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This nature trail provides a great look at a historic overland mail station.


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Map Key

0.6

Miles

0.9

KM

Point to Point

5,740' 1,749 m

High

5,658' 1,725 m

Low

10' 3 m

Up

82' 25 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

7%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

Family Friendly Kids can definitely handle this trail's paved surface, gentle grades, and short length. More importantly, they'll love to check out the ruins!

Description

The Pinery Trail is a paved nature trail that starts from the Pine Springs Visitor Center and leads to the ruins of the Pinery Butterfield Stage Station along Highway 62. The trail winds through the flatlands and provides information on the various plants and animals that inhabit the area. In the springtime, flowering plants display their colors along the trail. Various cacti and trees can be seen along the trail.

As the trail nears a wash, larger trees that require more rain begin to appear. Looking behind you, the Guadalupe Mountains rise above you and provide great views, especially later in the day. The trail arrives at a junction, where if you go to the right, the trail leads you to the small parking lot along Highway 62 for the Pinery Butterfield Stage Station ruins. If you go to the left, the trail leads you to a set of ruins belonging to the stage station. The paved trail dead ends at a brick wall that is part of the ruins of the old stage station.

A small, singletrack dirt trail works its way around the ruins and leads back to the parking lot where a sign details the history of the stage station and the history of the monument on top of Guadalupe Peak. Follow the paved trail back to the visitor center and your vehicle.

Flora & Fauna

The nature trail provides information on the plants and animals that can be found along the trail. Various trees, cacti, and flowering plants can be seen, especially in the spring.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  3.8 from 5 votes

#16426

Overall
  3.8 from 5 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
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3 Star
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2 Star
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1 Star
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Trail Rankings

#358

in Texas

#16,426

Overall
2 Views Last Month
497 Since Sep 30, 2015
Easy Easy

100%
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Photos

Cactus flower at Guadeloupe Mountains NP
May 17, 2021 near Pine Sp…, TX
Apache plumes in bloom,
Jan 19, 2020 near Pine Sp…, TX
Pinery Trail
Mar 16, 2018 near Pine Sp…, TX
Guadalupe Mountains Visitor Center.
Mar 16, 2018 near Pine Sp…, TX
Guadalupe Peak as seen from the campground area.
Dec 15, 2016 near Pine Sp…, TX
Walking east on the trail
Apr 11, 2018 near Pine Sp…, TX

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 13 days ago
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Check-Ins

Apr 17, 2024
Atsuko Ohtake
Apr 5, 2022
Ashley Young
0.6mi
Feb 27, 2022
Brett Wolfley
Jan 7, 2022
Kristy Van
Jan 19, 2020
Jean-Claude Linossi
Easy trail with many beautiful wildflowers and good views of the park. 1.1mi — 0h 20m
Dec 30, 2019
Clarissa Y.
Sep 14, 2019
Meaghan Sullivan
Aug 31, 2019
Brad Passo
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