Balcones Canyonlands National
Wildlife Refuge Receives National Trail Recognition (06/04/2005)
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton
announced the designation of Doeskin Ranch on Balcones Canyonlands National
Wildlife Refuge as a National Recreation Trail (NRT). This is the first
NRT designated on a national wildlife refuge in the state. Doeskin Ranch
Trail System joins 17 other NRTs on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands
this year.
“These trails lead hikers through some of America’s most beautiful
deserts, wetlands and prairies that make up our National Wildlife Refuge
System and National Fish Hatcheries,” said Secretary Norton. “The
National Recreation Trails designation will help more people discover
the many recreational opportunities available on refuges and at hatcheries.”
National Recreation Trails are designated in response to an application
from the trail's managing agency or organization by the Secretary of Interior
or the Secretary of Agriculture, and recognize exemplary trails of local
and regional significance. Doeskin Ranch is now recognized as part of
America's national system of trails and joins more than 900 other trails
nationwide.
Doeskin Ranch and Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge will benefit
from the prestige and increased visibility of being a part of the National
Trail System. New designations are announced annually by the Secretary
of the Interior as part of the nationwide celebration of National Trails
Day, the first Saturday in June, and recognized at the biannual National
Trails Symposium.
National Recreation Trails provide for numerous outdoor recreation activities
in a variety of urban, rural and remote areas, ranging from less than
a mile to 485 miles in length on federal, state, municipal, and privately
owned lands.
For more information on the National Recreation Trails program, visit
the American Trails website at
http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible
for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The
Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which
encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands
and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish
hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field
stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered
Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant
fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and
helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting
equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
Doeskin Ranch currently has 3.5 miles of trails from relatively easy to
moderate walking. Backcountry trails will be under construction beginning
this autumn. Bring water and good foot wear! Doeskin Ranch is open during
daylight hours for people most every day of the year. It is located on
RR 1174 about 11 miles from the refuge office (on FM 1431) via Cow Creek
Road.