Great views of the Calatravas bridges and downtown! This…read moreimproved hiking and biking trail takes you past some of the most scenic parts of downtown Dallas. From the floodplain of the Trinity River, you can see all the bright lights of Big D. Downtown Dallas has two bridges designed by the internationally acclaimed architect, Santiago Calatravas. There's one at each end of the trail here. There's no restrooms here along this trail. No shade from trees. The area around the Trinity has been mowed to keep things visible, and a concrete path to follow. There's a map at the trail head that walks you through the features of the Trinity river valley. This place is generally pretty sketchy at night- there's a place you can pull off the road and park and make out or whatever those people are doing in their cars. It seems like a fantastic place to meet some shady characters late at night. I wouldn't hike past sundown. I went walking alone through the trail, and I'm pretty sure I made some of the other joggers uncomfortable when there was nobody else around... I'd have felt much more comfortable on a bike.

From what I understand based on the trail maps, the Trinity Skyline trail itself is a little less…read morethan 5 mile loop, but it connects to another trail which could lengthen it. On our first trip out, we only walked the half mile leg of the trail between the Trinity Overlook and the Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge. Street parking was easy at the Overlook. There weren't a lot of spaces but there also weren't a lot of cars. I think most people start from one of the other trailheads. The views from the overlook are nice, but not as nice as the views from the pedestrian bridge. It would probably be more exciting at night. From the overlook we descended down a steep hill to the trail. The path is a little rocky but still adequate for running, assuming you have good shoes. This definitely isn't a trail for you barefoot runners! I can't speak for the rest of it, but this portion of the trail was NOT LIT, so it wouldn't be an early morning or night run option without a flashlight (and a taser). It is roughly a flat half mile from the overlook to the bridge and it is beautiful. There are views of both the Margaret McDermott and Margaret Hunt Hill bridges, the Trinity River, and the Dallas Skyline. Walking the trail in early April, everything was vibrantly green and absolutely stunning. We hopped off the trail to walk down the Ronald Kirk pedestrian bridge. On a Friday mid morning in the midst of Coronavirus quarantine, the bridge was sparsely populated - just a few people here and there running, biking, or walking their dogs. I see from previous reviewers that it is normally quite lively, which will be a fun thing to go back and experience, but it was also nice to have the bridge mostly to ourselves and peacefully take in the 360 degree views. The Trinity Skyline trail and the Ronald Kirk Pedestrian bridge come together to make a true urban oasis. Go check it out!

this is a pretty decent place to walk. the path has pretty good views. would overall recommend but…read morenot that blown away by scenery.

The Harry Moss Trail is a hike/mountain bike trail maintained by DORBA (Dallas Off Road Bicycle…read moreAssociation) and part of the larger Harry Moss Park. It is located off of Greenville Avenue just north of Walnut Hill. Access is through the parking lot of Buckeye Liquor down a non paved road. Being new to mountain, or since we're in flat country, off road biking I was a little apprehensive about the whole experience. This trail was recommended by several sources as being more newbie friendly. It consists of several connected trails through mostly forested land. The trails are "single track" which means one-way. Bikers travel in a counterclockwise direction, hikers clockwise. It's safer that way. For the less experienced, there are numerous bypasses. More experienced bikers can tackle more technical routes. Each trail is assigned a color and, from what I could tell, the Blue Trail is the beginning. While I have logged many, many miles on my bike cruising around White Rock Lake, I found that this off road gig was ten times more challenging. And, by challenging, I mean by the time I was finished I was whipped. Like most parks of this nature, it is closed after a rain. But the DORBA website is really quick to spread the word. DORBA, a volunteer organization, maintains most if not all such parks. Their workdays are listed on their website and they welcome volunteers. DORBA also hosts numerous clinics and competitions. Unlike some of the pictures listed here, I found the property to be very well maintained. Not a bit of litter did I see. Oh, and by the way, the DWF area is consistently recognized by outside sources as having some of the best off road trails in the country.

