Georgetown Texas Pickett Trail
I led a MeetUp group hike yesterday in an area that feels very sacred to me. I love the area because it feels to me like a sanctuary, private, pristine and peaceful. Georgetown Texas’ Pickett Trail is a small trail both in width and length compared to many, with beautiful vistas from rock cliffs overlooking the South San Gabriel River. According to the Georgetown, Texas Parks and Recreation Department, it was named after a rodeo cowboy who was of American Indian and black heritage named Bill Pickett. Pickett was from Taylor, Texas, in Williamson County. Bill Pickett was born December 5, 1870 and passed away in 1932 from injuries sustained from a stallion in Oklahoma. Bill Pickett was the very first black cowboy ever to be inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame and was the inventor of bulldogging, also known as steer wrestling.
A Great Georgetown Hike and Enjoyable Evening
Pickett Trail is an unmarked trail that many people may not know about. We met up at 6:00 pm at the Blue Hole parking lot. We started our hike walking beside Blue Hole and then went into the Pickett Trail. It was so fun. It’s a short trail compared to many and I have hiked it so many times in my life that I hardly have to look down at the path except for those steep stair steps. After our hike three of us swam at Blue Hole and visited. Among our trio was a lady who moved here two years ago from CA.
Georgetown and Central Texas Consequences of Growth
We have so many people moving here to Texas and the Austin, Texas as well as Georgetown, Texas area. I welcome all to our state as a Native Texan. I just worry about the population growth’s effect on the environment, both from people migrating here as well as our native Texas population’s growth. I saw trash on the trail at a few spots and this horrifies and saddens me. Normally it is so pristine and that is part of what I love.
Pickett Trail Signs
There is no sign making the trail, nor any signage along the trail. I would hate to have to put signs that read “No Littering $500. Fine”. What can one do? So I blog, hoping somehow, someway consciousness will be raised. Besides the no littering signs that I hope never need to be posted, I want a sign showing that the trail is named after Bill Pickett, to honor the memory of him. After all, it is named after him and he was a famous rodeo cowboy and Texan.
Pickett Trail Invasive Species
There are some areas of the Pickett Trail almost totally taken over by invasive plant species. Among the worst there is ligustrum but there is also a lot of nandina. Invasive species gradually take over the landscape and may choke out existing species. The existing native species belong in the natural ecosystem which provides food and habitat for native animal life. The City of Georgetown, and or volunteers need to clean the invasive species out of Pickett Trail and Blue Hole Park. Perhaps the Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society, Texas Master Gardeners or Texas Master Naturalists will take interest in this area.
Resources:
Books
Land of Good Water: A Williamson County Texas History by Clara Stearns Scarbrough
Guts: Legendary Black Rodeo Cowboy Bill Pickett by Cecil Johnson
Helpful Groups
Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society The Williamson County NPSOT is very active. I have been to some meetings and events. NPSOT does research and works in conservation of native plants and their habitats. The group meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00pm at the Georgetown, TX Public Library second floor meeting room. I am a member.
Texas Master Gardeners There is a Williamson County Texas Master Gardener program that meets monthly at 6:30pm at the Williamson County Extension Service Office, 3151 SE Inner Loop Road, Ste. A in Georgetown, Texas. The meetings are open to the public.
Texas Master Naturalists learn about natural resource conservation and provide leadership in management of natural resources and natural areas. Texas Master Naturalists volunteer teaching the public, removing invasive species and other activities.
Keep Austin Beautiful is a very active non-profit in the Austin, TX area. (512) 391-0621
Keep Texas Beautiful is the statewide organization
Keep America Beautiful is the nation wide non-profit program that ran the television ad campaign above.
NOTE: The 1993 Pickett Elementary School in Georgetown is named after Mrs. Dell Pickett, a teacher. Read more about her in the Georgetown View
Contact Betty Saenz REALTOR SRES, GRI, EcoBroker to see homes or other real estate in the Georgetown, TX area or anywhere in the Austin Metro Area. (512) 785-5050
I’m with you. I love walking in the parks. There is so much to see that a 3-5 mile hike can feel like minutes. I’ve never been to this park but maybe I can join you on a meet-up sometime.
Hi Betty- Good to know you’re out introducing people to the beautiful sites and not spending all of your time on the computer. I’ll have to look this one up!
I’m not really into long hikes since I prefer bike trekking, but you’re right, though. The serenity of the trail is very much like a sanctuary. People should respect it’s peaceful and orderly manner by keeping it as it is and not destroying the surrounding with their trash. There should be authorities that should keep an eye on these trails that would prevent people from leaving their trash behind.
I’ll actually be heading to Texas this spring and have been interested in doing some hiking over there (hiking is one of my favorite activities when going on vacation). Judging from your description and pictures, this looks like a pretty incredible hike to go on. Thanks for sharing!
Even looking at the pictures of Pickett Trail it calms the soul. I love to be out in nature so much. For me nothing beats it. Thanks for sharing.