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Running trails in Texas

1,913 trails across 292 cities in Texas, with the most in Houston, Dallas, and Austin — including 398 paved, 193 loops, 531 shaded, and 119 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Texas trails below.

1,913trails
292cities
193loops 398paved 531shaded
217with a stated distance
238open 24 hours

Cities in Texas

Every city and town in Texas with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.

Notable running trails in Texas

The Texas trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Texas ranking →

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Hermann Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 30,237 reviews

Houston, TX

ShadedScenic

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 11,034 reviews

Canyon, TX

30 miNatural surfaceLitScenic

Big ravine with 800-ft cliffs, multi-use trails, campsites & the musical "Texas" in an amphitheater.

Memorial Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 10,826 reviews

Houston, TX

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Expansive city park with lush natural features, popular running trail, golf course & lots of shade.

Landa Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 8,747 reviews

New Braunfels, TX

ShadedScenic

51-acre riverside park with a miniature train, nature trail, mini-golf, picnic tables & more.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

4.8 ★★★★★ 8,110 reviews

Fredericksburg, TX

11 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Dramatic 425-ft. pink granite monolith & wilderness area offering hiking, climbing, camping & more.

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 8,080 reviews

Plano, TX

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

This 200-acre park features a trail system, playground, picnic pavilion & public restrooms.

McKinney Falls State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 8,091 reviews

Austin, TX

MixedScenic

Popular site for camping, hiking, biking & fishing, & for "Old Baldy," a 500+-year-old cypress tree.

Covert Park at Mount Bonnell

4.7 ★★★★★ 7,189 reviews

Austin, TX

ScenicDog-friendly

At 785-feet tall, or 106 steps, this hilltop park is the highest point in the city.

Buffalo Bayou Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 6,348 reviews

Houston, TX

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Winding, 160-acre green space featuring views of the Houston skyline plus a fountain & a skate park.

Levy Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 6,174 reviews

Houston, TX

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Ray Roberts Lake State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 6,256 reviews

Pilot Point, TX

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Old Settlers Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 6,164 reviews

Round Rock, TX

3.3 miPavedShadedLit

645-acre park offers recreational activities & picnic space, plus 6 complexes for a range of sports.

Cole Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 6,121 reviews

Corpus Christi, TX

LitScenicDog-friendly

Bayside park with a playground, lighted fishing pier, skate park & open spaces for outdoor activity.

Trinity Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 5,826 reviews

Fort Worth, TX

Scenic

Public 252-acre park along the Trinity River, home to a pond, a fishing pier, playgrounds & trails.

Cedar Ridge Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 5,688 reviews

Dallas, TX

LoopShadedScenicDog-friendly

Audubon nature preserve offering 9 miles of hiking trails through 600 acres of hill country habitat.

Little Elm Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 5,609 reviews

Little Elm, TX

LitScenicDog-friendly

Beachfront park offering swimming, athletic fields, hiking trails, picnicking & a playground.

White Rock Lake Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 5,154 reviews

Dallas, TX

LitScenicDog-friendly

Green space circling an artificial lake offering trails, boating, picnicking & bird-watching.

Pedernales Falls State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 5,188 reviews

Johnson City, TX

LoopNatural surfaceShadedScenic

5,200-acre park with hiking & horseback riding trails, campsites, river swimming & scenic vistas.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

4.7 ★★★★★ 5,012 reviews

Waco, TX

BoardwalkDog-friendly

Paleontological site featuring in-situ fossils of a herd of Ice Age mammoths & other animals.

McAllister Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,939 reviews

San Antonio, TX

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Natural area with jogging & biking trails, picnic spots, a dog park, playscapes & athletic fields.

Rio Vista Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 4,786 reviews

San Marcos, TX

Scenic

14-acre regional park featuring sports courts, a swimming pool, picnic areas & hiking/biking trails.

Barton Creek Greenbelt

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,508 reviews

Austin, TX

LoopNatural surfaceShadedScenic

This popular urban natural area offers opportunities for biking, hiking, swimming & rock climbing.

Tyler State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,307 reviews

Tyler, TX

13 miLoopPavedScenic

Serene pine forest with a lake offering camping, hiking, nature study, fishing & a bike trail.

Cameron Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 4,124 reviews

Waco, TX

PavedScenicDog-friendly

400-acre park featuring 2 rivers, cliffs & playgrounds, plus hiking, biking & festival areas.

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,190 reviews

Austin, TX

PavedScenicDog-friendly

This large public park known for its system of hiking & biking trails also has a playground & pool.

Terry Hershey Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 4,077 reviews

Houston, TX

11 miMixedShadedScenic

Extensive network of hiking & biking trails along a stretch of Buffalo Bayou encompassing 500 acres.

Galveston Island State Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 4,144 reviews

Galveston, TX

BoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

This 2000-acre park features campgrounds, hiking trails, birdwatching spots & unsupervised swimming.

Vitruvian Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,996 reviews

Addison, TX

LitScenicDog-friendly

Residential area with shopping & services plus an attached park with trails, creek & amphitheater.

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,930 reviews

Austin, TX

ShadedScenic

Quiet 21-acre grounds with walking trails & a wildlife habitat with free-roaming peacocks.

Cedar Hill State Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 4,048 reviews

Cedar Hill, TX

LoopNatural surfaceLitScenic

Wooded campsites & facilities for mountain biking, bird-watching, fishing, boating & swimming.

Texas trails by surface

Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.

More ways to find a trail in Texas

Trail features in Texas