Chinacareys's Logbook

Stats
Total Log Entries: 2 (Rank: 170th)  [List Them]  [Map Them]
Total Distance: 8.50 Miles (Rank: 204th)
Average Distance: 4.25 Miles

Average Rating: 2point5stars (2.80)
Average Difficulty: 2stars (2.30)
Average Solitude: 3stars (3.42)

Earliest Log Entry: 11/27/2009
Latest Log Entry: 1/9/2010

Average ratings are based on the published values and not the values entered in your own log entries.

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Log Entries
Parrie Haynes Ranch - 1/9/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: N/A

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.

Nice hike
Gorman Falls Trail - 11/27/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: N/A

On the day we hiked (4 adults and 7 children) the trail was very crowded.  Waterfalls were great, well worth the hike.  The pictures I had seen didn't do it justice.  Be careful when hiking, it is easy to stumble with all the stumps and rocks in the trail.