Pinta Trail (Texas)

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The Pinta Trail is an historic trail in Central Texas that was first traveled by indigenous tribes, and later Spanish explorers, settlers and soldiers, as well as wayfarers on their journey to California. The 19th-century Germans who settled the Texas Hill Country used part of the Pinta Trail on their journey northward from New Braunfels. A crossing on the Pinta Trail was the site of an historic battle between a Texas Ranger and a Comanche chief.

Geography

The Pinta Trail, with its eastern and western branches, forms a route of 180 miles (290 km) from the Guadalupe River in San Antonio to Menard. Its name comes from the Spanish word "pinto". The eastern loop of the trail winds from San Antonio up through Sisterdale, Luckenbach, Cain City, Fredericksburg and Mason before extending to the site of Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá in Menard. The western loop of the trail extends from San Antonio to Boerne and Waring in Kendall County, meeting the junction of Ranch to Market Road 473 and the Waring-Welfare Road. It then travels northward to Grapetown, and on to Cain City, where it joins the eastern loop to Menard.[1]

History

Historically, the trail is thought to have been used as a migration, trade and transportation route by indigenous tribes in Texas. In 1844, Texas Ranger John Coffee Hays did battle with Comanche chief Yellow Wolf at the Battle of Walker's Creek. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Pinta Trail Crossing. James Wilson Nichols described the battle in his journal Now You Hear My Horn as happening on the Guadalupe River at the point where the Pinta Trail crossed the Guadalupe as the trail led northward from San Antonio to Fredericksburg. Robert Addison Gillespie, for whom Gillespie County is named, served under Hays during this battle.[2][3] When John O. Meusebach brought the Adelsverein emigrants from New Braunfels to the Fisher-Miller Land Grant territory, they followed the eastern loop of the Pinta Trail. It was then alternately known as Emigrant Road or Emigrant Trail. During this era, Texas had many roads that were referred to as Emigrant Road or Trail.[4] As the non-indigenous population moved westward, the trail was used by soldiers, stage coach routes, the Pony Express, and was part of a migration route to California. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway followed along the Pinta Trail out of San Antonio.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "The Pinta Trail from the Guadalupe River to Fredericksburg". Voice of the Texas Hills. Retrieved 9 January 2012. 
  2. ↑ Nichols, James Wilson (1967; reprint 2010). Now You Hear My Horn. University of Texas Press. pp. 77, 78. ISBN 978-0-292-75582-6. 
  3. ↑ Cutrer, Thomas W. "Battle of Walker's Creek". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 9 January 2012. 
  4. ↑ Jordan, Terry G. "Hill Country". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 9 January 2012. 
  5. ↑ Nixon, Nina L. "Pinta Trail". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 9 January 2012. 

External links

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