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.
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