Bikes yield to everyone
Cyclists slow or stop for hikers and horses.
Hiking / Trail rules
Trail rules & etiquette.
Few of these are 'laws,' but they're what keep trails open, safe, and beautiful - and what makes you a good neighbor on the trail. Here's the short version.
Leave No Trace
The seven Leave No Trace principles, in plain terms:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces (stay on the trail).
- Dispose of waste properly - pack out all trash, including dog waste and, in wilderness, toilet paper.
- Leave what you find - rocks, plants, and artifacts (see the Foraging hub).
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife - never feed it.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
"Leave what you find" includes rocks, plants, and artifacts - see the Foraging hub; "respect wildlife" means never feeding it - see the Wildlife hub.
The big one
Stay on the trail
Cutting switchbacks and going off-trail causes erosion, tramples habitat, and gets people lost. Walk single file through the middle, even when it's muddy.
Right-of-way: the yield triangle
When trails are shared, the rule is simple:
Everyone yields to horses
They spook easily - talk calmly so the horse hears a human voice.
Downhill yields to uphill
The person climbing has the right of way. It's a firm rule for bikes and good manners for hikers.
A few more
- Dogs: keep them leashed (6 feet in state parks) and pick up after them. Some trails and sensitive areas don't allow dogs at all - check the park.
- Drones: essentially banned in state parks (one designated area at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, or a filming permit - see the Camping hub).
- Don't feed wildlife - it's bad for them and against the rules (see the Wildlife hub).
- Don't use muddy trails. Hiking or riding wet, soft trails carves ruts and ruins them - and can get them closed. Wait for them to dry.
Keep going
Official sources
The seven principles come from the Leave No Trace Center; the dog, drone, and trail rules from TPWD. Each park can set its own specifics, so the park's page is the final word.
- Data vintage:
- Trail etiquette as reviewed June 2026
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- Leave No Trace - Seven Principles - Trail ethics in plain terms
- TPWD - State Park rules
- NPS - hiking etiquette & yield rules
Caution: Most of these are courtesies, not laws - but breaking them gets trails damaged and closed. A park's own rules (dogs, drones, closures) are the final word.
Spot something that needs a Texas check?
This first pass is built to be polished over time. Send the page name, county, parcel context if relevant, and the official source you are looking at.
Email Texas Porch.