Best Easy Day Hikes DallasFort Worth by Kathryn Hopper & Globe Pequot Press

Author:Kathryn Hopper & Globe Pequot Press
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FalconGuides, best easy day hikes series, day hikes, hiking, hikes, hiking trails, day hikes, wilderness, national forest, national parks, wildlife, nature
Publisher: Falcon Guides
Published: 2013-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

The Hike

Just a few miles from the corporate headquarters of JCPenney and Frito-Lay, this 200-acre park offers more than 2.2 miles of paved trails; plenty of unpaved alternative routes to escape urban living; and, of all things, a hill amidst the city’s famously flat terrain.

From the parking lot, head to the large stone pavilion at the entrance, where picnic tables and restrooms are available. There’s a large map of all the park’s trails, both paved and unpaved, on the right wall of the pavilion across from the restrooms and more information about the diverse ecosystems in the park, including riparian wetlands, blackland prairie, and upland forest.

On most weekends the park is jammed with families taking to the paved trails with strollers, scooters, bikes, and in-line skates. Mountain bikers also flock to the park and its network of unpaved trails. While hikers are welcomed to use the unpaved trails, they are typically closed for several days after rains.

From the entrance pavilion the trail heads down a slight incline, passing a playground on the right. The trail then moves into a forest and crosses over a small stream before heading through blackland prairie, so named for the gumbo-like soil. This thick and dense medium provides the perfect home to an abundant variety of wildflowers, including the yellow-and-red Mexican hatband and bluebonnets, the official state flower of Texas. Both typically bloom late March through April.

From the main trail you’ll take a left and hit the Tower Trail. Head up the hill toward the large stone observation tower. A shortcut to the tower is available on the right, but stay straight and enter the forest. Slowly wind up the hill behind the tower; veer left at the fork near the top of the hill and continue toward the tower. Consider timing your hike to hit the tower at sunrise or sunset for a memorable view of the park and its surrounding subdivisions and office high-rises.

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