Lone Star Adventurer Completes Cross-Texas Trail, Inspires New Outdoor Route

Quick Smiles:

• The trail spans 1,500 miles and reaches some of Texas’ highest peaks.
• Landowners across the state volunteered access for the route.
• Designed for travel during cooler seasons.

Charlie Gandy is making history as the first person to complete the Cross-Texas Trail, a self-created 1,500-mile route across the Lone Star State.

The 67-year-old adventurer invested his own funds to establish this trek for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders.

Gandy and his companions are finishing their journey in El Paso after traveling westward from the state’s eastern border.

The route explores rural Texas by connecting dirt roads and passing through several state and national parks.

“As a native Texan, I’m a 66-year-old guy who likes to challenge myself to big, hairy goals and adventures—and it seemed to me like it was time for Texas to have its own Pacific Crest-type adventure route,” Gandy told Fox News Digital.

The project received overwhelming support from private landowners who offered to host the trail on their property.

This community spirit helped transform a personal vision into a destination that showcases the diverse topography of Texas.