The San Antonio National Trail
The Western Trail follows the ridge of the Continental Divide of North America, beginning in Grants, Oregon and extending throughout to Yellowstone National Park and the Pacific Crest. The trail is a part of the American Wildflower Way System that forms the spine of the continental United States. This system has been preserved as a National Trail since its inception. The system was originally used for wither horses and cattle and has been used for many years for camping and hiking. The best times to visit the Western Trail are from May through October.
The Western Trail traverses the three National Parks and several reserves in the southern states of the country. The most famous sections of the trail include the Snake River Campgrounds, the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the west rim of the Grand Canyon, the Little Colorado River, and the Pend Ore Wilderness. The trail also includes the historic Highway 41 and portions of the Oregon Trail. Other notable roads include theonement road, which connects the west rim trail with the east rim of the Grand Canyon, and the California Trail (which includes portions of the San Jacinto Trail in Southern California),
The San Antonio Trail follows the banks of the San Antonio River. Along the way, the trail crosses the Continental Divide and becomes the Bitterroots National Grassland. This section of the trail has some spectacular scenery, with tall cliffs, dry riverbeds, berry bushes, and abundant wildlife. The San Antonio River Greenway provides access to beautiful nature preserves, such as the Cedar Breaks National Monument. The San Antonio and Bitterroot National Forests provide excellent opportunities for bird watching and hiking. For those interested in ancient Native American history, there is the Hopi Cultural Center where you can find historical artifacts.
The Longhorn cattle trail follows the ridge of the San Antonio Mountains. The mountains range from steep to flat, with occasional switch backs. The trail begins at the Lower Pool Camp in Dodge City. Nearby, the ruins of the Pueblo Indian Cave have been preserved. Nearby Laredo are the ruins of the old Spanish mission, Yorktown. Laredo and Dodge City are only forty miles away, making this a perfect way to see the natural beauty of the San Antonio Northward borders.
The Taos and New Braunfels National Parks both offer trails suitable for horseback riding or hiking. The New Braunfels Trail passes through the historical Coronado Park where Native Americans gathered to conduct ceremonies, hunt, and farm. The Taos National Forests have miles of trails ideal for camping, biking, or walking the hiking trails. The western part of the Texas panhandle has many National Wildflower Center locations where you can view hundreds of wildflowers throughout the year.
Hikers will find the San Antonio National Forests, the Bexar county Courthouse, and historic Sherwood Forest just north of the city of Austin. The trail leads about twenty miles to the La Jolla Cove RV Resort and the Six Flags Over Montrose. You can stay in one of the six spots in the Sherwood Forest, or camp on any of the twenty sites throughout the vicinity. The Western Trail also meanders through historic downtown oak groves, which contain cedars, cypress, maple, black walnut, chestnut, and more.