Lone Star Climbing Path Backpacking Information

June 13, 2025

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Seeking to escape the snow and revel in a backpacking journey with heat temperatures and inexperienced leaves? Then look no additional than the Texas Lone Star Climbing Path! Many thru-hikers might dismiss this path as flat and boring, however it makes an excellent getaway when the winter blues are at their worst. The mellow terrain makes this an excellent selection 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 massive journey.

A silty creek turns around a bank in a forest of green, leafy trees. Sunlight is shining down through the trees. — Large Creek Scenic Space is one in every of our favourite sections of the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Fast Information

Distance: 94.8 miles
Days Wanted: 5-7 days
Peak Elevation: 445 ft
Low Elevation: 191 ft in Winters Bayou
Elevation Acquire/Loss (Approximate): 6,282 ft
Greatest Time to Hike: January-April
Permits: None
Issue: Straightforward

A sign with a small tree painted on it reads "high point 445'" and is attached to a post in the woods. — LSHT excessive level. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Highlights

Usually inexperienced and snow-free a lot earlier within the 12 months than different components of the nation
Nicely-marked, easy-to-follow path
Flat terrain is simple on the physique and nice for newbie backpackers
Plenty of tree range
Large Creek Scenic Space is beautiful
Near Houston space for simple entry
Shorter size makes it doable in every week

Close up of a turtle with its head and legs pulled inside the shell sitting on the ground in some pine needles. — Despite the fact that the LHT is near the Houston metro space, there may be nonetheless some wildlife to be discovered. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Lowlights

Some hikers discover this path “boring” as a consequence of flat terrain and inexperienced tunnel surroundings
Humid year-round
San Jacinto Creek will be troublesome to cross at occasions
Plenty of street strolling for such a brief path

An orange and white sign with caution tape sits in front of the trail. A poster is taped to it and says "This section of the LSHT Trail closed today 3/19/2023 for prescribed burning". — Prescribed burns are widespread within the spring. Hikers ought to test with the forest service earlier than heading out to see if any burns are scheduled. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Greatest Time to Hike

It’s technically attainable 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 typically the perfect occasions to hike. Water is extra considerable and temperatures are extra nice from January to February.

Close up of some bright, purple flowers. — One of many advantages of mountaineering in spring is the considerable wildflowers alongside the path. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Issue of Path

Although there are some difficulties related to the LSHT being an in a single day journey, typically it’s thought-about 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 remember when planning to hike the Lone Star Climbing Path.

A wide, dirt trail runs straight away from the viewer through some trees and low plants. — Good, broad path tread on the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

HEAT & HUMIDITY

The LSHT will be fairly heat and humid many of the 12 months, which may current hazards for individuals who will not be accustomed to those circumstances. Even in March we discovered lots of the nights to be fairly heat for sleeping, and it solely will get worse because the 12 months goes on. Plan forward to remain cool, drink loads of water, and layer accordingly.

WATER

We didn’t have any points discovering water, however it is a widespread grievance amongst thru-hikers. Water might be extra available through the winter and spring months versus the dry season of late summer time and fall. Planning to hike throughout wetter months of the 12 months could make a huge impact on how a lot water you must carry. That is very true for individuals who are much less snug managing water on an extended backpacking journey.

A brown, calm creek is shown with sandy banks on either side of it. — The bridge at San Jacinto creek is out of fee. This generally is a troublesome crossing and will require a reroute after heavy rain. Discover the steep financial institution on the photographer’s facet. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

ROAD WALKS

There are a shocking variety of street walks given the shorter total size of this thru-hike. Roughly 12 miles of the path is on roads, although an excellent portion of that’s dust quite than pavement. The shut proximity to an city space and lack of path tradition imply that it will be troublesome to hitch round these sections. Unfastened canines roaming on their house owners’ property is one thing hikers who select to finish the street walks must also concentrate on.

A German Shepherd Dog wearing an orange backpack and a Border Terrier are sitting on the shoulder of a two lane road. The area to the left is open and grassy. There is a line of trees bordering the road to the right. — The LSHT passes below I-45 on one of many street walks. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

SHUTTLING

As a result of it is a point-to-point hike, it’s essential to rearrange a shuttle journey both initially or finish of this hike. We typically desire to e book a shuttle for the start of a visit to keep away from speeding to satisfy a deadline or sitting round ready for an appointment on the finish of a visit. There are people on the Lone Star Climbing Path Fb group who’re keen 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 dedication. When planning a thru-hike, we discovered the Lone Star Climbing Path Membership web site to be useful, notably the turn-by-turn PDF out there on the thru-hiker web page. We downloaded the information to our cellphone and used that together with a GPX file on GAIA GPS to navigate. The Lone Star Climbing Path Fb group can also be an excellent useful resource for planning or arranging a shuttle.

A red and white metal blaze with the number "96" is attached to a tree using nails. The tree has another blaze and some pink surveyor's tape around it and is surround by leafy, green trees. — Along with white blazes, there are mile markers alongside your complete path. Markers are numbered west to east. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

CAMPING

A lot of the 12 months, tenting is allowed anyplace on public land. Nonetheless, hikers hitting the path throughout searching season ought to be sure to camp in designated searching camps. Pitching a tent in different areas throughout this time of 12 months just isn’t solely prohibited, but additionally a security concern. Designated searching camps are listed on the Lone Star Climbing Membership web site. Looking season spans from late September to late January.

A close up picture of a small mushroom growing among some moss. — There are lots of small wonders on the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Which Method to Hike

Hikers actually have their selection 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 quite than the start. One other good thing about that path is that it feels extra like mountaineering downhill, although this distinction is negligible on such a flat path. Total, we advise selecting a path primarily based on which trailhead is nearer to the place you may be coming from.

A board walk runs through a mucky area surrounded by leafy trees. — A lot of the water crossings and marshy areas have bridges. Nonetheless, some areas can turn into moist after heavy rain. Winters Bayou (pictured) is a type of locations. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Getting There

Each the east and west path heads are positioned 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.

A woman holding a small Border Terrier and a German Shepherd dog are both sitting in front of a trailhead sign in the woods. — The japanese terminus of the Lone Star Climbing Path. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Methods to Resupply

It is vitally doable to hike the LSHT while not having to resupply, notably for extra skilled backpackers. For many who want to hike at a slower velocity, there are a handful of comfort shops, grocery shops, and motels 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 areas and lodging are greatest accessed utilizing a shuttle or Uber. The Lone Star Climbing Path Membership has an inventory of resupply areas on their web site on the thru-hike web page below the “assist” tab.

A brown sign says: "Little Lake Creek Wilderness. Sam Houston National Forest" — There are a number of wilderness and scenic areas on the LSHT. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Gear Record

Be sure to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing vital.

Under you’ll discover our present favourite backpacking gear. If you wish to see extra choices, our curated gear guides are the results of a few years of in depth analysis and hands-on testing by our group of out of doors specialists.

BACKPACK

A white blaze is nailed to a pine tree in a forest. — The LSHT is nicely marked with blazes. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Conclusion

The Lone Star Climbing Path is nice for individuals who want a fast reprieve from winter’s grasp. With its comparatively simple terrain and entry to a serious metropolis, this Texas path is one to take a look at in your subsequent stint of PTO.

And make sure you take a look at a few of our different standard content material:

Wide angle picture of some pine trees at dusk. — There’s a shocking quantity of range on the LSHT, together with with the bushes. – Picture Credit score: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)