Biking

Biking in Texas State Parks

Texas State Parks offer the best biking in the state, no matter your skill level. Paved park roads are ideal for families, while adventure seekers can mountain-bike hundreds of miles of multiuse and single-track trails. Always wear a helmet. Bring a map, and carry plenty of water, extra snacks, and bike repair equipment. Consider wearing reflective clothing and lights to help motorists see you. Happy cycling!

Trail Ratings

These ratings can help you plan for trail difficulty, surface type, and available mileage. For trail distances, please see park maps.

  • Beginner: Requires basic riding skills. Terrain may vary in composition but has no steep grades, ledges, or ruts. Example: a flat paved or unpaved road.
  • Intermediate: Requires off-road riding experience and some technical skill (for mountain bikers), or could be a paved road with moderately steep grades (for road bikers). Off-road terrain may have ruts and/or small ledges that may require dismounts. Example: a single- or double-track trail in rolling terrain with water bars or ruts.
  • Advanced: Requires expert-level skills to traverse potentially hazardous conditions (for mountain bikers); or could be a paved road with very steep grades. Example: a single-track trail with steep climbs, rocky terrain, water crossings, and unexpected drop-offs.

West Texas (El Paso, Big Bend, San Angelo)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Big Bend Ranch Beginner-Advanced One of the nation's premier biking destinations, this 300,000-acre park offers single-track, multi-use trails, and historic roads. Bike rentals are available. Watch Big Bend Ranch biking video. 200+ Trail
Davis Mountains Intermediate For a longer ride, try the scenic 74-mile road loop, starting and finishing from the park (Hwy 118 to Hwy 166 to Hwy 17 and back to Hwy 118). This ride has earned a reputation as being as challenging, and as rewarding, as any in Texas. 3.5 Paved
Devils River Beginner-Advanced This loop offers rugged riding over varied terrain in one of Texas' most pristine places. 12 Trail
Franklin Mountains Beginner-Advanced Single-track and unpaved jeep roads offer a taste of the Chihuahuan Desert as well as some of Texas' highest peaks. Prepare for little shade and no water. 51 Trail
Kickapoo Cavern Beginner-Intermediate Multi-use trails offer easy to moderate rides. 14 Trail

Hill Country (Austin, San Antonio)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Bastrop Intermediate-Advanced Ride through the scenic Lost Pines on paved Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher. 12.5 Paved
Buescher Beginner-Intermediate The scenic, hilly, 12-mile paved road between Buescher and Bastrop is ideal for experienced cyclists. The park also includes about 8 miles of trail riding through pine trees and cedar elms. 20.3 Paved and Trail
Colorado Bend Beginner-Intermediate Access 26 miles of multi-use trails over varied terrain.
Watch Colorado Bend biking video.		 26 Trail
Government Canyon Beginner-Advanced Front country and back country trails are available. Trails range in length, so riders can create routes that work best for them. Watch Government Canyon biking video. 26 Trail
Guadalupe River Intermediate-Advanced Multi-use loop trails offer scenic views and varied, rugged riding. 10 Trail
Hill Country Beginner-Advanced Mixed single-track, double-track and unpaved jeep roads offer some steep hills and plenty of technical terrain. 40 Trail
Kickapoo Cavern Beginner-Intermediate Multi-use trails provide an easy to moderate ride. 14 Trail
Lyndon B. Johnson Beginner 2.5 miles of scenic trails offer a closer look at wildlife and rich history. Scenic, 9-mile paved loop winds through LBJ National Historical Park, beginning and ending at the Visitor Center. 11.5 Paved and Trail
McKinney Falls Beginner 3.5 miles of gentle, paved trails and 6 miles of unpaved trails can be linked together for a longer ride. 9.5 Paved and Trail
Pedernales Falls Beginner-Intermediate Ride along hills dotted with oak and juniper and access more heavily-wooded areas. 20 Trail
South Llano River Beginner-Intermediate Some easy trails, but some with fairly steep terrain with loose rocks. 18 Trail

Panhandle Plains (Lubbock, San Angelo, Abilene)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Abilene Beginner See historic structures from the CCC, take breaks to picnic or swim, and watch for local wildlife. 5 Trail
Caprock Canyons Beginner-Advanced Trails range from highly advanced (cliffs and drop-offs) to others with less than 3% grades. 16 Trail
Caprock Canyons Trailway Beginner-Intermediate The rail-to-trail facility  is mostly unpaved and flat; ideal for a mountain bike or hybrid bike. 64 Trail
Copper Breaks Intermediate Terrain varies, with some rough ground, creek crossings and tough climbs. Big Loop Trail cuts through rugged badlands that will take your breath away. 9.5 Trail
Fort Richardson (Trailway) Beginner-Intermediate Multi-use trail suitable for all riders follows scenic Lost Creek and travels the east side of Lake Jacksboro and Lost Creek Reservoir, crossing the dam and winding along the west side until the trail head. Trail heads are at Fort Richardson and on Lost Creek Reservoir. 10 Trail
Palo Duro Canyon Beginner-Advanced Ride the 15-mile “Palo Duro Canyon Cruise” on paved roads. Start at the park entrance and continue down into the canyon. Returning is very steep. Consider leaving a vehicle in the canyon in case you choose not to bike the hill. Ten miles of unpaved trails offer easier riding. Watch Palo Duro Canyon biking video 25 Paved and Trail
San Angelo Beginner-Advanced Multi-use trails are available for riders of all levels. 50 Trail
Seminole Canyon Beginner-Intermediate Multi-use trails range in difficulty from easy to moderately strenuous 12 Trail

