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The Texas Springs Star Trail is a short hike which my friends and I have been doing for the last decade. It all started because many times when we took trips to Death Valley, we decided to camp at Texas Springs campground. We probably started this because sometimes at night we would see a bright star lit up on the hillside above Furnace Creek Inn. Thus, this became a night hike for us. At least once per trip, we would wait until it was dark outside, and then take flashlights and hike up to the Texas Springs Star. We really enjoyed doing this time after time, so I thought I would hike the Texas Springs Star Trail during the day, to give you a glimpse of what this short journey is all about.
The Texas Springs Star Trail starts at the upper end of Texas Springs campground:
As you make your way southeast up the hillside, the star becomes visible off on the horizon:
Once you've climbed the first hill, look back down at Texas Springs campground:
There is a trail at the top of the first hill, which you can follow briefly by turning left (east). But you need to find a trail to take you down to the road below:
This view shows that you will need to drop down to the road, cross Texas Springs, and hike up the much larger hill in the distance:
This is a service road. Just cross it and continue the hike:
Crossing Texas Springs during the hike:
This is Texas Spring Fall, which you will pass if you cross the road at the right place:
Make your way south up the larger hill and look for a faint trail in the distance:
The trail becomes more clear after a few minutes:
Basically, you're following the ridgeline as you make your way up to the star house:
Pausing to look back towards Texas Springs campground, which is now much further in the distance:
Final path to the summit and the star house:
The Texas Springs Star looks beautiful when it is bright on a dark night:
View southwest from the star house, looking over Furnace Creek Inn:
This is the view west, which looks over Furnace Creek Ranch:
And finally, this is the view north from the summit:
Steve posing at the Texas Springs Star as it gets dark outside and is close to turning into a night hike:
The star is attached to a house which has unknown origins:
The hike is not over yet. You still need to walk down to the monument and cemetery and then complete the loop:
When you reach the monument and cemetery, obey this sign and don't walk onto the land. This is a sacred place for the local Indian tribe:
To finish the hike, follow the trail back over the next hill to Texas Springs. Then, walk up the road a bit until you find an easy place to climb back over the small hill you came up at the beginning of the hike: