Shown above: Members of Bandera’s Equestrian Posse leading the charge to create the first “equestrian portal” for the xTx Trail.
Becoming a Trailhead Town on the xTexas Trail
The xTexas Trail Association is establishing a 1,500-mile hiking, cycling, and horseback trail through the heart of true Texas. It’s the first of its kind for the state.
We’re working to connect the magnificent people, cultures, and landscapes of rural Texas. From the Piney Woods in the East, through the Hill Country, the Chihuahuan desert, and up into the Tran-Pecos Mountains, this seasonal late fall to early spring trail is a rugged, remote, romantic work in progress.
The xTexas Trail winds through ranchlands, forests, canyons, and Main Streets—each one a chapter in the story of Texas. The people who live along this route are its caretakers, storytellers, and heartbeat.
An xTxTrailhead Town is a community that embraces the trail as part of its identity—seeing it not just as a path for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians, but as a new opportunity for local business growth and health and well-being.
When a town chooses to partner with the xTexas Trail, it joins a growing network of communities that are shaping the next great legacy project in Texas.
What does it mean to be an xTx Trailhead Town?
Becoming an xTx Trailhead Town doesn’t require a city ordinance or big-budget development plan. It’s a shared handshake—a community saying, “We’re proud the xTexas Trail passes through here, and we want to welcome those who travel it.”
xTx Trailhead Communities:
Provide xTx trail users with safe, respectful access to local services and amenities (food, water, lodging, repairs, supplies).
Share local knowledge, history, and culture with visitors.
Includes the xTx Trail in local economic development promotional campaigns.
Work with the xTexas Trail Association to identify trailheads, signage, and wayfinding opportunities.
Collaborate on small improvements—like water stations, rest areas, bike racks, and horse ties—that make the trail experience better for everyone.
Help spread the word about stewardship and responsible recreation.
In short: Trailhead Towns share what’s great about Texas with visitors from around the world.
Why it Matters
Trails are powerful tools for small-town vitality. Trailhead Towns often see:
Increased tourism that supports local cafés, motels, outfitters, and artists.
Stronger local pride and cross-generational community projects.
New partnerships with landowners, schools, and conservation groups.
Improved infrastructure that benefits both residents and visitors.
The Arizona Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and others have shown it—trail communities become destinations. And nobody does destination hospitality like Texans.
Trailhead Towns in the Media!
In December, 2025 The Daily Yonder featured an online article and video interviews with our former ED Beckie Irvin, Diana Walters of Bandera, and Beverly Garland and Cobra Thomas of Medina.
Diana is spearheading our conversations with Bandera to be the first equine friendly portal to the trail. Beverly and Cobra are the first landowners who bought property specifically to be near the trail in Medina.
Join the Network of xTx Trailhead Towns
If your town, chamber, EDC, or county wants to explore becoming an official Trailhead Town, we’d love to hear from you. We’ll help you:
Identify your trail connections and nearby access points.
Brainstorm potential improvements or local amenities.
Celebrate your community on the official xTexas Trail map and website.
Email us at Hello@xTexas.org to get a conversation started!
Ready to start planning your community’s connection to the trail?
We’ve pulled together a short list of grants, training, and technical guides to help local leaders get started.