In the News: Texas hiking guide series donates more than $14,000 back to state parks

HOOD COUNTY NEWS

The entrance sign to Dinosaur Valley State Park welcomes visitors to one of Texas’ most unique outdoor destinations, known for its preserved dinosaur tracks and scenic trails along the Paluxy River.

Article by SHAY CUELLAR | Hood County News| shay@hcnews.comhttps://www.hcnews.com/stories/texas-hiking-guide-series-donates-more-than-14000-back-to-state-parks,126916

While navigating the rugged trail system at Big Bend Ranch State Park, Robert and Jenny Fuller recognized a need for a detailed and reliable hiking guide — an idea that would eventually grow into Half Day Hikes.

A few years ago the Fullers, who live in Boerne, found themselves exploring the remote West Texas park, wishing they had a better trail guide.

“We kept thinking, someone should create this,” Robert Fuller said. “That’s when we realized that someone was us.” That idea became “Half Day Hikes,” a series of pocket-sized trail guides designed specifically for Texas State Parks.

After selling more than 7,500 guidebooks, the Fullers say the project has generated more than $14,000 in donations directly back to Texas State Parks for trail maintenance, signage and visitor safety improvements.

“This project has always been about giving back,” Jenny Fuller said. “Reaching $14,000 is exciting, but what really matters is what that money does on the ground, which is better trails, better signage and safer experiences for every visitor.”

Unlike many guidebook publishers, the Fullers donate 50 percent of the proceeds they receive from every guide sold directly back to the featured park.

The series currently includes guides for Big Bend Ranch, Palo Duro Canyon, Franklin Mountains, Garner, Lost Maples and Hill Country State Natural Areas.

Their seventh guide, now in development, will focus on Dinosaur Valley State Park and is expected to be released in 2027. Known for its preserved 113-million-year-old dinosaur footprints along the Paluxy River, the park attracts visitors from across Texas and beyond.

“This is such a unique experience for most visitors,” Robert Fuller said. “It allows people to step back in time and imagine what the Paluxy River valley looked like during the age of dinosaurs.”

The upcoming guide will include information on dinosaur track locations, trail systems, landmarks, scenic overlooks and river access areas. “This guide is going to be a great benefit to our visitors, both for its usefulness on the trail and because of the improvements the proceeds will make possible,” said Jeff Davis, superintendent of Dinosaur Valley State Park.

The Fullers said one of the biggest goals behind the guides is helping visitors stay safe while still enjoying the outdoors.

“Many hikers underestimate both the time and effort required for certain trails, especially in the Texas heat,” Jenny Fuller said. “One of the biggest things we emphasize is water, not just for people, but for dogs as well.”

The guides are built from firsthand experience. The couple works directly with park staff and hikes trails repeatedly in different conditions before mapping routes and selecting featured hikes.

“We try to include something for everyone, from casual walkers to experienced hikers,” Robert Fuller said.

They also intentionally design many routes as loop hikes, which they say generally are more popular than out-and-back trails.

The importance of reliable trail information became even more apparent after hearing stories like that of Big Bend Ranch hiker Jeff Hahn, whose short outing with his daughter turned into a 27-hour survival ordeal in 107-degree heat after the pair became lost without water.

“I’m sure that accurate trail information, key landmarks and practical safety tips for navigating primitive terrain would have turned our situation from terrible to manageable,” Hahn said. “We’ll definitely have “Half-Day Hikes” with us the next time we take on Big Bend.”

The Fullers said stories like Hahn’s reinforce why accurate trail information matters.

“Online information can sometimes be inconsistent depending on the source,” Robert Fuller said. “We work closely with park superintendents and interpreters to make sure our guides are accurate and easy to follow.”

Both Robert and Jenny come from high-tech professional backgrounds rather than publishing, something they said makes the project’s success even more meaningful.

“Honestly, it’s incredibly rewarding,” Jenny Fuller said. “What started as a passion project between the two of us has grown into something making a real impact in Texas State Parks.”

The couple said their long-term vision includes expanding the series beyond Texas, with hopes of eventually creating hiking guides for Colorado and even the Italian Dolomites.

But for now, their focus remains on helping Texans experience the outdoors safely and confidently.

“We hope our story encourages others to pursue ideas they’re passionate about and find ways to give back along the way,” Robert Fuller said.

With hopes more hikers lace up their boots and head into Texas State Parks, the Fullers hope each guidebook does more than help visitors find a trail.

They hope it helps preserve the trails themselves for generations still to come.