TEXAS

Texas is by far the largest state in the Lower 48, with more than 100,000 square miles of land more than runner-up California. That difference is more than 42 states have land period. And almost all - 96% is privately owned. Most of the star Texas hiking is waiting out west in Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the legendary Big Bend National Park, neither of which your dog will see. There are some places of note for your dog in the Lone Star State - the Lighthouse Trail in Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons, Mount Old Baldy in Garner State Park, Madero Canyon, a few parks in Texas Hill Country (although your dog can only hike around Enchanted Rock, not climb 425 feet to the top anymore), Big Thicket Preserve - but when you are cherry-picking dog-hiking highlights in 668,000 square miles you are not in a good place. Call it a 3.5 - and that includes a bump for the 113 miles of sand for your dog to roam on Padre Island, America’s longest barrier island.

The Best Day Hike You Can Take With Your Dog In Texas

Lighthouse Trail
Palo Duro Canyon State Park • Canyon

The “Grand Canyon of Texas” is one of the largest in America, yawning for over 120 miles and reaching depths of 800 feet. This is particularly impressive since the gaping chasm is invisible as you drive east from the only access town of Canyon. Early Spanish Explorers are believed to have discovered the area and dubbed the canyon “Palo Duro” which is Spanish for “hard wood” in reference to the abundant mesquite and juniper trees. Palo Duro Canyon State Park opened on July 4, 1934 with over 26,000 acres in the scenic, northern most seven miles of the canyon.

With all that, the classic Palo Duro canine hike has nothing to do with the canyon. Instead, point Seaman towards the park’s signature rock formation, a multi-tiered, 300-foot high pier of Trujillo sandstone known as the Lighthouse. It will be three miles before reaching the base of the tower but Seaman will see it in the distance long before that, sticking out above the prairie grasses, cholla cactus, and mesquite bushes.

The Lighthouse Trail is a joy for Seaman to trot on - smooth, hard-packed dirt and usually wide enough to handle a pack of trail dogs. The route follows dry washes and troughs between small hills as you gain an easy 900 feet in elevation. There are overlooks fromthe Capitol Mesa and while red dominates the color palette there are bands of yellow, purple, and brown in the buttes as you close in on this designated National Natural Landmark.

HIKING TIME: 2-3 hours

(from the book 300 Day Hikes To Take With Your Dog Before He Tires You Out: Trails where you won’t be able to wipe the wag off your dog’s tail)