Texas has never had anything like the Appalachian Trail, the PCT or the Continental Divide Trail. That may change soon. Charlie Gandy is stringing together a route for the XTX, a proposed trail that would span the width of Texas. In this episode, I get a preview of the first 10 or so miles and see what it takes to build an epic trail thru-hiking, biking and even skateboard riding.

Hosts:

• Morgan O’Hanlon is a senior staff writer at Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine.
• David Yoskowitz is the Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Episode Guests (in order of appearance):

• Charlie Gandy, creator of the XTX and founder of Bike Texas.

Show Highlights:

• The XTX plans to release an initial route to the public in fall of 2025.
• The trail will be upwards of 1,500 miles long with 56,000 ft. in elevation.
• The TXT takes advantage of existing infrastructure, rather than constructing new miles of trail, so most of the trail will be located on Texas backroads. It will also weave through more than a dozen state parks and other public lands throughout the state.
• TPWD administers the National Recreational Trails Fund in Texas under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The reimbursable grants can be up to 80% of project cost with a maximum of $300,000 for non-motorized trail grants and a maximum award of $500,000 for motorized (off-highway vehicle) trail grants. Funds can be spent on the construction of new recreational trails, improvement of existing trails, development of trailheads or trailside facilities, and acquisition of trail corridors.

A related story about Texas regional trail projects will appear in an edition of Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine later this year. You can find that stories and more about the Texas outdoors at tpwmagazine.com. If you want to get copies of our beautiful, glossy magazine delivered straight to your mailbox, you can subscribe for only $2.00 a month. And if you want to keep up on live events and behind-the-scenes takes, follow the magazine on Instagram at @tpwmagazine.

For more information about recreational trail grants, head to the recreation grants page on TPWD’s main website.

Keep up with other agency news on Facebook or Instagram at @texasparkswildlife.

Our theme music is by Walker Lukens and Grant Eppley. And, if you like our song, you might also like the album Walker produced for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation. Sales from the album benefit TPWD's conservation work. Listen to Texas Wild at texaswildalbum.org.

Better Outside’s artwork is by Aaron Zachary. Follow him on Instagram at @filmnfish.