Top 10 Hikes in Dallas-Fort Worth

Top 10 Hikes in Dallas-Fort Worth

If you know the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you know we don't have any mountains or canyons, or crazy elevation changes that make for an epic hike. It was a challenge at first to find any hikes I really liked, but when I stepped out of the downtown just a little bit I found some favorite hikes that I still continue to go to today. Most people that live in this area will tell you to go to White Rock Lake, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, or Trinity skyline trail but there are way better trails than those! Here are my favorite DFW hikes that have great views, they are not paved, and can be challenging based on the distance.

1. North Shore Trail
Location: Flower Mound, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: Up to 18 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
Activities: Hiking and Mountain biking
Attractions: Lake views, wildlife, forest views, marina views, Texas wildflowers and foliage, camping
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times.*
2. Marion Sansom Park
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: Varying distances based on which trails you do
Difficulty: Moderate
Activities: Hiking and Mountain biking
Attractions: Waterfall, wildlife, forest views, lake views, Texas wildflowers and foliage
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times*
3. Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge
(There is a small fee to go here)
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Trail Type: Out and Back and Loop
Distance: Varying distances based on which trails you do
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Activities: Hiking
Attractions: Lake view, wildlife, forest views, historical markers, nature center, Texas wildflowers and foliage
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times*
4. Horseshoe Trail
Location: Grapevine, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: 4.4 miles 
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Activities: Hiking and Mountain Biking
Attractions: Lake views, forest views, wildlife, Texas wildflowers and foliage
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times*
5. Eagle Mountain Lake Park Trail
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: 7.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Activities: Hiking and Mountain Biking
Attractions: Lake views, wildlife, forest views, Texas wildflowers and foliage
*No Dogs allowed*
6. Pilot Knoll Trail
Location: Argyle, Texas
Trail Type: Out and Back
Distance: 7.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Activities: Hiking and Horseback riding
Attractions: Wildlife, lake views, Old Alton bridge, forest views, ponds, Texas wildflowers and foliage, camping
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times*
7. Cedar Ridge Preserve
Location: Cedar Ridge, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: Varying distances based on the trails you go on
Difficulty: Moderate
Activities: Hiking
Attractions: Wildlife, pond view, forest views, Texas wildflowers and foliage
​*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times*
8. Erwin Park Full Loop
Location: McKinney, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: 8.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Activities: Hiking and Mountain Biking
Attractions: Wildlife, pond views, prairie views, forest views, Texas wildflowers and foliage, camping
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash at all times*
9. Clear Creek Wetlands and Prairie Trail
Location: Denton, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: Varying distances based on the trails you go on
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Activities: Hiking
Attractions: Wildlife, pond views, prairie views, forest views, river views, Texas wildflowers and foliage
10. Llela Nature Preserve 
(There is a small fee to go here)
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Trail Type: Loop
Distance: Varying distances based on the trails you go on
Difficulty: Easy
Activities: Hiking
Attractions: Wildlife, pond views, forest views, prairie views, river views, Texas wildflowers and foliage, great area to photograph wildlife, landscape, and foliage, visitor center, camping
*Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a leash*

Also, all of these hikes are kid friendly and since most are by the water you could even do kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, boating, or fishing! These are my favorite hikes in DFW that I keep going back to over and over again throughout the year! To help you book mark these trails, I recommend downloading the "AllTrails" app. It can help give you directions to the trail, read up on reviews, see photos of the trail, show you weather conditions, trail type, gps map while you hike, and bonus it's FREE to download. I know there are other apps like this, but this is my preferred one that I use every time I go out on a hike. Happy hiking y'all!

Photos from the top 10 DFW Hikes