This is a very suburban paved trail. The trail itself is well maintained. It's wide enough for…read morebikers and walkers to share and when we went, the grass on either side of the trail was recently mowed. There are a few areas where the trail crosses over the creek and in these places we did see a good amount of trash (come on, people!) but those were the only areas looking anything short of pristine. You could probably walk this entire trail in one day, but having kids who like to stop and explore every 10 feet, we split the walk over two days, the first day walking from the trailhead at the fire station off Davis to Smithfield Rd. and the second day covering Smithfield to Creekridge Dr., which is about where the John Barfield trail ends and the Little Bear Creek trail begins. We did not explore the trail East of Davis Blvd. so I cannot comment on that. From the starting point of the fire station, heading west, the trail is bordered by foliage on one side and houses on the other. There are large power lines lining the trail. It might as well be a walk down a neighborhood sidewalk. West of Smithfield, the trail does escape the housing developments for a bit and is lined by dense trees on either side. It offers very little shade, but it nevertheless a pretty walk. If it had been that way the for the entire trail, I would have given John Barfield 4 stars, but the other portions of the trail are just too suburban and sterile. It's a place to exercise, but frankly, this is no nature walk. This trail is a great feature for those who live within walking distance, but others will likely not find it to be worth the drive. FYI: the google app on my iPhone led us to a neighborhood near the trail off Davis. The correct location for the main trailhead (which is actually in the center of the trail) is at the fire station at Davis and Shadywood Ln.

So in Keller, North Richland Hills, Hurst, Colleyville, Grapevine, Southlake and Fort Worth there's…read morea pretty good network of trails. These trails are typically wide sidewalks, suitable for walking, running or cycling. While I'm fond of the Keller trails, they lack (peaceful) connectivity to the larger system of trails in Tarrant Co. I say peaceful, because while Rufe Snow Blvd has a wide sidewalk that can get you to the John Barfield Trail, it's not the most pleasant of of routes (I take Cat Mountain to North Tarrant Pky to get off Rufe Snow). That being said, once you get on the trail (you can pick it up near Rufe Snow and North Tarrant Pky (or near Keller-Smithfied Rd and North Tarrant Pky if you use the Cat Mtn bypass) it is quite peaceful. On the Barnfield Trail you can walk or ride, in relative peace, (almost) all the way to Grapevine (via the Cottonbelt) if you choose. On this day, I did. I started my walk on the John Barfield Trail, just south of North Tarrant Pky near Keller-Smithfield Rd. Very peaceful place to walk. A little lacking on facilities (water/restrooms), but those can be found further along the trail (Pleasant Run Soccer Complex in Colleyville) or at businesses near the trail. Do bring water though, as it's easier than detouring off the trail. The trail winds through neighborhoods, eventually ending up at the Cotton Belt trail (near Precinct Line Rd). From here, you can get all the way to Grapevine, but the trail peters out at Highway 26 (Coleyville Blvd). If there's a good trail into Grapevine (from here), I have yet to discover it. John Barnfield Trail url: http://www.nrhtx.com/Facilities.aspx?Page=detail&RID=46 NRH trail system: http://www.nrhtx.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/593 Cotton Belt Trail : http://www.traillink.com/trail/cotton-belt-trail.aspx (map at URL) Bottom line: Once on the trail, it's a wonderful escape.

I used to live by White Rock Lake and I mentioned it to my friend how much I miss it so she told me…read morethat it's accessible from North Dallas as well. Say what??? I was so happy and wanted to do it immediately. (but had to wait for good weather) Today was gorgeous out, almost 80 so I decided to go for it. The ride is not short, but safe, goes through playgrounds, soccer fields, under highways, it's a fun ride. It has many routes that I will explore in the future. Can't wait to do so! :D

Wow! What a safe and family friendly trail to take all the way from North Dallas to White Rock Lake…read moreand beyond! Grateful for having the chance to bike the whole distance to and around the lake and back, and it is totally clean and safe the whole way. I love that it features parks the whole way down... a solid choice if you're looking to bike with family or in general and don't want to be on the street amongst the crazy drivers!

A pretty green space in downtown Dallas though it seems to have been captured by a few of the…read moreresidentially challenged folks. They didn't bother me, I didn't bother them. A nice buffer and some of the grass could be better roped off as it seems like people like to walk on the same spots over and over. The Water Fountain looked very pretty and the rules area clear. Can I wonder why they have a "changing diapers" prohibition? Did that happen often enough that it necessitated a sign? Wait, I know people are horrible. Nevermind. [Review 775 of 2024 - 532 in Texas - 21806 overall]

Passed through this garden a couple of times…read more The butterfly installation kept catching my eyes. Pretty bare garden as it's close to winter. The butterflies no doubt make you think of warmer seasons and climate nonetheless. A nice reprieve from the cool fall day.

