Trails Information for Isle du Bois
Explore the natural beauty of North Central Texas.
Emerald green reflects against crystal blue waters, providing scenic views throughout the park. Whether you are on wheel, foot, boat or horseback, the beauty of this park will astound you.
Explore the mix of Eastern Cross Timbers and Blackland Prairie that is Isle du Bois, and find yourself coming back for more.
Isle du Bois Unit has an all-terrain wheelchair for use in the park; email us to reserve the chair for your visit.
Trails
All trails allow hiking and biking unless otherwise indicated.
This list may not include all trails in the park.
| Trail | Distance | Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Activity Trail | 0.3 mi. | Easy | Can you leap like a frog? Scamper like a squirrel? Test your animal abilities and more on this self-guided trail designed for kids and their families. |
| Lost Pines Trail | 0.5 mi. | Easy | Catch a glimpse of the lake, see a remnant of an early settler's cabin, and take in the towering pines mixed with native oaks and elms, all in a half-mile loop. |
| Randy Bell Scenic Trail | 2.2 mi. | Easy | Experience the many stories this concrete trail has to share, and explore the woodlands and prairies as they were before Ray Roberts Lake was developed. |
| Wagon Wheel Crossing | 3.6 mi. (one -way) | Moderate | This trail system connects the the Bluestem parking area to the Horse Blaze Trail on the FM 455 section of the Greenbelt. From there, you can continue onto the Greenbelt trails. No potable water is available along the trail. |
| Red Bud Run | 4.5 mi. | Easy | Explore this relatively flat multiuse equestrian trail as it follows the shoreline. No potable water is available along the trail. |
| Rocky Spur | 3.0 mi. | Moderate | Up for a challenge? Explore the sandstone rocks and cross rough terrain with many elevation changes. No potable water is available along the trail. |
| DORBA Trail - Loop A | 0.2 mi. | Moderate | Named for the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association, five consecutive trails were built by mountain bikers. This is the shortest of our DORBA trail loops, perfect for beginners or as a warm-up. |
| DORBA Trail - Loop B | 0.7 mi. | Moderate | Less than a mile, this portion of the trail is a great follow-up from Loop A. |
| DORBA Trail - Loop C | 3.7 mi. 4.4 mi. RT |
Moderate | The middle portion of the DORBA Trail. |
| DORBA Trail - Loop D | 2.6 mi. 7.0 mi. RT |
Moderate | Note: D Loop is EXPERT only. |
| DORBA Trail - Loop E | 2.3 mi. 9.3 mi. RT |
Moderate | Wrap up nearly 10 miles of trail system by completing this final loop. |
Points of Interest
GPS coordinates shown in decimal degrees.
| Point | Latitude | Longitude | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window into the Past | 33.3676° | -97.0103° | This sandstone chimney is the last remaining feature of what was once a log cabin built in the 1880s by some of the first pioneers in North Texas. Try to imagine everyday life as an early settler here in the Cross Timbers. What would you eat? What would you do for fun? |
| Lakeside Life | 33.3695° | -97.0128° | Shhh. If quiet, you may be able to glimpse a great blue heron stalking for fish, a diving osprey, or swimming waterfowl. Come back on a summer evening and you'll be greeted with a symphony of frog and toad calls. |
| Nature Center | 33.3653° | -97.0113° | Come on in to meet a friendly ranger or volunteer and learn about the natural and cultural history of our park. Inside you'll find wildlife displays, live snakes, and an arts and crafts corner. You can also check out a free Junior Ranger Explorer or Night Sky Explorer backpack here! |
| Pocket Prairies | 33.3837° | -97.0210° | The Eastern Cross Timbers are sprinkled with a mosaic of small prairie areas known as pocket prairies. Here you'll find a rich diversity of wildlife attracted to the transition from woodland to open prairie grasses. These pocket prairies rely on wildland fires to keep away the encroaching forest. |
Staying Safe
- Drink plenty of water. Your body quickly loses fluids when you’re on the trail. Bring a quart of water per hour of activity.
- Tell others where you’ll be. If possible, avoid exploring alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Check for trail closures. Certain trails may be closed during prescribed burns, inclement weather, or for other resource management work.
- Potentially harmful plants and animals live here. You’ll see them more easily if you stay on trails. Do not approach wildlife!
Trail Etiquette
- Trash your trash. Pack out all of your trash and Leave No Trace.
- Leave feeding to nature. Feeding wild animals will make them sick. Please do not feed them.
- Keep pets on leashes for their safety, and to protect wildlife.
- Take only memories and pictures. Help preserve nature. Please don’t disturb or remove any of the park’s plants, animals or artifacts.
- No horsing around. Horseback riders must stay on trails marked for horses.
- Pick up your poo. Please clean up after horses and pets.
