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Lone Star Hiking Trail Backpacking Guide

Published: June 11, 2025
By Bailey Bremner

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The trail runs through a leafy, green forest. The ground is covered in green plants and it is a sunny day.

Looking to escape the snow and enjoy a backpacking trip with warm temperatures and green leaves? Then look no further than the Texas Lone Star Hiking Trail! Many thru-hikers may dismiss this trail as flat and boring, but it makes a great getaway when the winter blues are at their worst. The mellow terrain makes this a great choice for beginner hikers looking to get out for a week or for more experienced thru-hikers looking to dial in new gear before their next big adventure. 

A silty creek turns around a bank in a forest of green, leafy trees. Sunlight is shining down through the trees.
Big Creek Scenic Area is one of our favorite sections of the LSHT. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Quick Facts

  • Distance: 94.8 miles
  • Days Needed: 5-7 days
  • Peak Elevation: 445 feet
  • Low Elevation: 191 feet in Winters Bayou
  • Elevation Gain/Loss (Approximate): 6,282 feet
  • Best Time to Hike: January-April
  • Permits: None
  • Difficulty: Easy
A sign with a small tree painted on it reads "high point 445'" and is attached to a post in the woods.
LSHT high point. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Highlights

  • Generally green and snow-free much earlier in the year than other parts of the country
  • Well-marked, easy-to-follow trail
  • Flat terrain is easy on the body and great for beginner backpackers
  • Lots of tree diversity
  • Big Creek Scenic Area is gorgeous
  • Close to Houston area for easy access
  • Shorter length makes it doable in a week
Close up of a turtle with its head and legs pulled inside the shell sitting on the ground in some pine needles.
Even though the LHT is close to the Houston metro area, there is still some wildlife to be found. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Lowlights

  • Some hikers find this trail “boring” due to flat terrain and green tunnel scenery
  • Humid year-round
  • San Jacinto Creek can be difficult to cross at times
  • Lots of road walking for such a short trail
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 common in the spring. Hikers should check with the forest service before heading out to see if any burns are scheduled. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Best Time to Hike

It is technically possible to hike the LSHT year-round due to the mellow terrain and lack of snow in the winter. However, summers can be brutally hot, and the falls are quite dry. As such, winter and early spring are generally the best times to hike. Water is more abundant and temperatures are more pleasant from January to February. 

Close up of some bright, purple flowers.
One of the benefits of hiking in spring is the abundant wildflowers along the trail. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Difficulty of Trail

Though there are some difficulties associated with the LSHT being an overnight trip, generally it is considered easy in comparison to other backpacking trips of similar length due to the relatively flat terrain and well-marked trail. Of course, there are always considerations when planning any backpacking trip. Below are some things to keep in mind when planning to hike the Lone Star Hiking Trail.

A wide, dirt trail runs straight away from the viewer through some trees and low plants.
Nice, wide trail tread on the LSHT. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

HEAT & HUMIDITY

The LSHT can be quite warm and humid most of the year, which can present hazards for those who are not accustomed to these conditions. Even in March we found many of the nights to be quite warm for sleeping, and it only gets worse as the year goes on. Plan ahead to stay cool, drink plenty of water, and layer accordingly.

WATER

We did not have any issues finding water, but this is a common complaint among thru-hikers. Water will be more readily available during the winter and spring months as opposed to the dry season of late summer and fall. Planning to hike during wetter months of the year can make a big impact on how much water you need to carry. This is especially true for those who are less comfortable managing water on a longer backpacking trip. 

A brown, calm creek is shown with sandy banks on either side of it.
The bridge at San Jacinto creek is out of commission. This can be a difficult crossing and may require a reroute after heavy rain. Notice the steep bank on the photographer’s side. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

ROAD WALKS

There are a surprising number of road walks given the shorter overall length of this thru-hike. Approximately 12 miles of the trail is on roads, though a good portion of that is dirt rather than pavement. The close proximity to an urban area and lack of trail culture mean that it would be difficult to hitch around these sections. Loose dogs roaming on their owners’ property is something hikers who choose to complete the road walks should also be aware of. 

