Scenic Hill Country Hike on the Old No. 9 Trail

Wide-open Hill Country spaces are made for exploration! The sheer diversity in the terrain –rolling grasslands, freshwater springs, stony hills, steep canyons – offers adventure and beautiful scenery around every turn. On your spring getaway, venture out on some of the area's spectacular hike and bike trails. One great trail to check out  – the Old No. 9 Trail – is in nearby Boerne and goes right through the heart of this historic town.

Old No. 9 Trail was originally known as the Pinta Trail, a dirt path first used by Native Americans crossing the Texas Hill Country. Later, immigrants used this route as their main wagon trail from San Antonio to Boerne and eventually to Fredericksburg. Years later, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company built its railroad line alongside the old path, to minimize grading of the railroad bed and to be in close proximity to plentiful natural resources.

Surprisingly, the Old No. 9 Trail didn't get its name from the railroad line, as you might expect, but rather from the nearby Highway 9. Today, it's a 1.4-mile multipurpose trail that makes a diagonal cut through Boerne. This flat and wide concrete pathway offers quiet, peaceful surroundings where you can rest in the shaded “train depot” midway through the trail, and there are even misters at the Esser Road trailhead for hotter days.

The old train depot is now the Old No. 9 General Store and Longhorn Cafe, located across Esser Road from the trail head. There's a connector trail and bridge to the Patrick Heath Public Library, and the AgriCultural Heritage Museum is within walking distance across River Road from the old depot.

Old No. 9 Hiking Trail
358 S. Esser Road
Boerne, TX 78006

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks." — John Muir