bridge trail

Plenty of natural beauty surrounds Plano, Texas. If you’re interested in exploring this beauty, one of the best ways to do it is on two wheels! Plano has plenty of biking trails that are ideal for riders of all levels. Check out a few of these best biking trails near Plano to enjoy everything the area has to offer.

Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt

The Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt runs east to west across Plano for around 12 miles, making it the longest trail in the Plano Parks and Trails System. From mid-March to mid-April, it’s also one of the most scenic trails in the area as the famous bluebonnet flowers bloom and create a display of beautiful colors. The Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt is split into several sections, so you can choose to do the entire trail at once or break it up into smaller parts. No matter how you decide to ride, you know you’ll enjoy a smooth journey on the paved and level trail.

One popular way to ride the trail is to start at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve and travel west. You’ll ride beside Rowlett Creek for a short time before going alongside The Courses at Watters Creek golf course. Next, you’ll follow Chase Oaks Boulevard and West Spring Creek Parkway. As you continue heading west, you’ll pass through Wagon Wheel Park, Blue Ridge Park, Jack Carter Park, Lone Star Park, Carpenter Park, and Archgate Park. Directly after Archgate Park, the Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt ends at Preston Road.

Chisholm Trail

The Chisholm Trail is one of the most popular hike and bike trails in Plano. The 10.7-mile trail runs alongside Spring Creek and travels through numerous neighborhoods and other parks in the city. Since the multi-use trail is paved, it’s perfect for all skill levels.

If you’re interested in doing some biking on Chisholm Trail, you can pick up the southern trailhead at Harrington Park. From there, you can follow the trail as it winds its way north and passes through Big Lake Park and Plano Veterans Memorial Park. The trail even intersects with the Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt in Jack Carter Park.

Once you reach the northern terminus of the trail at Legacy Drive, you can loop around to the other side of Spring Creek and enjoy a different view on your way back down. Along the way, you’ll enjoy plenty of beautiful scenery. Plus, since the trail provides amenities that include drinking fountains, picnic areas, and restrooms, you can easily spend the entire day exploring the area on your bicycle.

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a 200-acre park in Plano that has several opportunities for biking. If you’re interested in something smooth and easy, the park has 3 miles of concrete recreational trails. One popular option is the 1.3-mile Arbor Hills Loop Trail. This scenic trail travels over several pedestrian bridges that provide lovely views of the creek and fields. The 1-mile Tower Trail is another excellent option to explore. When you’re on this trail, be sure to park your bike and climb to the top of the observation tower for panoramic views of the surrounding area.

If you’re interested in something a little more challenging, check out the 2.7-mile off-road bicycle trail. While this single track loop in the southern portion of the park is easily accessible and not overly technical, it still offers a nice challenge for riders of all skill levels. Bikers follow the trail clockwise direction, and hikers follow the trail counterclockwise. In addition to meandering through some scenic natural areas, the trail also provides some twists, turns, and slight elevation changes that make for a solid and exciting workout.

Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve

The 800-acre Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve is the largest park in Plano, so you know you’ll find plenty of good biking spots here. The park boasts nearly 8 miles of concrete trails that are open to bicycles. One of the best ways to explore the preserve is to come to the main entrance and park at the Nature and Retreat Center. From there, you can head out on a variety of paved trails, such as the 0.9-mile trail that circles the pond. You can also easily access the 1.84-mile loop that goes through the equestrian area.

Plus, biking isn’t the only activity you can enjoy in the park. You can also bring your own canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard to spend time on the pond. Additionally, Go Ape in Oak Point Park is a treetop adventure course that features four zip lines and 40 crossings with various suspended obstacles.

Hoblitzelle Park

Hoblitzelle Park is a picturesque community park that’s the ideal place to go when you’re interested in a leisurely bike ride. The park has a 3.15-mile hard surface trail that runs alongside the scenic Russell Creek. If you’re interested in exploring Hoblitzelle Park, come to the park’s main entrance at Red River Drive. From that parking lot, you can do the 1-mile loop trail that takes you across Russell Creek and under some large, shady trees.

If you complete the 1-mile loop and you’re interested in doing some more biking, you can find a 0.34-mile and 0.5-mile trail in the western side of the park that continues to follow Russell Creek. In the eastern portion of the park, you can follow the Hoblitzelle Park Trail as it travels for 1.2 miles under Alma Drive before finally intersecting with Chase Oaks Golf Trail.

Plus, the smooth biking trails aren’t the only amenities offered at Hoblitzelle Park. If you want to spend the afternoon at the park, you’ll find several picnic areas, water fountains, and bathrooms along the trail. The park also has three playgrounds where your kids can burn off some extra energy after their bike ride.

At Huffines Chevrolet Plano, we love exploring Plano by bike, and these are some of our favorite biking trails in the area. Did we forget to include one of your favorite biking trails? If so, please contact us and let us know so we can add it to our list!

Image via Flickr by gurdonark


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