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 under I-45 on one of the road walks. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

SHUTTLING

Because this is a point-to-point hike, it is necessary to arrange a shuttle ride either at the beginning or end of this hike. We generally prefer to book a shuttle for the beginning of a trip to avoid rushing to meet a deadline or sitting around waiting for an appointment at the end of a trip. There are individuals on the Lone Star Hiking Trail Facebook group who are willing to help out thru-hikers. 

Planning Your Itinerary

Resources for this hike are a bit more limited compared to longer, better-known trails. However, it is still easily doable, even for a beginner, with some determination. When planning a thru-hike, we found the Lone Star Hiking Trail Club website to be helpful, particularly the turn-by-turn PDF available on the thru-hiker page. We downloaded the guide to our phone and used that along with a GPX file on GAIA GPS to navigate. The Lone Star Hiking Trail Facebook group is also a great 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.
In addition to white blazes, there are mile markers along the entire trail. Markers are numbered west to east. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

MAPS & RESOURCES

CAMPING

Most of the year, camping is allowed anywhere on public land. However, hikers hitting the trail during hunting season should make sure to camp in designated hunting camps. Pitching a tent in other areas during this time of year is not only prohibited, but also a safety concern. Designated hunting camps are listed on the Lone Star Hiking Club website. Hunting season spans from late September to late January.

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

Which Way to Hike

Hikers really have their choice on whether to hike this trail eastbound or westbound. Some thru-hikers report preferring to hike eastbound to deal with the Winters Bayou mud at the end of their thru-hike rather than the beginning. Another benefit of that direction is that it feels more like hiking downhill, though this difference is negligible on such a flat trail. Overall, we suggest choosing a direction based on which trailhead is closer to where you will be coming from.

A board walk runs through a mucky area surrounded by leafy trees.
Most of the water crossings and marshy areas have bridges. However, some areas can become wet after heavy rain. Winters Bayou (pictured) is one of those places. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

Getting There

Both the east and west trail heads are located about an hour from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The entirety of the LSHT is north of Houston and the drive between LSHT Trailhead #1 and #9 is only about 40 minutes on farm roads. Both ends of the trail have decent-sized parking lots, and hikers can leave vehicles parked for up to two weeks at their own risk. We found them to be easy to access using GPS navigation when driving in from out of town.

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 eastern terminus of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

How to Resupply

It is very doable to hike the LSHT without needing to resupply, particularly for more experienced backpackers. For those who wish to hike at a slower speed, there are a handful of convenience stores, grocery stores, and hotels that can be accessed from the trail. Convenience stores can be reached with less than 2 miles of walking, one way, from trailheads #7, #11, and #14. Other resupply locations and accommodations are best accessed using a shuttle or Uber. The Lone Star Hiking Trail Club has a list of resupply locations on their website on the thru-hike page under the “support” tab.

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

Gear List

Make sure to check out our Ultimate Backpacking Checklist so you don’t forget something important.

Below you’ll find our current favorite backpacking gear. If you want to see additional options, our curated gear guides are the result of many years of extensive research and hands-on testing by our team of outdoor experts.

BACKPACK

TENT

SLEEPING BAG/QUILT

SLEEPING PAD

CAMP KITCHEN

WATER & FILTRATION

CLOTHING

FOOTWEAR & TRACTION

NAVIGATION

FOOD

FIRST-AID & TOOLS

MISCELLANEOUS

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

Conclusion

The Lone Star Hiking Trail is great for those who need a quick reprieve from winter’s grasp. With its relatively easy terrain and access to a major city, this Texas trail is one to check out on your next stint of PTO.

And be sure to check out some of our other popular content:

Wide angle picture of some pine trees at dusk.
There is a surprising amount of diversity on the LSHT, including with the trees. – Photo Credit: Bailey Bremner (CleverHiker.com)

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