HomeTexasDallas › Gateway Park & Horse Trail

Gateway Park & Horse Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 338 Google reviews · Running trail in Dallas, Texas · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Gateway Park & Horse Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicStroller / ADATrailhead parkingQuiet

Park featuring a pond popular for fishing and jogging, plus picnic areas.

What runners say about Gateway Park & Horse Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (338 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“also saw horses in the trail it was such a Beautiful Day.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Walking the trail allows me a bit of peace and quiet early mornings/afternoons.”

About 1.5 miles straight hike to lookout point. Wheelchair accessible Recommended stay on path.

★★★★☆ — Fred , Jun 2022

Nice place to take a morning stroll or jog around a pond. It’s about half a mile around the whole pond. I felt pretty safe as a single female, with mace of course. A few vehicles were parked with people resting in them. No one bothered me.

★★★★★ — Olivia , Jan 2023

Good park, excellent space for run, walk. Fishing, grilling, picnicking

★★★★★ — Santiago , Sep 2024

Nice area for the family. Its about a 2 mile trail that starts at the pond on highway 20 and downy ferry rd. The pond is a nice size. good for family picnics, BBQ, and fishing. You could walk or jog around the pond or down the horse trail. The horse trail is quite and peaceful.

★★★★☆ — Shanique , Apr 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 338 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 4 mentions

“also saw horses in the trail it was such a Beautiful Day.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Walking the trail allows me a bit of peace and quiet early mornings/afternoons.”

More trails like this →

Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

“Wheelchair accessible Recommended stay on path.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

“feed the ducks plenty of parking.”

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Plan your run at Gateway Park & Horse Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitedallasparks.org
  • Phone(214) 670-8740
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 AM–11 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–11 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–11 PM
Thursday 6 AM–11 PM
Friday 6 AM–11 PM
Saturday 6 AM–11 PM
Sunday 6 AM–11 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Gateway Park & Horse Trail

2161 Dowdy Ferry Rd, Dallas, TX 75217

Get directions

Running trails near Dallas

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Great Trinity Forest Gateway And Horse Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 122 reviews

Dallas, TX

Park featuring a lake with fishing, plus trails, picnic tables, and grills.

under a mile away

Crawford Memorial Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 1,596 reviews

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Large metropolitan park includes gardens, paved trails, a playground & athletic fields & courts.

2.6 miles away

Goat Island Preserve

4.6 ★★★★★ 10 reviews

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Loop

3.5 miles away

Joppa Preserve - Dallas County Nature Preserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 289 reviews

Dallas, TX

PavedShadedScenic

Park featuring a wooded trail for walks & bike rides, plus picnic tables & a pavilion.

3.6 miles away

Trinity Forest Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 214 reviews

Dallas, TX

LoopPavedShadedScenic

Long paved, tree-lined trail that winds through forestland, past lakes and over the Trinity River.

3.8 miles away

Trinity Forest Trail North

4.4 ★★★★☆ 19 reviews

Dallas, TX

4.0 miles away

All running trails in Dallas, TX →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.