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The Tejas Trail - 3 members in 3 triplogs have rated this an average 4.3 ( 1 to 5 best )
3 triplogs
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Apr 11 2021
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 Guides 110
 Routes 2,246
 Photos 8,982
 Triplogs 2,600

45 female
 Joined Dec 24 2007
 Ahwatukee, AZ
Hunter PeakBig Bend, TX
Big Bend, TX
Hiking avatar Apr 11 2021
LindaAnnTriplogs 2,600
Hiking9.37 Miles 2,792 AEG
Hiking9.37 Miles   5 Hrs   7 Mns   1.98 mph
2,792 ft AEG      23 Mns Break
 
1st trip
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Got started a little earlier than the previous day, which was good since it was warmer. Parked in the overflow lot again, but I think there were still a few open spots at the trailhead. From the trailhead, we headed north on Tejas Trail and across the dry wash (I think it might be the Delaware River). From there, we turned left and continued up Tejas. I really liked this trail--probably my favorite one of the weekend. It had a nice steady uphill, and the views were great. Plus, it was shaded all the way to the top since we started early. The lower parts were desert, but it transitioned to pine on the way up. I was actually sad to turn off Tejas at the top. From there, we headed east on Bowl trail, again in the pines. Views to the south were expansive, and we could see the "Bowl" area to the north.

We took the short side trail over to Hunter Peak. Breezy up top, but great views. After a quick break, we headed back down to Bowl and continued east. At the junction with Bear Canyon, we headed down that. Very steep and rocky descent. The top of Bear Canyon was so-so, but the middle section was neat. The walls of the canyon narrowed with the trail winding around large boulders. Definitely the best part of Bear Canyon. After that, the canyon widened and we continued downhill, where it was getting warm.

Turned right onto Frijole Trail and took that back south and west to where Tejas crossed the wash and took Tejas back to the trailhead. Great loop, especially the western half of it. Only saw four backpackers near the campground at the Tejas/Bowl junction and four hikers on the lower section of Bear Canyon, otherwise had the trail to ourselves.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Benchmark

dry Pine Spring Dry Dry
Dry
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Stop crying and just go do the hike.
 
Apr 18 2017
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 Guides 93
 Routes 397
 Photos 4,984
 Triplogs 4,124

49 male
 Joined Jun 20 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Bush MountainBig Bend, TX
Big Bend, TX
Hiking avatar Apr 18 2017
fricknaleyTriplogs 4,124
Hiking16.77 Miles 4,052 AEG
Hiking16.77 Miles   6 Hrs   55 Mns   2.51 mph
4,052 ft AEG      14 Mns Break12 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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did a big loop up into the guadalupe mountain high country and it was spectacular. my route started at the main Pine Spring Canyon trailhead. I went up the Tejas trail to the top out point and trail intersection, then hiked the Bush Mountain trail to and past the summit of Bush mountain to the Blue Ridge trail, hiked entirety of that to the Tejas trail back to top out point, then back down the canyon on the Tejas. Big loop taking in a lot of the unique piney high country.

Tejas Trail: the hike up the canyon on this trail is probably my favorite part of the hike. pretty big ascent along the east canyon wall with spectacular views. gets you up into the pines

Bush Mountain trail: more rugged with ups and downs. still offers views west to the high peaks on the west side of the canyon uncluding guadalupe peak. before the summit of bush mountain you pass two small campgrounds (Pine Top and Bush Mountain). Bush Mountain is the 2nd highest peak in texas. Unlike guadalupe peak, Bush peak has a large, broad and partly forested summit but still offers prettyawesome views to the west. continuing north past the summit the trail is obiously less traveled but still easy enough to follow. it goes through some small burned areas and small ups and downs.

Blue Ridge trail: takes off from signed intersection with Bush mountain and is mostly downhill. early on you pass another small Blue Ridge Campground. Farther out on Blue Ridge are views of the surprisingly forested high country summits. Shortly after passing signed juntion for the Marcus trail, the Blue Ridge ends at signed intersection with Tejas trail

Tejas: drops you down to dry canyon bottom then begins gradual climb back to the trail intersection at the top of pine springs canyon. this section of Tejas trail is also fantastic as you ascend the small dry canyon through very nice pines with some ample shade.

I absolutely loved this hike and it takes in a lot of cool stuff in the park. aside from a young couple at the bottom of the Tejas trail at the very beginning of my hike, I had this whole entire thing to myself :y:
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Sep 14 2012
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 Guides 7
 Routes 79
 Photos 2,440
 Triplogs 652

34 male
 Joined Jan 10 2010
 Pomona, CA
Bush Mountain & Hunter Peak, TX 
Bush Mountain & Hunter Peak, TX
 
Hiking avatar Sep 14 2012
PatrickLTriplogs 652
Hiking14.40 Miles 4,800 AEG
Hiking14.40 Miles   7 Hrs      2.51 mph
4,800 ft AEG   1 Hour   16 Mns Break18 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
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Set off on Tejas Trail for Bush Mountain, Texas' second highest peak. Tejas had some pretty good views, but overcast made for lousy pictures. Topped out on Tejas and jumped on Bush Mountain Trail, which generally follows the crest of the huge ridge to the top of Bush. It's basically a straight shot, but there are numerous ups and downs. You can tell this is a back-country trail that doesn't see all that much traffic. Not so much overgrown, just not manicured, which isn't a bad thing at all.

The peak is somewhat underwhelming. It's really more of a hill, but it has benchmarks. The real reward is the cliffs just a minute to the west. Very cool to see the ground "end" with the desert floor even further below. As I was taking pictures of the cliffs, what appeared to be a big horn sheep was traveling along the ledges. I know I saw the horns, but I'm not familiar with the fauna in the Guadalupes. Possibly some kind of antelope? It disappeared into the trees before I could get a good shot.

With the bad weather the day before causing me to cancel my Bear Canyon hike, I contemplated the option of heading to Hunter Peak and descending Bear Canyon on the return trip. I knew the distance wouldn't be a whole lot more, and with time on my side, it was a no-brainer. Hunter Peak was another one of those sweet peaks that really feels like a peak, if you know what I mean. More cliff candy for the eyes.

I looked for BM Pine Top's azimuth mark near Bear Canyon trail for a while. I ended up walking in a giant circle with no avail. More of those lovely blobs of grey had worked their way overhead and I had some on/off sprinkles on the way down Bear Canyon Trail, which is a steep one. When I was back on "flat" ground, the sprinkling became more consistent. It was pleasant. Frijoles/Foothills took me back to the car, making a nice loop.
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average hiking speed 2.33 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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