Getting Out More: A Short Guide for Outdoor Recreation in Fort Worth
Living in Fort Worth, Texas, it can feel like there aren’t a lot of places to hike or recreate outdoors. One of the most common things I hear people say about Texas as it relates to outdoor recreation is “what do you do there?” Or “where do you go?”
As it turns out, there are so many options for getting outside whether you’re a hiker, cyclist, paddler, camper, or backpacker. Sometimes you just have to look a little closer or get a little more creative to find them.
Here’s a list of great local spots to enjoy time outside:
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge (FWNC&R)
The Fort Worth Nature Center has over 20 miles of hiking trails, a tributary river that links two Fort Worth lakes to paddle on or fish in, and is home to lots of wildlife. The FWNC is a great place to hike, bike, trail run, fish, or paddle. The Nature Center also hosts several events each month including guided hikes and moonlight paddling tours. There is an entrance fee to access the park but if you find yourself visiting often, you can purchase an annual membership for unlimited access to the park and other perks like discounts in the gift shop. You can also volunteer at the Nature Center and help with stewardship projects like trail maintenance. All in all, this is a great place in Fort Worth that offers a lot to the community.
Learn more about the Nature Center here
Marion Sansom Park
Marion Sansom Park is a smaller park in Fort Worth with 11 miles of hiking and cycling trails as well as a kayak/canoe launch site for the Trinity River Paddling Trail. While it’s not as large as some other parks, it has some beautiful trails with some steep inclines making it a great place to mountain bike, hike, or train for a backpacking trip. With access to the Trinity River Paddling Trail, it’s also a great spot to launch from for an afternoon or full day on the river.
Learn more about Marion Sansom Park here
Trinity Trails of Fort Worth & Trinity River Paddling Trail
I couldn’t talk about places to recreate outside in Fort Worth without mentioning the Trinity River trail system which includes walking/running/hiking and biking trails as well as paddling trails with multiple kayak/canoe launch sites along the river. There are more than 100 miles of trail along the Trinity River trail system and it runs through Fort Worth and Dallas. This trail system is great for walking, cycling, roller blading, running, and paddling. When I don’t want to make the longer drive to the Nature Center to paddle, I head to the Trinity and launch my kayaks within minutes. The trail system can be accessed via several neighborhoods and is pretty well maintained. Several organizations work together to keep the trail system clean and it’s another great place to volunteer when they do community wide trail clean ups.
Learn more about the Trinity Trails of Fort Worth & the Trinity River Paddling Trail/Launch Map here:
Trinity River Paddling Launch Guide
Quanah Hill - Weatherford
Quanah Hill is a biking and hiking trail system located in Weatherford, Texas just outside of Fort Worth and is maintained by the Fort Worth Mountain Bike Club (FWMBC). While primarily used by cyclists (specifically mountain bikes), hikers can enjoy these trails as well. The trails at Quanah Hill are very well marked and clean but note if you choose to hike these trails, hikers always yield to cyclists so be aware of your surroundings and practice good trail etiquette.
Learn more about Quanah Hill here
Benbrook Lake
Benbrook Lake offers trails for hiking and trail running, a lake for paddling and fishing, an inexpensive place to camp overnight, and trails for horseback riding as well. If you’re new to camping and live in Fort Worth, this would be a great place to spend a night and test out your gear. The lake is great for paddlers whether on a kayak or paddle board, and the hiking and running trails are well marked. This is a favorite spot of mine for taking my own kids kayaking since it’s close to home.
Learn more about Benbrook Lake here
Tandy Hills
Tandy Hills located in Fort Worth is a small system of trails in east Fort Worth. This trail system is meant for hiking/trail running only and does not allow bicycles or any motorized vehicles. While it is a small trail system, it’s right in the city and boasts beautiful, native Texas wildflowers in the Spring. For this reason, spring is the best time to enjoy these trails when flowers are in bloom and the butterflies are active.
Learn more about Tandy Hills here
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Although Dinosaur Valley State Park is not located in Fort Worth, it’s only about an hour’s drive via Chisholm Trail and is one of the closest parks that offers hiking, camping, mountain biking, trail running, and backpacking. The backcountry trails and primitive camping sites at Dinosaur Valley offer an opportunity to backpack without driving several hours away and can easily be completed over a single night or weekend long trip. There’s a lot of history to learn about this park and park rangers host “Track Talks” and other guided tours around different parts of the park for those interested in learning the origin of the state park and about the geology and dinosaur prints that can be seen in the river.
This park is a favorite spot of mine for hiking with my kids and wading through the river in hot summer months. Fishing is also available here (with a permit) and if you’re looking to camp here, book sites in advance as they book up quickly in busier months through the Spring and Summer.
Learn more about Dinosaur Valley State Park here
While there are several other state parks within a one to two hour drive from Fort Worth, those included in this list are ones I’ve visited several times and have more experience with. A great way to enjoy our Texas State Parks is to purchase an annual State Park pass which will get you and anyone in your vehicle entrance for the day to any Texas State Park as well as discounted camping for overnight trips and discounts in any Texas State Park gift shop.
I hope this guide inspires you to get outside and explore some local places in and around Fort Worth. If you have a favorite place to spend time outside in the DFW area, please share it with me in the comments below!
To learn more about local trails and ways to spend time outside as well as the gear you might need to enjoy your time more, check out our upcoming events.
See you on the trails!