Disappointing And Poorly Maintained

The Canyon Rim Woodlands Trail is another "out of the way" trail with little else nearby to see or do.  Furthermore, finding this trail is not easy.  You can find the directions listed here, but be advised the trailhead is on the WEST side of Hwy 87, not the East (I have notified the webmaster of this and asked them to make the change).  If necessary, load in these coordinates into your GPS to find the trailhead (31.06.945 N - 93.43.757 W).

The Canyon Rim Woodlands Trail is provided by Champion International Corporation.  There is a lot of history of mule and ox-drawn wagon logging and Army training maneuvers in this area, but unfortunately the trail is very poorly maintained.  So poorly, in fact, that I lost the trail at one point and had to turn around and take an alternate route back to my car.

I gripe sometimes at having to pay entrance fees to county, state and national parks, especially since I already pay my taxes, so I always appreciate the free trails.  However, in some cases, you get what you pay for and the free trails are often not maintained or periodically maintained only by generous and altruistic volunteers.  On balance, I would gladly pay a few bucks and have a safe and clearly marked trail to hike rather than saving a few measly bucks and having a disappointing hiking experience.