Maxwell Trail

The Slaughter Creek Trail has a little bit of everything - flow sections, gnarly rock gardens, a couple of nice drops and plenty of sharp off-camber limestone that central Texas is known for. Bikes are only allowed to ride clockwise, while hikers and those riding horses must use the trail in a counter clockwise direction. The first 100 yard section is flat. It's a good warm up to a small hill filled with jagged limestone outcroppings. At first the extended rock garden doesn't seem so bad, but as you wind up and around it gets more difficult to find a good line. After you reach the top, there is a dusty and loose section before heading back down. There is a fantastic ledge on the initial decent and then the trail splits. Head right for a shortened loop. Head left to ride the longer loop. If you decide to man up and go left, the trail weaves its way in and out of cedar trees, smaller rock gardens and some actual dirt. Once you make it out of this section, you will begin riding up the other side of the hill you conquered at the beginning of the ride. This part is exposed with a lot of fist-sized loose rocks and and pebbles over hard pack. You will then dive back down and back up the hill to another rocky, loose section that's pretty fast. After rolling through a dry creek and more cedar trees, you're in the home stretch. The final section is also fast and flowing all the way back to the parking lot. It's impossible to get lost on this trail as there is just one main loop.

Access Info

Turn into the main driveway off FM 1826. Drive to the parking lot and you'll see an opening through a gate that leads to the trail hea.

Disclaimer

There is a gate that automatically closes at sunset. Dogs are not allowed. Check Slaughter Creek's Facebook page before heading out there. The trail is closed after even light rain.