Historic Huntsville Texas Hike around 9.5 miles

Join HATs contributor Barbara as she leads us around the trails and lanes of Huntsville to experience the nature and history of this old Texas town. The hike is approximately 9.5 miles. The exact distance will depend on the specific route we will take across the SHSU campus and whether some of the trails around Sam Houston's home and museum will be open.

Huntsville, Texas, was founded in the 1830s as a trading post to trade with the Bidai, Alabama, and Coushatta Indians. Around the same time, Houston was founded. This post developed into a prominent settlement in the Republic of Texas. The town prospered from a nearby landing on the Trinity River, a rail connection to Houston, and as a stop on four stagecoach lines. Huntsville later became the home of General Sam Houston. Head of the Texian army and the first and third president of the Republic of Texas. He retired from political life to Huntsville because of his opposition to Texas seceding to join the Confederacy. More about the history from the Texas State Historical Association: Huntsville, TX

We will start on paved trails in Eastham Thomason Park and around the Aquatic Center, so if you're late, look for a group of hikers nearby. Next, we will walk on the Prairie Trail before heading to the Boot House and Cowboy Hat House. Then we will walk over to Gibbs Park, before visiting the Steamboat House, where Sam Houston lived with his family, and take a break by a Texas-shaped duck pond. We will continue our hike on the SHSU campus before visiting the prison cemetery. Heading back toward the meeting place, we will walk by the Old Cotton Warehouse, famous for its bat colony, which is home to as many as one million bats during peak season. From there, we will visit Sam Houston's grave and walk back to Eastham Thomason Park for one more loop on the Prairie Trail. The hike is a mix of pavement and trails, and sun and shade.

Suggestions if you want to stay for the afternoon:
Huntsville has several antique stores and other small businesses worth checking out around Sam Houston Avenue and 11th Street. Or go back to the Sam Houston Memorial Museum for a 19th-century woodworking demonstration: https://events.shsu.edu/event/saturday-historical-demonstration-woodworking-4651?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Sam+Houston+State+University+&_gl=1*1xv2ipm*_gcl_au*MTM2MzAzODUzMy4xNzQ2NDYxMTQx
Food options include a typical Texan experience at Farmhouse Cafe (1004 14th Street), Cafe Texan (1120 Sam Houston Ave) with a little museum next-door where you can admire George H.W. Bush's cowboy boots and an early copy of Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanach" side by side with an ancient Egyptian paintings and classical Greek sculptures, and Mr. Hamburger (918 11th Street), the place where, allegedly, prisoners have their first meal after being released. Camp House Creamery at 2615 Montgomery Rd has excellent ice cream.

About HATs and our hikes
https://www.hatsandmore.org/

HATs organizers are not guides, nor do we have any special training. We are here to come up with hiking ideas and get the hike started. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if hiking alone, including the fitness level to make long hikes. Then enjoy the hike among friends.

We hike about 3 MPH. This is faster than many walking groups.

Hike Safety:
Hiking is supposed to be fun. If you don't feel well or can't keep up, tell someone right away. Stop walking so it doesn't become something serious. Contact the hike leader. We can help get you off the trail, and this hike can be cut short at any point.
Contact Barbara: 805-453-2735

What You Need:
Supportive sports shoes, water, snacks, and a hat.

Special Precautions:
Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes for this hike. Prairie Trail is a single-file trail with dense vegetation, so venomous snakes are a concern. There won't be any difficult terrain, so supportive running or walking shoes would be best.

COMMUNITY CARPOOL:
TBD

Gathering Point:
Address:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NEzYMrcmwZVQ5cwi6

1400 7th St, Huntsville, TX 77320. Eastham Thomason Park. We will be next to the parking lot and playground. Once the parking lot is full, you can easily find street parking.

Bathrooms:
At the beginning and the end of the hike, and during the break.

The Trail:
The hike is a mix of pavement and trails, and sun and shade.

Weather:
Click Here

Hike Map:
Map in the photos.
AllTrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/activity-may-5-2025-f44ee26-2?p=-1&sh=pznf0p&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality
This is an approximate map. The actual distance will be longer, as we'll walk around the Sam Houston Museum grounds and the SHSU campus.

After Hike Event:
Sam's Table Restaurant and Wine Bar
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XHRcfn6ZY89gd5vv7

Past Hikes Here:
None.

More about where we hike:
Houston Area Hikes Map
List of hikes we have made