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Thousand Steps Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 154 Google reviews · Running trail in El Paso, Texas · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Thousand Steps Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Popular trail featuring rocky terrain, caves and views of El Paso, plus airplane wreckage.
What runners say about Thousand Steps Trailhead
“Beautiful trail but it can branch out a lot and be very rigid so I don’t recommend it to novices or children as it also has a couple stray wild animals of course.”
“Not very well marked, but happy we did the trail backwards.”
One of the best trails I’ve done in El Paso. My favorite trail to do to catch sunset 🌅 and sunrise if you continue to hike to the top of the mountains. If I got no plans to hike elsewhere, this is my running playground right here.
In seeing some of the other pictures, I think I took a detour but it was a good hike nonetheless. It can be a moderate to strenuous hike with a bit of climbing, depending on which path you take from the parking lot. It's a place to explore with several visits.
Had so much fun hiking this one. Hiked it up and back in under 2 hours (Even in jeans with 1 liter of water to share in 90°) It all depends on your speed of travel. Take your time, enjoy the views, plant life and the peace and tranquility of being on a mountain side trail
2nd time hiking up. It's definitely a challenging hike, but if you pace yourself and take regular breaks, you'll be fine. Incredible views from the top.
Trail conditions & character
“Beautiful trail but it can branch out a lot and be very rigid so I don’t recommend it to novices or children as it also has a couple stray wild animals of course.”
“The trail is dog-friendly, and there’s an honor box for payment ($5), which makes access super convenient.”
“It can be a moderate to strenuous hike with a bit of climbing, depending on which path you take from the parking lot.”
“Mostly rocky majority of the way and gets steep at the end of the hike to the bunker spot.”
“Not very well marked, but happy we did the trail backwards.”
“There’s also a water fountain for both people and dogs, plus picnic tables where you can relax before or after your hike.”
Plan your run at Thousand Steps Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteelpasotexas.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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