A Guide to Hiking in Dallas

Trinity Skyline Trail, Cedar Ridge Preserve, and Santa Fe Trail are some of the best hiking destinations in Dallas.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
From fantastic views of downtown off the Trinity Skyline Trail to exploring the largest urban hardwood forest in the nation at the Trinity River Audubon Center, these are the best hiking trails in
Dallas
Dallas isn’t exactly known as a hiker’s paradise, but there are surprisingly several incredible hiking trails within the metroplex. Whether you’re looking for a challenging workout or you’re a nature photographer searching for the perfect shot, there are plenty of hiking trails in Big D. 
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The best hikes in Dallas 

Dallas might be known for football, unique architecture, and frozen margaritas, but there are also plenty of fantastic hiking trails to go around! Here are the best hiking trails in Dallas:

Best for views: Trinity Skyline Trail

Distance: 4.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Point to point 
Elevation gain: N/A
Parking: Street
Dogs: Yes 
Starting point: Trinity Skyline Trail, Dallas, TX 75207
Looking for spectacular views of downtown Dallas? If so, Trinity Skyline Trail is the spot for you. Enjoy a leisurely walk on this paved hiking trail for great shots of the amazing Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and the one-of-a-kind Dallas skyline. 
There are three parking and access points: Trammell Crow Park (3700 Sylvan Ave), Continental Avenue Bridge and West Dallas Gateway (109 Continental Ave), and the Trinity Overlook (110 W. Commerce St). This gorgeous Dallas trail is not only great for hiking, but for biking too as it connects to the pedestrian Continental Avenue Bridge
In the future, there are plans to connect the Trinity Skyline Trail to the Santa Fe Trail (which we’ll look into momentarily!) and the Trinity Strand Trail as well. 

Best for dogs: Santa Fe Trail

Distance: 5.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Point to point
Elevation gain: N/A 
Parking: Street 
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: Dallas, TX 75214
Don’t forget about your furry four-legged best friend! Santa Fe Trail is an easy-to-navigate 5.3-mile point-to-point hiking trail that runs through East Dallas. And there are so many lovely historic neighborhoods to see along the way.
Your trek will start at Winstead near the southern edge of White Rock Lake. From there, you’ll cross Grand Avenue until you hit Hill Street in the always-lively Deep Ellum neighborhood. This is a great place to stop for refreshment at any number of bars with dog-friendly patios. 

Best for Instagram: Cedar Ridge Preserve 

Distance: 0.8 to 5.4 miles
Difficulty: Varied
Trail type: Varied
Elevation gain: <682 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249
Get your camera ready! If you’re looking for a quiet hike away from the noise in the downtown Dallas area, take a drive down south about 20 minutes to the beautiful Cedar Ridge Preserve
Audubon Dallas, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society, maintains the 603-acre preserve that features a wide variety of native trees, plants, birds, and other wildlife. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a Cardinal, Goldfinch, or a rare Black-capped Vireo bird!
Cedar Ridge also boasts nine miles of hiking trails open year-round. From the easy Cedar Bike Trail via Cattail Pond Trail to the moderately challenging Cedar Ridge Outer Loop—you’re sure to see plenty of natural wonders that you can brag about on Instagram.
Pro Tip Cedar Ridge Preserve is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 6:30 am to dusk—which is about 30 minutes after sunset. 

Best for families: Escarpment Road Trail

Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail type: Out and back
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249
There are so many awesome trails at the Cedar Ridge Preserve, that we had to include one more! But the best hiking trail for families by far is the Escarpment Road Trail, which sits closer to
Duncanville
than Dallas. 
This moderately-challenging hiking trail stretches for 2.5 miles and it typically takes hikers less than an hour to complete. But if you’re bringing the kids, this could prolong your hiking journey, as there will be a myriad of lovely local trees and wildlife for the whole family to enjoy along the way. You can also bring your furry family members as well—just don’t forget the leash. 
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Best for exercise: Boulder Park Trail

Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 259 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 6600 Pastor Bailey Dr, Dallas, TX 75237
Get ready to break a sweat! There are plenty of steep climbs and rocky terrain to contend with at Boulder Park Trail, located in Boulder Park, less than a 10-mile drive from the city. 
Parking is available on Pastor Bailey Drive and on the side streets of Hallet and Calhoun. The trailhead starts across from Hallet Street. Boulder Park Trail is very popular among mountain bikers, so keep an eye out in case they zoom on by you! But hikers can also take advantage of trekking through stunning wooded areas, vast open fields, and serene creek crossings.  
Pro Tip When parking, do not park in any of the nearby church parking lots. Please stick to street parking on Pastor Bailey Drive, Hallet Street, or Calhoun Street.

Best for dates: Trinity River Audubon Center  

Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Out and back
Elevation gain: 72 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: No
Starting point: 6500 S Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas, TX 75217
If you want to impress your date, take them to the enchanting Trinity River Audubon Center. You’ll feel like you’re a world away, but in reality, you’re less than 10 miles from downtown Dallas. Spend the day exploring the 6,000 acres of native plants and wildlife, in addition to wetlands, prairie habitat, and the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States!
Pro Tip
Advanced ticket purchase
is required. It’s $6.00 for adults, but if you’re a 75217 resident, you get in for free!

Tips for hiking in Dallas

Hiking in Dallas is a great way to see a new side of the growing cosmopolitan city. It’s a terrific option if you need to escape the busy downtown life while surrounding yourself with nature. But before you hit the trails around Big D, follow these tips to ensure a great hike: 
  • Bring your water bottle. Texas is known to bring the heat year-round! Bring about 0.5 liters of water for every hour of your hike to stay properly hydrated.
  • Don’t forget the sunscreen. Not only do you need to stay hydrated, but you must protect your skin from UV rays too. Bring along a bottle of 30 SPF (or higher!) sunscreen and reapply if you’re out on the trails all day. 
  • Be respectful of nature and other hikers. Many of the hiking trails on this list are popular among Dallasites, so you’ll always see other hikers or bikers. Be considerate of those coming after you and pick up after yourself and your dog too!
  • Hit the trails early. If you want to beat the heat and the crowds, it’s best to start your hiking trek first thing in the morning.

How to save money on car insurance in Dallas

No matter which hiking trail in Dallas you end up exploring, make sure you have the right car insurance coverage to protect yourself along the way. And with comparison super app
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FAQs

Yes! Most hiking trails around Dallas are open. But the
Trinity River Audubon Center
is still limiting visitors to timed entry. Make sure to check their website before heading over.
Dallas isn’t known for hiking, but there are plenty of amazing hiking trails within city limits.
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