A paved and fully-accessible trail to the ruins of a stop along a historic mail route. 

In contrast to the abundance of backcountry trail in the Guadalupe Mountains, this .75-mile hike is paved, wheelchair accessible, and even dog friendly. The traditional way to hike this trail is to begin at the park headquarters below the Pine Spring Campground, but if you're running short on time, you could park at a small gravel lot on US-62, less than 1/4-mile east from the main entrance.

[According to the NPS](https://www.nps.gov/gumo/learn/historyculture/pinery.htm), "The Pinery Station has the distinction of being the only remaining station ruin standing close to a major thoroughfare - only 200 yards off U.S. 62/180, which generally follows the original Butterfield route through Guadalupe Pass." An original stop on the [Butterfield Overland Mail Route](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfield_Overland_Mail#:~:text=Butterfield%20Overland%20Mail%20(officially%20the,%2C%20to%20San%20Francisco%2C%20California.&text=Louis%20to%20San%20Francisco.), a stagecoach would pass through this historic site carrying both passengers and mail between its western terminus in San Francisco, to either of its eastern stops in Memphis, Tennessee or St. Louis, Missouri.

As you explore this historic site, be mindful that this is a significant piece of history that is now protected by the National Park Service so that it may pay homage to the development of modern society. The ruins are especially fragile, and climbing or tampering with them can be detrimental to their survival.

For a more in-depth view of the station's history, including its fort-like construction, notable people, and even tragic Indian attacks, consider reading [this article](https://www.nps.gov/gumo/learn/historyculture/pinery.htm) published by the National Park Service.

[Source](https://www.nps.gov/gumo/learn/historyculture/pinery.htm) Written by Brendon Voelker

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