Journey Through Boerne Past & Present
The evolution of this transportation corridor in the beloved Texas Hill Country is a unique and fascinating story.  Although there was never a designated No. 9 train route for any of the railroads that passed through these hills, the name does give insight into the transportation heritage of the region. The naming of this trail as the Old #9 Greenway symbolizes the evolution of transportation from trailway to railway to roadway to greenway. Take a Journey Through Boerne and take a walk through time as you get a glimpse of yesteryear along the Old No. 9 Greenway.


The story begins along portions of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway Company (SA&AP) Northwest Extension from San Antonio to Kerrville, especially the segment from San Antonio to the south side of Boerne, following very closely the route of the Pinta Trail. This early Indian trail was a route to the interior of the Texas Hill Country that was originally traversed by foot, then by horse. Many years later this route was used by fearless freighters and hearty German immigrants en route to present day Menard. The alignment of the trail follows relatively easy topography and links together perennial water sources, diverse vegetation and abundant wildlife habitat.

After the construction of the SA&AP rail line, a more permanent roadway, State Highway 9 (S.H. 9), was designed and built by the State Highway Department that follows the route of the Old San Antonio / Old Fredericksburg Roads. This roadway was later upgraded, realigned and renamed U.S. Route 87. This new route utilized portions of S.H. 9. A segment of an unused section of this roadway was later renamed as Old Number 9 to recognize this remnant route. The third and latest upgrade and expansion was the creation of Interstate Highway 10 that swings further westward, sweeping away from the alignment of the original Pinta Trail.

In a conscious effort to connect to Boerne’s earlier days of transportation, the motif of the SA&AP railroad was fused into the trail amenities for the Old No. 9 Greenway. The depot shade pavilion at Blanco Road was designed to replicate the outline of the smaller SA&AP depots. At the northern terminus of the Old No. 9 Greenway is the passenger shade pavilion resembling the passenger and baggage platform, an extension from the passenger end of the depot to provide patrons and their baggage with partial protection from the searing summer rays and torrential Texas rainfalls.

Trail Amenities Include:
Paved parking lot at Esser Road trail head located at S.H. 46 & Esser Road, at no. 9 water tower
Six rest stops along the 1.4 mile trail
Trailheads at Esser Road, Blanco Road & Frederick/Garden St.
Drinking fountains at each trail head
Doggie drinking fountain at the Blanco Rd. trailhead 
Railroad themed depot shade pavilion at Blanco Rd. trailhead
Spray mister is located at the Esser Rd. trailhead
Railroad themed wooden trestle pedestrian bridge
Interpretive signs along the trail