Easy - Moderate trails in Texas region

[ThePullOutside]

Hey guys,

Pretty new here, and still starting to get involved with the community.

Just wondering if anyone knows of any easy to moderate trails to run in the Texas area? I have a 2019 Toyota highlander thats completely stock, so its not super capable-although it does have about 8 inches of ground clearance and pretty good articulation .

So basically, im wondering if anyone has any lines on any trails / routes / trips that I can travel with my family and our semi useful truck.

Looking forward to getting out there and starting to take this offroad.

Thanks guys!

 

[Sparksalot]

Several of us ran a few variations of the hill country loop last winter and spring. The flowers were gorgeous in March.

we also scouted some other possible weekend trips in the hill country for the fall after the sun quits trying to kill us.

you can read more about it here. I think theres a link to the gps files at the end of the article.

Overland Routes | The Texas Hill Country - Expedition Portal

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2017. Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord, but trespassing on this property is faster. Folks in Texas are known for many things, but taking kindly to trespassers ain’t one of ’em. Don’t get me wrong, most would...

expeditionportal.com

 

[Sparksalot]

The James River has the biggest water crossing. This pic is from last winter.

 

[ThePullOutside]

I saw that, and it looked like a great trip. I just wasn't sure if I'd be able to make the whole thing with my truck.

 

[Sparksalot]

I saw that, and it looked like a great trip. I just wasn't sure if I'd be able to make the whole thing with my truck.

I drive a Police Tahoe. Lowered 2 inches from standard models, and 2wd. It’s no problem.

 

[ThePullOutside]

Awesome! Should be able to do it with the family truckster then!

Now I just need to figure out a time for the family and I to get out there.

 

[Sparksalot]

Don’t go after significant rain fall the stream crossings are subject to flash flooding. A few days after some decent rain, and many of the roads will be a bit muddy And the dust is still down.

 

[RickR]

This looks interesting, I may have to do this soon.

 

[domingitty]

This looks interesting, I may have to do this soon.

Just got back from this one. You will NOT be disappointed. It would have been better if I didn't have COVID currently. I would've loved to have grabbed lunch in Fredericksburg. Was certainly better than staying home though. And don't worry guys, only time I got near people was filling up on gas, but I was wearing my mask and I wiped down the handle after. After that, it was just me and the road. (And a buddy, but he was in a different car and was pretty far away from me when we weren't)

 

[Downs]

Awesome! Should be able to do it with the family truckster then!

Now I just need to figure out a time for the family and I to get out there.

You're probably overbuilt for the vast majority of Texas. Unless you are in an OHV park pretty much all of Texas is accessible (the public parts anyway which there aren't many) via a stock vehicle.

Several of us ran a few variations of the hill country loop last winter and spring. The flowers were gorgeous in March.

we also scouted some other possible weekend trips in the hill country for the fall after the sun quits trying to kill us.

you can read more about it here. I think theres a link to the gps files at the end of the article.

Overland Routes | The Texas Hill Country - Expedition Portal

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Winter 2017. Prayer is the best way to meet the Lord, but trespassing on this property is faster. Folks in Texas are known for many things, but taking kindly to trespassers ain’t one of ’em. Don’t get me wrong, most would...

expeditionportal.com

The Hill County area is starting to get a little crazy as far as popularity for "overlanding" type stuff. There was recently a 75 vehicle deep group out there that was part of some RAM Club.

The reality is you are in Texas. Only 4.6 percent of the state is public lands and a very small percentage of that is accessible to motorized vehicles. Outside of OHV areas there isn't really a lot of "Off roading" and pretty much all of the Overland style routes such as TEAT and what not consist of normal public, paved, and graded gravel and dirt roads. If you are looking for semi challenging terrain that's not a OHV park (and there's not a lot of those here either) you're going to have to point your compass out of state. New Mexico, Eastern Oklahoma, and Arkansas are going to be your closest best bets. The further west you go the better it gets.

Here's a picture of the HIll County crap show of RAM trucks. This illustrates the dangers of being to loose lipped with GPS routes and waypoints. I love to share stuff with people but then sometimes you get crap like this.

 

[Sparksalot]

A small group of us were out a month ago and an entourage of at least 20 jeeps passed us the other direction. That was an unwieldy size. Doing 75 is beyond ludicrous.

 

[Downs]

 

[Sparksalot]

Yeah, Sandy Creek is no bueno off the track.

this was me in February. Definitely on the track.

 

[prcjeep]

We planned to do this loop last spring and put it off due to moving south to Rockport. Still on our list though.

Anyone know of any routes around the Corpus Area other than PINS?