It’s that time of year where the sun is shining and it is a great time to lace up the tennis shoes and hit the trails for a run. If you have been running through the winter then it might be time to switch up your routine and try a new trail. Maybe you’re transitioning from road running to trail running and you’re looking for where to begin. However you like to run, we’ve curated a list of great trails to run in and around our Dallas apartments. 

6 great running trails in Dallas

White Rock Lake Trail

Route type: Loop

Distance: 9.4 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Features: Birding, lake, wildflowers

You can begin your run from anywhere around the 1,015-acre lake that is surrounded by cute old neighborhoods and small streets providing ample parking. The trail is flat and allows for easy running and great views of the lake. Weekdays tend to be ideal to visit this trail as weekends often attract cyclists and the occasional event, creating a fairly busy trail. Dogs are invited to join on trail as long as they remain leashed.

Texas Buckeye Trail

Route type: Loop

Distance: 2.1 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Features: River, forest, wildflowers, birding

Named after the large forest of Texas Buckeye Trees, this trail meanders through some brush before you arrive at the forest near the end. Very popular during spring bloom, this trail offers beautiful flowers, various birds and wildlife sightings if you’re there at the right time. During the summer months the brush can grow quite wild making navigation more challenging – be sure you’re prepared on your visit with a map of the area. 

Gateway Park Trail

Route Type: Loop

Distance: 1.1 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Features: Birding, forest, wildflowers

This moderate trail offers a good hill climb around the halfway mark and various running surfaces including single-track, pavement and gravel making this a fun trail to run. While the route is short, it can easily be repeated multiple times or paired with the hike below for a longer route. There are plenty of trees in the park and along the trail to provide shade on a hot day. This is a great trail to escape to as you are unlikely to see many other people on trail during your jog.

White Rock Creek Trail

Route type: Point-to-point

Distance: 8.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Features: Birding, river/creek, wildlife

Beginning at the north end of White Rock Lake, you can run your ideal distance by either doing an out and back or running the whole route through from the lake to North Dallas. Upon leaving the north end of White Rock Lake you are quickly immersed into a dense wooded area giving way to feelings of being in a wilderness instead of the heart of Dallas. While you run through the old growth forest you will cross back and forth over the creek until you reach Northwood Park. This is a great park to add in some distance or continue through to the end of the White Rock Creek Trail where you’ll weave through neighborhoods and local parks. This multi-use trail sees moderate to heavy amount of use and you’re likely to see other joggers, walkers and cyclists. 

Trammell Crow Park

Route type: Out & Back

Distance: 3.2 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Features: River, pond, art statues

This quiet trail is tucked away along the Trinity River and sees little use compared to similar trails in the area. Your run begins circling one half of the Trammell Crow Pond and then follows the Trinity River Floodway. A brief jog on the Trinity Levee Trail helps circumnavigates some water runoff and then you jog more along the river. Once again the trail will join the Trinity Levee Trail and you can either add more miles here or turn around and return to park, running around the other half of the pond. Stone cows are placed throughout the park and there are plenty of birds for viewing. With no trees in the park to offer shade, plan your visit for the morning or evening to avoid the heat of the day. 

Piedmont Ridge Trail

Route Type: Out and back

Distance: 1.3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Features: Birding, forest

Traveling through the forest near Gateway Park, this trail makes for a cool place to jog outside on very sunny days. Wildlife living in the forest are easily observable and fun to see. There are a handful of hills that make this route great for a challenging run or hill workout. Pair this route with the Gateway Park Trail listed above to extend your jog into a longer route. You’re likely to see other people on this trail as it is very accessible, family and pet friendly.

As we head into summer, be sure to plan your runs around the heat of the day. If you can fit your run in during the morning or evening, there are great options on this list with shade to help you get out of the heat during your jog. Most of all, get out there and have some fun!

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Featured photo by Huckster on Unsplash