Located off of Zang Blvd, this park covers a large section of the blvd with land for baseball,…read moretrees, and a giant lake. The views are simply beautiful with the landscape mixed with the lake background making this an incredible park for walking/strolling around. You will also find nice viewings of the Dallas skyline due to the location of the park. The park was clean and is peaceful as you'll see plenty of people walking their pets or with their kids on the playground. Definintely worth a visit if you pass through the Oak Cliff area.

I am in love with this park. It has the cutest lake and is a perfect place to catch the sunrise! If…read moreyou walk around the park, on the sidewalk, it is 1 mile around. The best part is how quiet this place is in the mornings. I'm sure that will change with how nice the weather is getting. On weekends when I drive by, I do see all kind of people having picnics, walking their dogs, playing with their kids. All the things a good park should have. The sad part is how much trash is around the lake and in the water. Always leave a place better than you found it, especially nature, or it won't be around for all of us to enjoy.

Preston Ridge Trail is a 6.3-mile multi-use trail in North Dallas, connecting Dallas and Plano…read more It's a fully paved path, making it ideal for walkers, joggers, cyclists, and skaters. Been riding here for years--can't believe I haven't left a review until now! Fun fact: my friend introduced me to this trail... and now that friend is my husband. Having a shared love for biking and the outdoors is pretty awesome, and this trail is perfect for us. I come here alone on weekdays, and sometimes it gets really busy. Lately, I've been going early because I am NOT riding in 90-degree weather! People are mostly considerate, but sometimes... DOG POOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL?! Rude! There is literally grass everywhere--HOW do the dog and the owner manage this?! Pay attention to your furry babies, folks! The trail goes a looooong way, which I love! Excited to see they finally added a proper crossing with lights at an intersection--safe crossing, achieved! Always well maintained, thanks to The Friends of Preston Ridge Trail, a non-profit volunteer group keeping this suburban trail beautiful. The current alignment of the Preston Ridge Trail begins near the intersection of Spring Valley and Coit, on the north side of Spring Valley. It runs north, primarily along Meandering Way, and ends at Highway 190 and Collin County. The trail also Connects to schools and parks, like Fretz Park, Salado Park, and Campbell Green Park. Everyone here is super friendly--bikers wave hello all the time, and I say hi to everybody! Hahaha! This is the first time I actually took the time to read up on a place before writing a review. After looking up its history and reading about the people behind it, I felt like I needed to include this info--because it's just so nice to see a community that cares enough to manage and preserve a beautiful trail like this. I truly enjoy this trail--the myrtle trees and wildflowers are stunning, and the smell is absolutely heavenly! I'll be biking here every day until we move (okay, I'll try every day--I have a good streak going now ). A Huge Thanks! Big shoutout to the amazing volunteers for keeping this place beautiful--your effort does not go unnoticed! This trail has been part of my life for years, and I'll keep coming back. Maybe I'll see you out there! ‍

Love this trail for biking…read more Tried it for the first time today. The trail is paved and not too crowded. Seems odd how it suddenly drops off at Ohio drive though. I truly enjoyed the portion of the trail that is located closest to that area. It was more natural and less residential, which I enjoy more. The more residential areas of the trail are well cared for. I love that there are benches along the way and flowering trees that have been planted to make the trail more beautiful. Even though there are power lines along the entire trail, I like that aspect since it gives the trail a unique feature compared to other well-known trails in the DFW area. I was able to bike around 7 miles to and from my car. I liked knowing that there were police officers cycling the trail along with me; that made me feel safe. Will keep visiting for sure!

My 4 year old nephew loves this place. There's only a dedicated street parking for 4 vehicles.But I…read morelove that it's shaded by old trees and since it's right off the Katy Trail, there is a significant barrier. It's not that kind of neighborhood, but it won't be an easy snatch and grab of a kid if someone tried to access from Katy Trail.