The Angel of Goliad Hike and Bike Trail is a paved trail that runs from a trail head two blocks from the Goliad town square where it follows the San Antonio River into Goliad State Park and Historic Site. At the state park the trail crosses the San Antonio River where it runs along US-183 in front of Presidio La Bahia before it winds around General Zaragora’s statue. From the general’s statue, the trail heads to the Angel of Goliad statue. From the Angel of Goliad, the trail finishes at the Fannin Monument.
The Angel of Goliad? See Mission Rosario, Fannin Monument, Angel of Goliad, General Zaragoza and Presidio La Bahia (blog post).
The trail is between 2 and 2½ miles from end to end. We have walked the trail a number of times over the years starting from the State Park. This year I asked Linda to drop me off in Goliad so I could walk the entire trail end-to-end in a single hike.
The Hike
At the trail head there are a number of short switchbacks leading into the following trail segment.
Information displays are placed along the trail.
This particular display talks about annual events occurring in the Goliad area.
Next, a trail bridge crosses a deep ravine that drains into the San Antonio River.
Looking down into the deep ravine, water runs toward the San Antonio River.
A park bench awaits the weary traveler.
As the trail gets closer to the steep river banks, the trail has railings to keep hikers on the path. At points like this, looking out over the downhill (right) side, hikers can see glimpses of the river below.
The trail runs along a road near the abandoned railroad bridge. Just beyond the park bench is the road.
The information describes the trail’s namesake, The Angel of Goliad.
An abandoned railroad bridge crosses the San Antonio River. The bridge approach from the shore has been removed making it nearly impossible to get on the bridge.
All of a sudden, after the railroad bridge, the river banks become much more jagged. This marks the beginning of more switchbacks.
The abandoned railroad bridge is visible from the switchbacks.
The switchbacks mark the beginning of where the trail cuts across some rough country.
Next come the back yards. Some of the backyards are messy.
At this point, the trail has turned left away from the river and toward US-183. The river flows past one side of the park and the trail and US-183 runs past the other.
After the backyard trail section the trail turns right to run parallel to US-183 and the park boundary.
This section of trail is fairly straight and opens up quickly to reveal US-183 on the left and Mission Espiritu Santo on the right. This section crosses through Goliad State Park and Historic Site.
On the other side of the park, where the river runs, the river turns back toward US-183. First the trail turns left toward US-183.
At US-183, the trail follows a park road underpass.
The the trail goes under US-183 at the bridge approach and crosses the park road. On the other side of US-183 and also the other side of the park road is where the trail follows a ramp up to the level of the US-183 San Antonio River Bridge.
Once the trail gets up to the level of the bridge, hikers can see the trail running alongside US-183 for some distance.
From the recent rains, the San Antonio River is higher and muddier than usual.
Once across the bridge, Presidio La Bahia becomes visible on the left.
At this point, hikers may be tempted to turn up the street and go directly to the Presidio La Bahia but the more interesting journey comes from staying on the trail parallel to US-183 and going up the hill to Zaragoza’s statue where the trail turns left.
The trail winds around Zaragoza statue and past the Zaragoza birthplace.
Past Zaragoza’s birthplace, the trail runs along the Presidio walls.
Once above the rise in the hill, hikers should be able to see the Angel of Goliad Statue with the Fannin Monument behind it.
While at the Angel of Goliad Statue, look at the paving stones around the statue. This is a favorite.
The trail continues past the Angel of Goliad Statue and ends across the street from the Fannin Monument.
Here the trail ends.
Hope to see you on the road ahead.