Frequently Asked Questions
In late August 2023, Charlie created a video to answer your questions about the xTexas project!
1) How did this idea come together?
xTexas is inspired by the crown jewels of long-distance hikes: The Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail. There’s also the Pacific Northwest Trail, statewide trails in Colorado and Arizona, and a new one in Idaho, there’s also a fledgling California Coastal Trail and others that are your own personal favorites.
xTexas was also inspired by the Cross-Washington mountain bike route/race, which Charlie has participated in two years in a row. Cross-Washington (aka xWashington) is a 700-mile, mostly off-road route from the Pacific Ocean to the Washington/Idaho border. The route features a mixture of singletrack, dirt roads, and a bit of pavement as it crosses the Evergreen State.
2) What type of trails or roads does xTexas use?
xTexas is currently being mapped out on quiet country backroads, gravel tracks, and some jeep trails. In some cases, we may need to work out access across private ranch land. The biggest challenges at present are access to drinking water and places to camp. We’re working on ways both can be made available.
Note: This is an adventure route, a way to test yourself mentally and physically and see some of the most interesting natural places, small towns, and rural communities in Texas. The ideal time to hike it is in winter and spring.
3) What’s the route?
xTexas starts in Orange, Texas, in the East on the Louisiana border, and ends in the West at El Paso. It covers 1,500 miles with 56,000 feet of elevation gain.
The first hundred miles bring you to Livingston, Texas, and the Shepherd’s Sanctuary bike-friendly campsite, lodgings, and retreat center. The trail parallels the Lone Star Trail through this section. It continues through Navasota and then La Grange at the 300-mile mark. It continues in the hill country through New Braunfels, Concan, Utopia, and Comfort. The Devil’s River is where it starts getting dry, hot, and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. It swings down into Big Bend National Park at Boquillas, then to Santa Elena Canyon, then Terlingua, Lajitas, through Big Bend Ranch to Marfa. It goes up into the mountains at Fort Davis straight up to Guadalupe Peak, through to the Heuco Tanks climbing area, and then El Paso.
4) Who’s involved in creating xTexas?
BikeTexas Founder Charlie Gandy is the ideator behind this big, hairy goal (BikeTexas was founded in 1990, 34 years ago). He came up with the idea of xTexas while hiking with a friend in Lake Tahoe in June 2024.
In the fall and winter of ‘24, we’re putting together an advisory board of horse people, bike people, long-distance hikers, ranchers, and small business owners along the route.
xTexas.org is a project of BikeTexas.
5) What are our next steps?
We need to finish raising the first $40k to help cover Charlie's costs for scouting the route, meeting with allies and colleagues, and creating outreach and marketing materials to educate those along the trail and those who want to support this project.