Sendero Travesero

Dogs No Dogs

Sendero Travesero is part of the Protected Habitat Area, a remote section of Government Canyon accessible only to pedestrians. It is home to some of the more rugged trails in the state park, but offers the best opportunity for solitude - few people venture this far into the backcountry.

As with other trails, keep an eye on the heat, bring enough water, and let someone know where you will be, as encounters with other trail users are rare. In an emergency, the northeast section of the Black Hill Loop abuts a neighborhood and would be faster access to help than returning to the trailheads.

Bridging La Subida Trail and Black Hill Loop, Sendero Travesero is a short connector that doesn't go anywhere in particular. Similar in personality to La Subida and the nearby Sendero Balcones, it is rugged and uneven, requiring runners to keep their eyes down to find a good line through rocks littering the trail.

The turnoff from Black Hill Loop on the eastern end is in the middle of a large washout area and is easy to miss. Look for a large cairn and a marker. The moderately technical singletrack makes a quick descent to a large slick rock dry creek crossing. It's mostly flat afterwards, but the rough going creates some challenge. Don't be fooled by the smooth grassy area around the one-third mile point; there's another rocky descent before the path ends at La Subida Trail and another pair of marker signs.

The Texas Hill Country is well known for its abundant tree life. Government Canyon exhibits a number of these varieties, including mountain laurel, Ashe juniper, mesquite and live oak. Birds and deer are the most common animals encountered in the area.