El Camino Real de What? What do you mean National Trail?

National Trails are trails that the U.S. Congress has

said are important to the American people.

There are two kinds of National Trails:

1) Scenic Trails

2) Historic Trails

What are National Trails?

1) Scenic Trails are:

National scenic trails … [are] extended trails … to provide for

maximum outdoor recreation potential and for the conservation and

enjoyment of the nationally significant scenic, historic, natural, or cultural

qualities of the areas through which such trails may pass.

2) Historic Trails are: National historic trails … [are] extended trails which follow as closely as

possible and practicable the original trails or routes of travel of national

historic significance.

What are National Trails?

National Trails System

Examples of Scenic Trails:

1) Appalachian Trail - AKA: The Green Tunnel

- Considered “Grand Daddy”

of National Trails System

- 2,174 miles long

Scenic Trails

Examples of Scenic Trails:

1) Continental Divide - AKA: The King of Trails

- Considered “Most Difficult” to follow

of National Trails System

- 3,100 miles long

Scenic Trails

Examples of Scenic Trails:

1) Pacific Crest Trail - AKA: The PCT

- Considered trail with most

elevation gain

- 2,650 miles long

Scenic Trails

Examples of Historic Trails:

1) Pony Express Trail - Used as a mail route

- In operation for 18 months

during 1860 and 1861

- 1,800 miles long

Historic Trails

Examples of Historic Trails:

1) Trail of Tears - Used to remove

Cherokee and other

tribes from southern

states to Oklahoma

- Removal took place

in 1838 and 1839

- 4,900 miles long

Historic Trails

Examples of Historic Trails:

1) El Camino Real de los Tejas - Used as a route of settlement

for Texas and modern day

Louisiana.

- Period of Historic Significance

1680 to 1845

- 2,580 miles long

Historic Trails

Jesús Treviño Fort y Rancho – Near Laredo, Texas

Interior of Fort

Exterior of Fort

Places to See along El Camino Real

San Antonio Missions and the Alamo – San Antonio, Texas

Mission Concepción

The Alamo

Places to See along El Camino Real

Mission Espíritu Santo y Presidio la Bahía – Goliad, Texas

Presidio la Bahía

Mission Espíritu Santo

Places to See along El Camino Real

Mission Tejas and the Old Stone Fort – East Texas

Casa de Piedra (Old Stone Fort) – Nacogdoches, Texas

Mission Tejas – Mission Tejas State Park, Houston County

Places to See along El Camino Real

River Crossings and Trail Segments – Across Texas

Apache Pass, Milam County Mission Tejas State Park, Houston County

McKinney Falls State Park, Austin Texas

Places to See along El Camino Real

The Highest Places in the United States

Mount Whitney – Highest point in continental U.S.

Mount Whitney – Off of the Pacific Crest Trail

Conclusion:

Where Can Trails Take You?

Most Remote Places in the United States

Continental Divide Trail – New Mexico

Continental Divide Trail - Colorado

Conclusion:

Where Can Trails Take You?

Trails can take you to the past …

Scene along El Camino Real from Main Plaza in San Antonio, Texas

Conclusion:

Where Can Trails Take You?

Trails can take you to the future … Spaceport USA –

El Camino Real

de Tierra Adentro

National Historic Trail,

New Mexico

Conclusion:

Where Can Trails Take You?

Trails can take you wherever you want to go in life…

Steven Gonzales walking with

a girl named María along

El Camino Real de Tierra

Adentro in Chihuahua,

México

Conclusion:

Where Can Trails Take You?