Click HERE for large route map of Lone Star Trail

Lone Star Trail was a trail that went from Camp Tom Wooten along Lake Austin all the way West to Mansfield Dam at Lake Travis of the Colorado River.  When the trail was completed, they had two campsites, each with a shelter built along the trail, for groups to set up camp and be sheltered from the weather for cooking.

The Lone Star Trail was dedicated to Explorer Scouting, through efforts of Lone Star Post 18.   The trail was made possible by friends of Scouting, who had contributed generously in material, and allowing Scouts and Explorers to travel through public and private property.  The rules of conduct were as follows:

1.  Stick to the trail, and use only selected sites, granted by property owners, for over-night stops.
2.. Be sure all gates are left closed, when you have gone through.
3.  Use stiles for convenience in crossing fences, where gates are not available.
4.  Be careful not to scare livestock, nor aggravate them by chasing them.  Protect all wild-life, so others passing this way may enjoy them.
5.  Leave camp-sites clean after using, to show Scouts have been here.  (All cooking fires out!)
6.  Courtesy is the rule at all times, governing conduct with relation to property owners.

E. W. (Bill) Cartwright was Advisor, Lone Star Trail, for Explorers.
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This is a photo of the council installing the first Lone Star Trail Marker behind the log cabin at Camp Tom Wooten.  The person on the right is Herb Gaskin, Scout Executive of the Capitol Area Council.  The person in the center is E. W. (Bill) Cartwright.

A  typical aluminum Lone Star Trail marker.  Photo provided by Steve Mulanax.

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The first treks from Camp Tom Wooten included donkeys that carried the food and cook gear.  The Scouts hiked the trail all the way to Mansfield Dam and back again.  They took two days to hike up to the dam and two days to hike back.   They camped at two established campsites along the trail.
 
 
 
 

Each night they would stop at one of the two Lone Star Trail kitchen shelters, establish camp, and prepared supper.  The next morning, after breakfast, they would break camp and continued on the trail.  Shown to your right is the shelter at Lake Travis near the Mansfield Dam.  Note the pith helmet and surplus sailor cap that were popular at the time.  The one seated with the dark T-shirt looks like Don Lee.  He made several trips to Lake Travis with the donkeys and Scouts.  This picture was taken sometime between 1953 and 1955.
 
 
 

This is the other Lone Star Trail kitchen and campsite.  This one was located on the L. East Ranch between Camp Tom Wooten and Lake Travis.  This area later became the Austin City Park and even later the Lake Austin Metropolitan Park. 
 
 
 

Later, the program became known as the Pack and Paddle Program whereas one group hiked to the dam while another group paddled up the Colorado River from camp to the dam.  Their food was trucked to them from camp.  They met at the shelter near the dam and the next morning, the group that hiked, paddled the canoes back to camp whereas those that canoed up the river hiked back down the Lone Star Trail to Camp Tom Wooten. 

Phil Pegues: relates  "I did the Pack and Paddle one year.  We 'buried' an old trunk up on a cliff side cave.  A clay pot, sealed with old wax, was buried in the sand of one campsite.  It is accidentally uncovered during some 'scuffle' play.  Inside was a map of the area with the cave marked with an X.  When the scouts went into the cave and found the trunk, there was candy inside.  For the Trail scouts, the National Guard dropped parachutes with candy while they were hiking in the open.  Do not believe these were used as standard events after my session.  Do not know what happened to the trunk."