In collaboration with the San Marcos Parks Department, SMGA has been working on preparing several of our Natural Areas for new trailhead maps. Lower Purgatory Natural Area has seen some of the most visible changes over the last several months. We’ve completed some minor reroutes and renamed a few trails to improve navigation, sustainability, and the overall experience for users.
These realignments aren’t just about moving dirt around; they’re about creating paths that work with the landscape rather than against it. The updated routes reduce erosion and improve drainage, keeping these trails rideable for years to come. Clearer routing also helps newcomers navigate more easily, which means people stay on designated trails and sensitive areas don’t get trampled.
Ovid
The former Ovid East and a portion of Ovid West have been consolidated into a single trail. Ovid was a Roman poet who heavily influenced Dante’s Divine Comedy, appearing among the honored poets Dante encounters in the Inferno. While he doesn’t guide Dante through his journey (that honor goes to Virgil and Beatrice), his themes of transformation and mythological storytelling echo throughout Dante’s epic.
Farinata
The remaining section of West Ovid has been renamed Farinata. Farinata degli Uberti earns his spot in Dante’s sixth circle of Hell for heresy, but what makes him memorable is his defiance. Despite being trapped in a flaming tomb, this proud 13th century Florentine aristocrat stands tall and unapologetic, engaging Dante in political debate with fierce dignity. Dante’s portrayal acknowledges Farinata’s greatest act: when his allies wanted to raze Florence after their victory, Farinata alone stood against them, vowing to defend his city with his own sword.
Taming the Rogues
We’ve also made official one popular rogue trail, known to some as “Ring of Fire.” SMGA volunteers and city trail crew staff voted to rename it “Inferno”—a fitting choice that honors both our Dante theme and the trail’s popular Strava designation. The Inferno and Dante trails meet at the start of what some consider Middle Purgatory. Beatrice has also been extended below the dam to incorporate another popular, previously unofficial route.
Rogue trails are a persistent challenge. These user-created shortcuts usually pop up with good intentions. Maybe someone wants a faster route, a better view, or just to explore, but they often end up in spots that aren’t ideal for long-term sustainability. These desired paths tend to ignore drainage patterns and slope, compact soil in sensitive areas, and accelerate erosion. By adopting and properly routing these trails, we’re acknowledging where people want to go while making sure we do it in a way that protects the natural area for future users.
These and future trail changes for all our natural areas are live on our the new interactive map, which can be found at trails.sanmarcostx.gov.
Author: SMGA Stewardship Committee Chair, Cameron Herber