Ready to Ride

A guide to 7 of Dallas' best and most easily accessible bike trails

The idea of strapping on a helmet and hopping on a bike is appealing, especially as the weather begins to cool. But unless you live right by a bike trail, how do you (and your bike) get to one?

DART is not only bike-friendly but its trains have stops near most of the major trails in Dallas and the surrounding areas. Getting your cycle on and off a DART bus or train is super simple, and using the GoPass mobile app to pay for and plan your trip is even easier.

Now that you're ready to head out, here's where you'll want to ride:

Bachman Park Loop Trail
Length: 3.08 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Nearest DART station: Bachman Station
Trail tips: The paved path follows the shoreline of Bachman Lake, providing not only peaceful views of the water but also the geese and ducks that reside there. Be on the lookout for a grove of bald cypress trees, which provide welcome shade if you need a break.

Campion Trail
Length: 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy to medium
Nearest DART station: Las Colinas Urban Center Station
Trail tips: The north section is the longest continuous trail in Irving and one of the longest in the Dallas area. The 12-foot-wide trail winds in and out of trees, offering views of the Trinity River, and features drinking fountains and covered picnic pavilions for those who want to bring a snack.

Chisholm Trail
Length: 9.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Nearest DART station: Downtown Plano Station
Trail tips: Though this trail is a bit of a hike from the station, it's worth it once you get going. Below-grade crossings on major streets make for a pleasant ride, as the route travels through Plano from Harrington Park to Jack Carter Park, where it also intersects with the Bluebonnet Trail.

Cottonwood Trail
Length: 3.1 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Nearest DART station: Forest Lane Station
Trail tips: It functions as a critical connection between the Preston Ridge Trail and the White Rock Trail, extending from Spring Valley Road to Royal Lane. Expect lots of landscaped areas and places to sit and catch your breath, as the trail runs through several residential neighborhoods.

Katy Trail
Length: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Nearest DART station: Victory Station
Trail tips: Ride here if you love company, as you'll be surrounded by joggers, walkers, and in-line skaters at pretty much all hours. The northernmost point begins near SMU and it ends in Victory Park, taking you on a tour through Dallas and offering several places to stop in for a drink or a bite along the way.

Oak Cliff Nature Preserve
Length: 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Medium
Nearest DART station: Westmoreland Station
Trail tips: Lush greenery surrounds this wooded trail (one of the few on this list that's not paved), and it can be easy to get lost if you don't stick to the path. If you've got an adventurous four-legged friend, they can accompany you as long as they're on a leash.

Spring Creek Nature Area
Length: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Nearest DART station: Galatyn Station
Trail tips: It's only minutes from US-75 but feels miles away thanks to abundant foliage. A small creek runs through this heavily wooded trail, which is a popular place for nearby residents to take a daily stroll or walk their dogs.

White Rock Lake Trail
Length: 9.33 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Nearest DART station: White Rock Station
Trail tips: This picturesque trail hugs the shoreline of White Rock Lake, and for that reason is one of the most popular in Dallas. If the whole loop is too much, bike the east side and enjoy a stunning view of downtown Dallas — just be sure to look at the path sometimes, as pedestrians are plentiful on this route.

If you're itching to ride off-trail, be sure to sign up for the Dallas Bike Ride on November 3. The 20-mile course clears its streets of cars, allowing cyclists to see Dallas and its landmarks in a whole new way. The family-friendly event is open to riders age three and up, and there is entertainment along the route and a big Finish Festival at the end. Register to ride here.

The Katy Trail is a popular place for cyclists, joggers, and walkers.

Riding bikes jogging Katy Trail

Courtesy photo

The Katy Trail is a popular place for cyclists, joggers, and walkers.

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Sobering statistic

Texas ranks No. 9 among deadliest states for New Year’s crashes

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At more than 314,000 miles, Texas boasts the largest system of public roads among the 50 states. It also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the deadliest states for New Year’s car accidents.

An analysis of 2014-2023 traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Texas is the ninth worst state for traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

During the 10-year period covered by the analysis, commissioned by AutoAccident.com, Texas tallied 280 traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — the highest total of any state. The 280-person toll in Texas works out to 9.61 deaths per one million residents, a rate that’s 37 percent above the national average of 6.99 deaths per one million residents.

The analysis reveals that nearly three-fourths (64 percent) of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic deaths in Texas were drivers, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) were pedestrians, and 16 percent were passengers.

“New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on American roads,” says Edward Smith, managing attorney at AutoAccident.com, a personal injury law firm.

“With impaired driving incidents spiking during holiday celebrations, every driver has a responsibility to make smart choices that protect themselves and others sharing the road,” Smith adds. “Even in states with strong safety records, one preventable death is too many.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes happened during the 2024 holiday season. Last year, December ranked as the No. 1 month in Texas for wrecks caused by drunk drivers.

“The holidays are a wonderful time to be with family, and yet they can also be a painful reminder for those who have lost loved ones to preventable crashes,” says Marc Williams, executive director of TxDOT. “Let’s make a new holiday tradition to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe. That means always getting a sober ride.”

TxDOT offers these four tips for staying safe on the roads as the calendar switches from 2025 to 2026:

Designate a sober driver before the celebrations start.
Ask a sober relative or friend to pick you up if you’re too tipsy to drive.
Use public transit or rideshare services.
Stay off the roads until you’ve sobered up.

Several organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth are offering ways to get home safely around New Year’s if you’re too drunk to drive:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has teamed up with Coors Light to provide free rides on New Year’s Eve. To get a free ride, enter the promo code COORSNYE25 in the GoPass app. The offer is available to the first 10,500 riders who enter the code in the GoPass app.
Trinity Metro will offer free Trinity Railway Express rides in Tarrant County from 6 pm-midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Various bars and entertainment venues in Dallas County are supplying QR codes for one free Lyft ride worth up to $35. The EpicCentral entertainment district in Grand Prairie is among the participants.
In collaboration with TxDOT and the Frisco Police Department, Uber is offering $30-per-ride vouchers for people in Frisco who aren’t sober enough to drive. Frisco ranks first on Allstate’s 2025 list of the Texas cities with the best drivers.
Fort Worth Limousines provides designated-driver services in Dallas-Fort Worth via limo, luxury sedan, SUV, and bus.
Pro-Tow Wrecker Service is offering free tows to tipsy motorists in Denton County who need a ride on New Year’s Eve.

traffic fatalities crime holidays new year's day new years eve traffic

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