Prairies and Lakes (Dallas, Waco, College Station)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Bonham Beginner-Intermediate Ride 8.8 miles of multi-use trails. 8.8 Trail
Cedar Hill Intermediate-Advanced Named for the Dallas Off Road Biking Association (DORBA), this trail was built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. Crisscross over 1200 acres of prime landscape on 15 miles of intense riding. Closed after rainfalls. Call (972) 291-3900 (*1) for current conditions. 15 Trail
Cleburne Beginner-Advanced Beautiful mountain biking for all experience levels. 7 Trail
Cooper Lake Beginner-Intermediate Enjoy views of the water and grassland prairies. Watch for white egrets, great blue herons and small mammals (Doctor's Creek and South Sulphur). 5 Trail
Dinosaur Valley Beginner-Intermediate Dip in and out of small valleys, over exposed limestone and past some of the best-preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. 12 Trail
Eisenhower Beginner-Intermediate 2 miles are beginner-level, and 2 offer steep grades and rock. 4 (8 round-trip) Trail
Fairfield Lake Beginner Trails near the lake offer easy, scenic riding. 20 Trail
Fort Parker Beginner Multi-use trail offers easy mountain biking. 2 Trail
Lake Mineral Wells Beginner-Intermediate Suitable for mountain or road bikes. Pass farms and ranches that connect the town of Weatherford to downtown Mineral Wells. 20 Paved
Lake Mineral Wells Trailway Beginner-Intermediate Rail-to-trail facility 21 Paved
Lake Somerville (Birch Creek Unit) Beginner Scenic, easy off-road riding along the lake 6 Trail
Lake Somerville (Nails Creek Unit) Beginner Scenic, easy off-road riding along the lake 4 Trail
Lake Somerville Trailway Beginner-Intermediate The multi-use trail around the west end of the reservoir connects Birch Creek Unit with Nails Creek unit for easy to moderate rides. 13 Trail
Lake Tawakoni Beginner Level with lots of twists and turns. 3 Trail
Meridian Beginner Paved roads. 5 Paved
Palmetto Beginner 5.5 miles of easy riding over crushed rock, bridges, boardwalks and a beautiful wetland. 5.5 Trail
Ray Roberts (Isle Du Bois Unit) Beginner-Intermediate Multi-use trails provide mountain bikers with varied terrain and an easy to moderate experience. 16.5 Tral
Ray Roberts  (Johnson Branch Unit) Beginner-Intermediate Seven miles of multi-use trails wind through the park 7 Trail
Ray Roberts Greenbelt Corridor Beginner This 20-mile multi-use trail system includes 10 miles of hard-surface trail open to hikers and bikers. The trail has three trail heads and meanders along the heavily wooded banks of the Elm Fork Branch of the Trinity River. 10 Paved

Gulf Coast (Houston, Corpus Christi)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Brazos Bend Beginner-Intermediate Easy mountain biking. Watch Brazos Bend biking video. 21 Trail
Galveston Island Beginner Easy multi-use trails offer opportunities to see wildlife and enjoy ocean views. 4 Trail
Huntsville Beginner-Intermediate All trails are under canopy from tall pine trees. Some sections are sandy. 18 Trail
Lake Bob Sandlin Beginner-Intermediate Trails offer eight footbridges and a variety of foliage and wildlife. 5 Trail
Lake Livingston Beginner Easy trails are available for mountain biking. 5 Trail
Martin Dies, Jr. Beginner Easy, scenic mountain-biking experience. 4 Trail
Mustang Island Beginner Primarily beach riding. 5 Beach
Stephen F. Austin Beginner Easy hiking and biking trails. Trails are fast, with a few slopes, but not technical. Access primitive fishing and the Brazos River scenic overlook. 6 Trail
Village Creek Beginner-Intermediate Explore heavily forested areas along multi-use trails. 8 Trail

Piney Woods (Tyler)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Martin Creek Lake Beginner-Intermediate Mountain-biking trail offers easy to moderate rides and abundant wildlife. 6 Trail
Purtis Creek Beginner Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail offers easy rides and plenty of wildlife viewing. 4.3 Trail
Tyler Beginner-Advanced Ride one of the top destinations in the state, offering challenges for all levels. Pineywoods terrain includes hills, loops and wildlife viewing. 13 Trail

South Texas Plains (Laredo, Brownsville)

Park Name Trail Rating Special Trail Conditions Miles Trail Type
Bentsen-RGV Beginner Paved roads are dedicated to biking, hiking and a tram system (no private vehicles). Take an easy ride and get a glimpse of some amazing birds and other wildlife. Bring your own bike or rent one from the visitor center. 4 Paved
Falcon Beginner Easy hiking/mountain-biking trails provide a complete loop around the park. 3 Trail
Lake Casa Blanca Beginner-Intermediate Trails take riders through beautiful and varied landscapes. 4 Trail
Resaca de la Palma Beginner A 3-mile paved loop and 8 miles of additional trails take riders through diverse  habitats to view birds and other wildlife. No private vehicles are allowed past the Visitor Center. Bring your own bike or rent one at the Visitor Center. 11 Paved and Trail

 

caption:

Proud Sponsor