The Mesquite Trail

The Mesquite Trail

NPS Photo

HIke on a portion of the former LX Ranch along the Mesquite Trail. The ranch was established by W. H. Bates and D. T. Beal's, Colorado merchants and ranchers. "Crowded conditions" in Colorado resulted in moving herds to the Panhandle of Texas in 1877. This short 0.3 mile trail is located near Alibates Visitor Center next to the butterfly garden. See a variety of wildflowers in the spring and summer along the trail and beautiful views of the Canadian River Valley. It's a great hike for children or if you have limited time to vist.

 

Barbed wire from 1877 along the Mesquite Trail

NPS Photo

The barbed wire fence along the trail was a new and modern invention in 1874. Barbed wire was the first wire technology capable of restraining cattle. These bristling wire fences began to partition the wide open spaces of the Texas Plains during this era. Wire fences were cheaper to build than their alternatives.

The LX ranch extended from present cities of Dumas to Amarillo, and was 20 miles wide--1,000 square miles of open range. HIke this trail and look for signs where cowboys may have built a dugout. Weather was extreme during the early 1900s with very inclement weather.

 

The Mesquite Trail in June

NPS photo

The LX ranch was sold in 1884 to the American Pastoral Company, Ltd., London. Ownership included 210,597 acres of land, 45,000 cattle and 1,000 horses. Famous LX cowboys included Allie Bates and John Ray, whose names are on geological maps, and Charles Siringo, author of Western Americana and cattle rustler detective. Alan (Allie) Bates reportedly lived in the area while working for the LX ranch. The American Pastoral Company sold off parcles of the ranch to various buyers begining in 1906.

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