The Mesquite Trail

The Mesquite Trail

NPS Photo

Journey back in time to the early days of ranching in the Texas Panhandle. During this .3 mile hike, you may see Ice Age mesquite trees, rangeland grasses, cattle forage plants, wildlife tracks, native plants, and wildflowers. You will also walk by original barbed wire from the LX Ranch. This ranch was one of the first ranches in the Texas Panhandle.

The LX Ranch of Randall, Potter, Carson, Moore and Hutchinson counties became a reality in 1877, when Bates and Beals drove a herd from their ranch on the Arkansas in Colorado down to the Canadian in Texas. The Texas Panhandle had a great appeal to cattlemen because of the climatic conditions. The open range had many advantages and resulted in a number of ranches that were established in the Texas Panhandle between 1876 and 1885. Many early ranchers took advantage of the free grass along the Canadian River.