The trail from Brownsville to Fort Inge, which follows the Rio Grande, is full of unique nature and deep history. People have used this trail for hundreds of years, but it was particularly important during the "Indian Wars.” During this time, the Buffalo Soldiers, especially the 9th Cavalry, rebuilt army posts along this trail that protected the busy border areas from conflict with Native Americans. Their work was very hard–the soldiers rode for long hours through rugged land, guarded small towns and supply wagons, confronted different Native American groups, and stopped raids from across the border. The Buffalo Soldiers made the frontier safer along the Rio Bravo and played a significant role in this part of Texas history.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley buzzed with Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry and 24th Infantry after the Civil War well into the early 1900s. Stationed at posts like Fort Brown and…
The Lower Rio Grande Valley, with its unique wetlands and thornscrub, was a key area for Buffalo Soldiers patrolling out of posts like Fort Brown from the late 1800s into the early…
The Buffalo 9th Cavalry from nearby Fort Ringgold patrolled the rugged border country along this remote stretch of the Rio Grande in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They dealt with…
Lake Casa Blanca International State Park sits in the historic border city of Laredo, where Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry and 24th Infantry were stationed at nearby Fort McIntosh from the…
PROTECTING THE BORDER FOR 150 YEARS On March 27 1849, Capt. Sidney Burbank and companies A, B, and F of the First United States Infantry set up camp along the east side…
The site of the 1849 U.S. Cavalry post, was inhabited by people and wildlife for thousands of years because of its protected location. Fort Inge (Camp Leona) is on the east bank…
PASO DE LOS INDIOS Fort McIntosh, one in a line of military garrisons established along the Texas frontier during a period of time after the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-48, was named in…
GARRISON TO GRADE SCHOOL For 96 years, Fort Ringgold watched over Rio Grande City and its Rio Grande River crossing. Built just after the end of the war with Mexico and named…
Or, continue scrolling to view the sites located on this trail segment.
Tropical Trail Region
2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive (FM 2062) Mission, TX 78574 (956) 584-9156 Website
Tropical Trail Region
3301 S. International Blvd. (FM 1015) Weslaco, TX 78596 (956) 565-3919 Website
Tropical Trail Region
146 Park Road 46 Falcon Heights, TX 78545 (956) 848-5327 Website
Tropical Trail Region
West End Washington Street at Laredo Community College Laredo, TX 78040 (956) 721-5140 Website
Tropical Trail Region
1 South Ringgold Street Rio Grande City, TX 78582 (956) 716-6700
Tropical Trail Region
5102 Bob Bullock Loop Laredo, TX 78044 (956) 725-3826 Website
Tropical Trail Region
7200 Paredes Line Road (FM 1847) Brownsville, TX 78520 (956) 541-2785 Website