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User: Chinacareys - 1/9/2010

Location: Parrie Haynes Ranch

Rating: 2stars
Difficulty: 2stars  Solitude: 4stars
Miles Hiked: 6.00 Miles  Elapsed Time: N/A

Comments:

Parrie Haynes Ranch is composed of two parcels; the trails are on the East Side Parcel. The directions on the top of the page are to the west side group area which requires a group reservation and a code to open the gate farther down Gann Branch Road. 

 

To get to the trail area (East Side Parcel) go past Gann Branch Road main entrance and go down Maxdale Road for about 2 miles and turn left at the Parrie Haynes Ranch sign.  There is a self pay station on the left before the building on the left.  There is a $10.00 per car usage fee.  Be sure to print out a trail map before you go, since there were none provided at the self check-in.  Trail map http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_mp_k0700_0159b.pdf

The trails are well marked with color coded flagging, so print the map in color.We hiked mostly the red trail but also parts of the blue and yellow trail.

The East Trail head is on the road before the self-pay station and the West Trail head is at the end of the road to the left.

Also, please be aware that this is mainly an Equestrian trail and there may be horses on the trail.  Horses have the right-of-way.  The low muddy areas were difficult to cross due to being plowed up by so many horse hooves.  This time of year some creeks were impossible to cross without wadding, which we decided not to attempt due to the temperature.

 

It was a beautiful January day for our hike, temperature in the 30s and 40s.  We did not encounter any horseback riders on our hike possibly due to the temperature.  The terrain is typical central Texas with cedar, oak and grass land.  I would not recommend traveling a great distance to hike here at Parrie Haynes, but if you are in the Killeen area you might want to try it.



Area around Parrie Haynes Ranch