Meet the Team Working to Create a 1,500-mile Trail Across Texas

A proposed 1,500-mile trail that would stretch east to west across Texas is in the works, but will require the buy-in of hundreds of landowners and communities.

In a piece for The Daily Yonder, Madeline de Figueiredo describes how the team behind the xTx trail — which, in its current incarnation, routes hikers, cyclists, and horse riders along existing public routes — is working to route around unsafe and concerning segments by partnering with private landowners in a state where 96 percent of land is private.

xTx founder Charlie Gandy and executive director Beckie Irvin are developing a map of the proposed route, taking trips across segments to understand what the trail needs to be safe and enjoyable. “Each trip brings new puzzles: how to avoid high-traffic roads, how to reroute around unsafe terrain, and how to forge relationships with landowners, ranchers, and local governments who have mixed feelings about the project.”

Along the way, some communities are stepping up to integrate the trail and position themselves as ‘gateway towns.’ In Bandera, Texas, a town that bills itself as “cowboy capital of the world,” a group of equestrians has proposed creating a day-use public stable to serve equestrians using the trail. But landowners have questions and doubts, too. “Building a trail across private lands requires navigating a complex network of interests. Ranchers, farmers, conservationists, outdoor users, and local governments all view land through different lenses, Irvin said, and the xTx team aims to build trust and connections across those communities.”