Trails kids can actually finish around Dallas
Dallas has no mountains, but it has prairie, big lakes, hardwood forest along the rivers and, to the southwest, a range of cedar hills with real climbing. The hikes here are chosen by a kid's standards: 1–3 miles round trip, something to see (turtles, ducks, an observation tower, a waterfall, dinosaur tracks), restrooms, and most of them stroller-friendly.
Stroller-friendly in the northern suburbs: Arbor Hills in Plano (climb the tower) and Oak Point, the lake loops at Bob Woodruff and Towne Lake, and Breckinridge in Richardson; for shade, the dirt trails at Spring Creek Nature Area or Coppell Nature Park. In the city, walk a stretch of White Rock Lake, or the wetland boardwalks at the Trinity River Audubon Center to the south. For real climbing, Cedar Ridge Preserve and Dogwood Canyon have stairs and ridgelines, and River Legacy in Arlington is the best forest trail plus playground combination in DFW. An hour and a half away, Dinosaur Valley State Park has real dinosaur footprints in the riverbed.
- 17 places
- 14 free
- 11 stroller-friendly
- closest is 10 min away
17 places
Drive times from Plano
Bob Woodruff Park lakeside trail
5.0Plano · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots on both sides of San Gabriel Dr and Park Blvd
Towne Lake Recreation Area
5.0McKinney · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Wilson Creek Pkwy entrance
River Legacy Park & Living Science Center
5.0Arlington · 40 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots at the NW Green Oaks Blvd entrance
Trinity Park riverside trail
5.0Fort Worth · 55 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots along University Dr and Trinity Park Dr
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve
4.0Plano · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots along Los Rios Blvd and next to the Oak Point Recreation Center
Breckinridge Park
4.0Richardson · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Brand Rd entrance
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
4.0Plano · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Parker Rd entrance, usually full after 9am on weekends, with a wait when it is
White Rock Lake loop
4.0Dallas · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots including Winfrey Point, Bath House, and Big Thicket
Mustangs of Las Colinas & Mandalay Canal walk
4.0Irving · 30 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Garages around Williams Square, free on weekends, or street meters
Trinity River Audubon Center
4.0Dallas · 40 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free lot at the center
Spring Creek Nature Area
3.0Richardson · 10 min drive
1.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Two small free lots at the Holford Rd and Renner Rd entrances
LLELA Nature Preserve (Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area)
3.0Lewisville · 25 min drive
2.5 h · carrier recommended
$ · Parking: Per-person entry fee at the gate (about $5/person, little kids free, check the website), parking included
Coppell Nature Park
3.0Coppell · 25 min drive
1.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Freeport Pkwy entrance inside Wagon Wheel Park
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center
3.0Cedar Hill · 50 min drive
2 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free lot at the center
Fort Worth Water Gardens
3.0Fort Worth · 55 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Paid garages and street meters around the convention center, cheap on weekends
Cedar Ridge Preserve
2.0Dallas · 45 min drive
2.5 h · carrier recommended
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Mountain Creek Pkwy entrance, fills fast on weekend mornings
Dinosaur Valley State Park dinosaur tracks
2.0Glen Rose · 105 min drive
4 h · carrier recommended
$ · Parking: State park lot; entry about $8/adult, under 12 free, reserving a day pass online is recommended on peak-season weekends
💡 Good to know
- October through April is Dallas hiking season. In summer, stick to fully shaded trails like River Legacy and Spring Creek, and only in the morning.
- Texas grass hides fire ants and the occasional snake: closed shoes, stay on the trail, and bug spray from spring through summer.