Biking in State Parks
Escape the traffic of the city and wheel your way into the wilds, coasting down steep and gentle slopes, circling lakes and following rivers, taking in the state’s extraordinary variety of scenery as you go. Texas State Parks offer trails for beginner and expert cyclists alike.
Trail Ratings
These ratings do not address the issue of trail length. It is always a good idea to carry plenty of water (a good rule of thumb is one large water bottle per hour of riding), a snack, and necessary tools for basic bike repair. Remember to always wear your helmet regardless of trail difficulty.
- Beginner Level [L1]: An easy trail requiring basic riding skills. Terrain may be varied in composition but will have no steep grades, ledges, or ruts. An example might be an unpaved jeep road.
- Intermediate Level [L2]: A trail requiring off-road riding experience and more advanced technical skill. Terrain may have steeper grades with ruts and/or small ledges that may require dismounts, depending on skill level. An example might be a single or double-track trail in rolling terrain with water bars or ruts.
- Difficult Level [L3]: A trail requiring expert-level riding skills to traverse potentially hazardous conditions. Steep grades, water crossings, and blind drop-offs may exist over a variety of terrain composition. An example might be a single-track trail with steep climbs, very rocky terrain with unexpected drop-offs.
| Park Name | Trail Rating | Special Trail Conditions | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop | n/a | Scenic ride through the Lost Pines on the paved Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher State Parks. | 12.5 |
| Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley | 1 | Paved roads dedicated to biking, hiking and the parks tram
system (no private vehicles). Take an easy ride around the park and get
a glimpse of some amazing birds and other wildlife. Bring your own bike
or rent one from the visitor's center. |
4 |
| Big Bend Ranch | 1-3 | 45+ | |
| Bonham | 1-2 | 11 | |
| Brazos Bend | 1-2 | 21 | |
| Buescher | n/a | Scenic ride through the Lost Pines on the paved Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher State Parks. | 12.5 |
| Caprock Canyons | 1-3 | 16 | |
| Caprock Canyons Trailway | 1-2 | Rail-to-trail facility (railbed trail conversion) | 64 |
| Cedar Hill | 2-4 | The DORBA trail, named for the volunteers of the Dallas Off Road Biking Association, was built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. Over 1200 acres of prime mountain bike landscape are crisscrossed with 15 miles of intense riding. This exciting trail is closed after rainfall so call 972/291-3900 and press star 2 for trail conditions | 15 |
| Choke Canyon (Calliham Unit) | 1 | 1 | |
| Choke Canyon (North Shore Unit) | 1 | 12 | |
| Choke Canyon (South Shore Unit) | 1 | 5 | |
| Cleburne | 1-3 | 7 | |
| Colorado Bend | 1-2 | 14 | |
| Cooper Lake (South Sulphur Unit) | 2 | 5 | |
| Copper Breaks | 2 | 9.5 | |
| Davis Mountains | 2 | For road biking there is a scenic 74 mile road loop which can be started and finished from the park (Hwy 118 to Hwy 166 to Hwy 17 and back to Hwy 118) | 3.5 |
| Devils River | 1-3 | 12 | |
| Dinosaur Valley | 1-2 | 12 | |
| Eisenhower | 1-2 | Approximately 2 miles is level 1, and 2 miles is level 2 (with steep grades and rock). | 4 (8 miles round-trip) |
| Fairfield Lake | 1 | 20 | |
| Falcon | 1 | 3 | |
| Fort Parker | 1 | 2 | |
| Fort Richardson
- Lost Creek Reservoir Trailway |
1-2 | This trail is 10 feet wide and has an improved surfacing of base material and a topping of approximately 4" of screening materials. This type of surface creates a smooth trail for all types of use. The 10-mile hike, bike and equestrian trail runs adjacent to Fort Richardson and along Lost Creek, which is the main watershed for the two city lakes. The trail follows scenic Lost Creek and travels the east side of Lake Jacksboro and Lost Creek Reservoir. The trail crosses the dam at Lost Creek Reservoir and winds along the west side until you enter the trail head. This is a linear trail system that winds with the terrain and abounds in scenic beauty. It travels through the park with many shaded areas of pecan and oak trees. Most of the trail travels by the creek or lakes which provide numerous opportunities to fish and swim. This is a beautiful trail, abundant also in wildlife and wild flowers. There is a trail head at Fort Richardson State Park &Historic Site and a trail head on Lost Creek Reservoir. | 10 |
| Franklin Mountains | 1-3 | 51 | |
| Galveston Island | 1 | 4 | |
| Guadalupe River | 2-3 | 10 | |
| Hill Country | 1-3 | 32 | |
| Huntsville | 1-2 | All trails are under canopy from tall pine trees. Some trail sections are sandy. | 18 |
| Kickapoo Cavern | 1-2 | 14 | |
| Lake Bob Sandlin | 1-2 | 5 | |
| Lake Casa Blanca | 1 | 2 | |
| Lake Livingston | 1 | 5 | |
| Lake Mineral Wells | 1-2 | 8 | |
| Lake Mineral Wells Trailway | 1-2 | Rail -to-trail facility (railbed trail conversion) | 21 |
| Lake Somerville (Birch Creek Unit) | 1 | 6 | |
| Lake Somerville (Nails Creek Unit) | 1 | 4 | |
| Lake Somerville Trailway | 1-2 | 13 | |
| Lake Tawakoni | 1 | Level with lots of twists and turns. | 3 |
| Lake Whitney | 1 | 1 | |
| Martin Creek Lake | 1-2 | 6 | |
| Martin Dies, Jr. | 1 | 4 | |
| McKinney Falls | 1 | 4 | |
| Meridian | 1 | Paved roads. | 5 |
| Mustang Island | 1 | Primarily beach riding. | 5 |
| Palo Duro Canyon | 1-3 | 10 | |
| Pedernales Falls | 1-2 | 20 | |
| Ray Roberts Lake (Isle Du Bois Unit) | 1-2 | 16.5 | |
| Ray Roberts Lake (Johnson Branch Unit) | 1-2 | 7 | |
| Ray Roberts Lake - Greenbelt Corridor | 1 | 10 | |
| San Angelo | 1-3 | 50 | |
| Seminole Canyon | 1-2 | 8 | |
| South Llano River | 1 | Trail closed October - March. | 4 |
| Stephen F. Austin | 1-2 | 6 | |
| Tyler | 1-3 | 13 | |
| Village Creek | 1-2 | 8 |
More biking information can be found "Bike Texas".
