first cross-state trail in Texas begin on Quicksand Creek on the Sabine River in the east, and end in El Paso. Founded by fifth-generation Texan and active-living advocate Gandy, the xTx rambles through quiet public backcountry, paved and gravel roads, public trails, state and national parks, and will eventually cross private ranch land and farms once permission has been established. It will end in El Paso and includes the Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
While Gandy was hiking California’s Tahoe Rim Trail in June, 2024, he wondered why his home state of didn’t have its own cross-state, long-distance trail. He realized Texas is a perfect location for hiking in winter and early spring, when many other popular long-distance hiking trails in the U.S. are not viable. He decided to do something about it.
By August, the xTexas.org website was launched, and Gandy had begun ground-proofing a route that would share the wonders of Texas with other trail enthusiasts.
The xTexas Trail Project exceeded its launch fundraising goals and has garnered the interest of more than 200 volunteers thus far.
