What award do you give for a trail of the year? The Golden Boot? No, the World Cup has claimed that one. The Golden Compass? Nah, that book series was a bit of a downer. Maybe we should follow in the footsteps of the Oscars and the Tonys, and name it after somebody’s uncle or a pioneer of the field? We could call them the Todds, named after SMGA trail pioneer Todd Derkacz. No, he would probably hate that. I’m at a loss for a name, but not for superlatives, so without further dithering, here are my top trails of the year. You can help me figure out a proper award name for next year.
The Local Legend: The Limestone Link. This newest trail of the SMGA transports you back in time. As you meander through field and forest, past disc plow and stock pond, you lose track of which century you’re trekking through. And unlike its connecting parks of the River Recharge Natural Area or Ringtal Ridge, the Limestone Link Trail is buttery smooth, allowing even more appreciation of the surroundings without eating it on an unexpected boulder. For Mountain Bikers and Trail Runners, it provides a satisfying way to complete a 10k without ever having to touch pavement…well, except for that dodgy bit across Old RR12. The Limestone Link trail is truly a gift to our community and worthy of the inaugural Local Legend Award.
The GPR (Gain for Pain Ratio): Big Bend’s South Rim. The National Park Service gifted us all a stay of execution by pushing back their Chisos Basin construction project by one year, which means you still have about six months to see the best view in Texas before access to it becomes much harder. That’s not to say you can breeze up The Pinnacles and Boot Canyon Trails. To complete the full loop, you still need to cover 12.5 miles and over 3,000 feet of elevation change. And yet every vertical foot is worth the scenic mile— not only from atop the Peregrine Falcon nesting area overlooking Mexico’s white-cliffed Sierra Del Carmen and Rio Bravo del Norte, but on the way through ecotones where Chihuahuan desert yuccas share trail space with Douglas Firs. The gain is worth all the pain, and an experience every Texan should have if possible.
The Best Thing on Two Wheels: Riemer’s Ranch Blue Loop. As a kid who watched every episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, I can remember that feeling of stepping off the bus in Huntsville, Alabama, for Space Camp. Finally, a place made just for me. I had a similar feeling this year when I visited Milton Reimer’s Ranch, and their Mountain Bike Only trails. No incredibly tight turns. No people walking dogs. Just beautiful single track, gnarly rock climbs, and miles and miles of downhill jumps. The trail options ranged from “beginners’ bliss” to “can someone really climb that on a bike,” but for the weekend warrior mountain biker like me, the Blue Loop made up of the Sikeway, Jenn’s Loop, and Fenceline Trails, was truly out of this world!
The Water Rat’s Delight: Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail. In the British classic The Wind in the Willows, the Water Rat says to the Mole, “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing– absolutely nothing–half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” I feel a little like Mole in giving out this award, as I’ve only logged about 30 river miles this year, and half of them were between Rio Vista and Sewell Park. That being said, I genuinely loved the TPWD’s paddling trail between Hwy 90 and Luling. A few ripples of fun, a few tunnels of trees, and lots of opportunities to mess around in boats. Add the parking convenience, and it’s my paddling trail of the year.
