A Guide to Hiking in Houston
Memorial Park and Buffalo Bayou are just a couple of Houston’s expansive trail options to hike, bike, and run.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Houston
is the world capital of space exploration, energy production, and air conditioning use. And with some of the country’s biggest and most beautiful urban green spaces, it looks like H-town has its sights set on becoming a trail capital, too! These are some of the best Houston Hikes: Basin Loop, Mercer Arboretum Loop, and Seymour Lieberman Exercise Trail. But there are many more great spaces for hiking, casual strolling, cross-training, and cycling in Houston.
For instance, the city’s famed Memorial Park is home to seven combined trails and tracks alone through its 1,466 acres.
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Although it holds claim to being the most air-conditioned city in the world, Houston still has great outdoor spaces for those ready and willing to brave the humid heat. Here are some of our top picks.
Best for views: Buffalo Bayou Loop
Distance: 4.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 206 feet
Parking: You can park at Lost Lake, Eleanor Tinsley Park, or the Waterworks. You can also find streetside parking along Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive.
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: Buffalo Bayou Park—take Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, and you’ll find the trailhead between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive
This downtown urban park trail offers city skyline views and lots of wildlife, too. It’s a paved trail that runs along both sides of the bayou with connecting pedestrian bridges.
Because of its downtown location, this trail is often pretty busy. It might not be the one for you if you’re looking for solace, but it’s a great place to be around other people and feel safe while walking or jogging. Cyclists use the trail too, so remember to be courteous and leave space for passing.
Pro Tip Check out the park at night to get a look at Buffalo Bayou’s signature lunar cycle lighting system, which changes from white to blue while the moon waxes and wanes.
Best for Instagram: White Oak Bayou Greenway
Distance: 16.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Point to point
Elevation gain: 390 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: Heights Hike and Bike Trail at Studemont
On this trail, you’ll find tons of photo opportunities. Snap shots of wildlife, vegetation, the historic districts, and downtown Houston. You’ll also pass by the Watonga Parkway Park, home to one of the city’s largest bat roosts—100,000 Mexican free-tailed bats.
The trail will take you through five city park spaces along a well-maintained, paved path that is ideal for walking, running, or cycling. Be prepared for skyline views and wildflowers cropping up along the banks of the bayou. Also, be prepared for a few busy street crossings.
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Best for Families: Basin Loop
Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 42 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: Joseph A. Fiorenza park at 4025 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX 77082
If you follow the entire 5.5-mile trail, you’ll go around the perimeter of three lakes on a fairly level asphalt path that is perfect for families, strollers, and dog-walking. Cyclists and runners also use the trail, so if you’re walking with a big group, try to make way for passing.
Along the trail, visitors can spy wildlife like raccoons and several different types of birds, including bald eagles and pelicans. It’s a great place to take your binoculars for bird watching. The trail is also dotted with a few swings for the kids, as well as occasional benches and exercise platforms. However, there are few restrooms or trash cans.
Pro Tip Most of the Basin Loop Trail is not very shady, so make sure to wear appropriate sun protection before you head out!
Best for dogs: Bill Archer Dog Park Loop
Distance: 0.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 0 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 3201 Highway 6 North, Houston, TX 77084
The Bill Archer Dog Park is surrounded by a loop trail offering views of a small lake, as well as easy access to restrooms, workout stations, benches, and water fountains—for you and your furbabies.
The park has two areas near the walking loop—a small dog park and a large dog park, where your pups can run free and play. There are dog-washing stations, a bone-shaped doggie swimming pool, and an agility course for your pet.
The trail is level and easy, though there can be muddy spots along the way after heavy rainfall.
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Best for a date: Mercer Arboretum Loop
Distance: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 32 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston, TX 77338
This easy, paved trail is located within the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens—a 250-acre collection of trees and plants that is free and open to the public. The main loop is a paved trail surrounded by various tree species, but there are also dirt trail off-shoots to get a closer look at the forest habitat.
Because it’s a smaller, narrower trail, cyclists should seek somewhere else to ride. Walkers and joggers, though, can enjoy the groves of trees that come ablaze in the fall. Go off-trail to check out the gully and water creatures and enjoy the peaceful breeze through the mangroves.
The park also includes a butterfly house, picnic areas, and restrooms, and it’s another great site in Houston for birdwatching.
Best for exercise: Seymour Lieberman Exercise Trail
Distance: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Elevation gain: 9 feet
Parking: Yes
Dogs: Yes
Starting point: You can get to the trail from anywhere inside Memorial Park, located at 6501 Memorial Drive
The Seymour Lieberman Exercise Trail is one of Houston’s favorite spots for running and jogging. It encircles the Memorial Park golf course and is near other athletic venues in the park, including a quarter-mile running track, baseball fields, and tennis courts.
The trail is open to pedestrians only, as well as dogs if they are leashed. It’s crushed granite, which is a little easier on the knees than asphalt, and is considered a safe place to run and walk as it’s well-lit and heavily used.
The trail is dotted with water fountains and restrooms, and there is plenty of shade from the hot Houston sun.
Tips for hiking in Houston
Houston is beloved by hikers, runners, and cyclists for its fantastic trail system and green space amenities. You do want to follow a few precautions, though, before you set out to explore Houston’s best trails.
- Bring plenty of water. Houston has a hot, muggy climate. Unless you’re out running or hiking in January, you are probably going to sweat—a lot.
- Put on sunscreen. Although many of Houston’s best trails are shaded, that’s not always reliable protection from sun exposure. Make sure you apply sunscreen to yourself and your children.
- Practice good trail etiquette. If you’re going with family or a group of friends, line up in rows that are two people wide rather than clogging the width of the trail. You want to leave space for other cyclists, runners, and walkers to pass. Also, if you take your dog, keep it on a leash. And always pick up after yourself and your dog.
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FAQs
Is it safe to hike in Houston?
Houston offers plenty of safe, accessible hiking trails to enjoy, but there are always steps you can take to feel more safe and secure. One important safety tip is to plan ahead in case your cell phone dies or you lose signal.
It’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. You also want to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and if you go hiking in the evening, stick to Houston’s better-lit trails.
Are there mountains to hike in around Houston?
There are no mountains near Houston. Texas mountain ranges are a minimum nine-hour drive away from Houston.
However, if you’re up for a scenic road trip that’s not much farther away, consider taking a drive from
Houston to Nashville, TN
. It will take you through the Arkansas Ozarks—a nice, smaller mountain range—before landing you in the Great Smoky Mountains near Nashville. 
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