Located just off 1604 and I10, this trailhead is a very popular spot for getting onto the Leo Creek greenbelt. It is close to the Rim, La Cantera, and UTSA. This trailhead offers the basic turn left and go South or turn right and go North options. As a main feeder trailhead for Leon Creek, this spot offers you anything from a 5 minute walk to a 90 mile run.
There is a decent amount of parking, but it can get crowded. Saturday and Sunday mornings can be difficult to find a parking place. Week days are not so bad, especially if you can get there while others are at work. There are a couple of porta-potties in the parking area, and a small shaded area with sitting rocks if you need to adjust your gear.
Going North, you will be on a nice paved trail and will pass under the highway for a brief bit of shade beside the usually dry creek. The highway underpass is one of four that you’ll go under as the trail meanders into the Rim. It is about 1.75 miles to the Rim, then another mile to the far side of the Rim. Both are good places to turn around for a shorter run, or a North out and back / South out and back. Continue past the Rim and you are in for a hill with the extension to Eisenhower park: https://texastrailrunning.com//leon-creek-rim-to-eisenhower-park-extension
For the South option from the trailhead, you are in for a lot of winding paved path with very small inclines and descents. You’ll go about 2 miles to the Fox Park trailhead, which is a great alternate parking area if Vallero is full.
This trail can be hot enough to burn you in the summer. Take plenty of water and electrolytes. I had a pretty bad experience with the heat on this trail that almost put me in the hospital. I put a fictionalized account in a chapter of my book. For your reading pleasure: https://texastrailrunning.com//make-a-run-for-it-long-run
Pro Tips
- Convenient to the highways
- Can get crowded, alternate parking is about 10 minutes away at Fox Park trailhead
- Trail gets busy, be on the lookout for fast moving bikes
- Porta-potties are in the parking area
- Take water and electrolytes
- Running North is a bit more interesting
- Running South is flatter
Love the pictures!!