Gore Store Road To Kirby Nature Trail & Back
User:
Blaze - 4/24/2013
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Distance: 10.31 Miles
Duration: 3 hours, 54 minutes
This is my second log of the Turkey Creek Trail and covers the section from Gore Store Road to the Kirby Nature Trail outer loop. It also includes the Sandhill Loop.
The Sandhill Loop was very well-maintained and the signage in this area was good, but the Turkey Creek Trail was a different story. There were a lot of fallen trees and sporadic direction markers. The distance markers were non-existent. Some fallen trees you could walk over or around, but others completely blocked the trail and forced you to bushwhack.
The trail does afford you some great views of Turkey Creek, however.
Hwy 1943 To Gore Store Road & Back
User:
Blaze - 4/23/2013
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Distance: 19.13 Miles
Duration: 7 hours, 7 minutes
Note: This log covers both the Turkey Creek Trail (from Hwy 1943 to Gore Store Road) and the Pitcher Plant Trail.
The Turkey Creek trail is a long, winding, primitive, linear trail that runs parallel to and along Turkey Creek. It reminded me of the Lone Star Hiking Trail, only the trees were not blazed.
Along the way, you can take a fork to the Pitcher Plant Trail (which can be hiked separately if you access the trail from Pin Oak Road). Whether you hike the Pitcher Plant Trail separately or in conjunction with the Turkey Creek Trail, I highly recommend you hike the Pitcher Plant Trail. They are really cool, alien-looking plants, and the Pitcher Plant trail will take you to an area where there are gazillions of them.
The Turkey Creek Trail is a good, flat distance hike, but the trail was not very well-maintained. There were several fallen trees blocking the trail and a few widowmakers leaning over the trail.
The signage is OK, but not great. For example, I saw mile marker posts, but only the 4, 6, 7, and 8 mile posts. The others were missing or not visible. Also, sometimes the trail joins and proceeds along a utility right of way path or dirt road and there are signs pointing to where the trail branches off, but at other times there are no signs. This causes a little confusion and increases the chance of making a wrong turn.
You can camp for free in the Big Thicket, but you have to get a Backcountry Use Permit at the Visitors Center. Also, be advised that camping is primitive. There are no campgrounds, campsites, water or electrical hookups. You just pitch your tent under the stars.
The Turkey Creek Trail took me two days to complete. Consequently, this log will be followed by my log of the southern portion of Turkey Creek Trail (from Gore Store Road to the Kirby Nature Trail) and Sandhill Loop.
The further you go into the trail, the better it is
User:
ee_achee - 4/16/2011
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Distance: 7.00 Miles
Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Started at 4:50 pm on the northern side to Turkey creek trailhead at FM1943. Passed the 3 mile pole and continue onto Pitcher Plant trail. Return via the same route. Completed by 7.20 pm.
Shakedown hike before trip to Colorado
User:
TrailShoe - 6/24/2006
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Distance: 7.50 Miles
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On every hike there has been an abundance of flowering trees and plants. Each time there is something different over period of a couple of weeks.
Hike from Hester Bridge Road to North Trail Head
User:
TrailShoe - 6/11/2006
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Distance: 6.00 Miles
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Nice hike, we hiked 6 miles in about 4.5 hours.
Gore Store Road to Hester Bridge Road
User:
TrailShoe - 6/4/2006
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Distance: 6.00 Miles
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Nice morning for a hike. Had a puppy hanging around start area that walked with me up and back. 6 miles. Lots of flowering plants and a few squirrels near Hester Bridge Road.
Good Hike
User:
TrailShoe - 6/4/2006
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Distance: 6.00 Miles
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Hiked from Gore Store Road to Hester Bridge Road. Good hike, only 3 miles one way, but be aware no potable water available along trail where we hiked, but creek is available for purification/filtering at Hester Bridge Road after about 3 miles in from Gore Store Road.
Kirby Nature Trail
User:
TrailShoe - 6/3/2006
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
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Hike along Cypress loop was impressive. Never saw Cypress trees that big. We also hiked out to the SandHill Loop. Quite a contrast to the Kirby Nature Trail. Good afternoon hike.
Decent length and close to houston
User:
wildhog06 - 2/19/2006
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Distance: 17.50 Miles
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Outfitter in Kountze dropped off at N end of trail. Camped at halfway point. No campfires allowed! Little wildlife seen. Needed compass to navigate S when intersecting loop trails (not marked extremely well). When along creek the scenery was more interesting.
Nice and quiet, not much variety
User:
OctopusChaser - 12/14/2004
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Distance: 15.00 Miles
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This trail has quite a bit of birdlife and nice trees, but I expected to see more variety (sand hills or prarie), but the entire Turkey Creek trail is forest/swamp.