Hot. Very hot.
McKinney Roughs
[Hiking]
- 7/7/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 5.50 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
If you can stand the heat, it's still a great hike. I've previously done the northern trails so my party and I decided to do the lower section. As others have mentioned, the Visitor's Center and main gate are closed on Sundays, so you have to enter through the 71 Trailhead.
We started on Whitetail and double-backed on Pine Ridge at the pond spur. This area of Pine Ridge is very exposed, so bring plenty of water. Continuing, we went Cypress to Riverside and back to Whitetail.
Lower section of trail
Spicewood Springs Trail
[Hiking]
- 7/1/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 1.30 Miles
Duration: N/A
I hiked a section of this trail as the second half of a loop starting with the Spicewood Canyon Trail. It was an excellent little hike with great views as everyone has said. It was a little tricky finding the trail in some areas; especially when crossing back and forth across the creek. Didn't come across a single person when on the actual trail; only some when leaving, near the river.
Sunday hike
Commons Ford - Waterfall Trail
[Hiking]
- 6/23/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 2.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours
Started out on what I later found out was the waterfall trail, at the west most ; there was some water at the first waterfall (enough for the dog to play), the second one was completely dried out. My companions and I continued past the second waterfall, uphill, to a rocky trail which led us to the park boundary.
We found what resembled a trail that continued along the boundary fence, traversing along it, downhill then back uphill.
We eventually made our way back downhill and connected with the trail that headed south connecting to the first waterfall area.
Overall the hike was great, we passed one group within our two hours there.
Great hike
Balcones Canyonlands NWR - Doeskin Ranch
[Hiking]
- 1/6/2013
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Rating:
Difficulty:
Solitude:
Distance: 4.00 Miles
Duration: N/A
First time going to Balcones so we wanted to see as much as we could. Started out on Rimrock trail and connected with Shinoak and then Indiangrass trail making one huge loop around the Ranch. The scenery was pretty nice and open on Indiangrass. Rimrock was a nice hike up to a plateau by means of switchbacks.
Only downside was a large family of ~10 that came in right behind us at the start of the hike. But, we let them pass and waited a bit; didn't see them again! Except for them, we only saw a family of four pass us going the opposite direction an hour later.