Important note: The bridge over the East Fork of the San Jacinto River is washed out. This bridge was located at mile 71.1 in the Magnolia Section. In times of high water, the crossing is hazardous and can remain so for days at a time. An unmarked, unofficial, and difficult to follow detour has been mapped and is available at http://www.lonestartrail.org/docs/sanjacdetour.pdf . The text of the detour is found at the end of this document. Use the detour at your own risk! Important Note: The bridge over the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, immediately adjacent to Stubblefield Campground at LSHT Mile 20, is officially closed due to flood damage. Maps and trail information can be obtained from the Sam Houston National Forest in New Waverly, Texas. Covered are cautions and signs that appear on the trail. The following guide is my experience with through hiking of this trail. Water is most important. If you do not have someone supplying you with water and food along the trail, I suggest you cache a few gallons at various spots along the way. The trail is mileage marked from west to east. There are two marker system; one with 4 x 4 post with the miles carved on top and the other is by metal 2 x 4 plates that are red with a white diamond that will have the miles in the diamond. The markers on wooden posts should be considered obsolete. These markers do not coincide but they are within a half-mile of each other. If it has been raining the low lands can be muddy and some of the creeks will be difficult to cross. If there are high winds, find an open area and watch out for falling trees and limbs. In times of prolonged wet weather, the south half of Tarkington Section and the entire Winters Bayou section could be messy and difficult to hike, with unavoidable stretches of ankle deep water. There are several "Road Walks", the longest being five miles, where the LSHT leaves the woods and follows public roads. All Road Walks and their twists and turns should be considered unmarked as far as the LSHT is concerned. You must have maps or a printed guide to successfully navigate the road walks. Consider installing the Maprika App and the associated LSHT Maprika Maps (http://lonestartrail.org/maprika.html) on your smartphone. The LSHT also shows up when zoomed in on Google Maps, but 3G/4G service is not available in all areas. Taxi and Shuttle Options

Taxi/Shuttle service information from Cleveland, Conroe, and Huntsville. I recommend doing the shuttle at the start of the hike, not the end. You almost always know when you are starting; you can't be sure when you will finish. Here are some shuttle options:

Uber Driver Lee: ‭+1 (832) 559-0344‬; good hiker testimonial. I would appreciate any Uber/Lyft reports on TH access.



Reliable Quick Service Taxi from Huntsville 936/295-3606; $1.20/mi, 24 hours, will service trail "near town"; variable but will always service Huntsville State Park.



Other Taxi's (a/0 1/2018) operating at $2.50/mi: Conroe – CVS Taxi Cab (936-537-5829); Conroe- On Time Cab (936) 539-1057; Cleveland - 350 Cab (936) 328-8181.



Enterprise Rental is available @ Cleveland (near TH 15) and Huntsville (near TH 7). A duo of thru-hikers parked @ Huntsville State Park ((936) 295-5644 near TH 7 with a direct spur to the LSHT), hiked east, then called Enterprise from TH 15 (Winters Bayou) and rented a car to drive back to HSP, etc.....