When you’re ready to hit the trails in Plano, Texas, there are many cool hiking spots. The city boasts nearly 100 recreational trail miles, with the trails and shared-use paths interconnecting with Plano’s park system, making hiking a great way to see so much of the city of Plano. You can choose from various trail types, terrains, and lengths, from a leisurely stroll (perhaps with your infant in a stroller?) at a local park to trails a bit off the beaten track in nature preserves. Check out our Crème de la Crème staff recommendations for the best places to hike near Plano.

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Autumn in Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, Plano, Texas by Robert Nunnally is licensed with CC BY 2.0

For a park that spans 200 acres, visit Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. One of the trails you’ll want to hit here is the Arbor Hills tower trail, a 2.5-mile long loop with an elevation gain of 127 feet. This trail is considered easy and takes approximately 51 minutes to complete. Your other trail choice is the Arbor Hills Outer loop trail, which is also 2.5 miles long with an elevation gain of 124 feet that takes approximately 50 minutes to complete.

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve also features a trail system, a playground if you want to bring the little ones along, a picnic pavilion to fuel up between hikes, and public restrooms. Dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed, so you can take your furry friend exploring with you. You can also make one of your destinations the observation tower to see a grand view of the city.

As this is a nature preserve, stay alert and be on the lookout for wild animals, poison ivy, insects, and venomous snakes. If seasonally appropriate, it’s best to wear long pants to avoid poison ivy and bug bites. Be sure to pack your sunscreen and bug spray, and be aware that chiggers are prevalent during the summertime. Get ready to hit the trails at 6701 W. Parker Road.

Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve

For a lakeside hike, head to Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. Beginning at the parking lot in Oak Point Preserve, the first trail goes around the lake at Bob Woodruff Park and returns via an equestrian trail. This path is a paved trail, which makes it ideal for a family hike. It’s considered an easy loop at 6.1 miles long and an elevation gain of 72 feet that takes approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes to complete.

The second trail available at Oak Point Preserve combines the Rowlett Creek Trail, Redbud Way, and Caddo Trails. This loop trail is an easy route at 3.4 miles with an elevation gain of 75 feet that takes you through predominantly wooded areas surrounding Rowlett Creek. Most hikers can complete this route in 63 minutes. If you wish to vary your route or change the distance of your hike, there are interconnected trails off the main path that allow you to shorten or lengthen your hike.

For another easy trail, check out the Oak Park Equestrian Trail and Lake View Trail, a loop trail at 3.7 miles long with an elevation gain of 82 feet, which can be completed in 68 minutes. The best time to hike this trail is from April through September, and be aware that there isn’t much shade along the route, so make sure to wear a hat or visor and use sunscreen.

Another available trail is the Redbud and Caddo Loop Trail, an easy 1.5-mile hike that takes an average of 27 minutes to finish, with an elevation gain of 22 feet. This scenic trail winds through a peaceful forest area and around a pleasant lake. If you wish to vary your terrain, there are areas where you can exit and enter paved and unpaved trails along the route. This hike offers an opportunity to spot wildlife all year round and enjoy beautiful wildflowers in the spring.

Willow Springs and Bobcat Run Loop is a shaded, primarily flat easy loop trail that travels around a scenic lake and through a beautiful forest. You have a choice of terrain types, as there are unpaved and paved areas along the route. The trail length is 4.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 72 feet, which takes about an hour and 21 minutes to complete, but you can make it a longer hike by branching off onto one of the many interconnected routes in the extensive trail system.

All the trails at Oak Point Park allow leashed dogs, so if you have a furry friend, you can take them exploring with you. Head to the preserve for a brisk hike at 5901 Los Rios Blvd.

Chisholm Trail Greenbelt

For an easy hike, check out the trail at Chisholm Trail Greenbelt, a 10.8-mile out-and-back path with an elevation gain of 262 feet that lets you choose the length of your walk. If you decide to complete the entire hike, it will take an average of 3 hours and 20 minutes. This paved multi-use trail passes by a creek and neighborhoods, with water fountains and bathrooms available along the route. The path is dog-friendly as long as they’re on a leash. You can find the Chisholm Trail by taking Legacy Drive to Alma Road.

Bluebonnet Trail

The Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt features a 6.3-mile point-to-point easy trail with an elevation gain of 157 feet that takes 1 hour and 56 minutes to complete on average. To see Bluebonnet flowers on the course, visit between mid-March to mid-April. Exercise caution when navigating the trail, as it includes several road crossings.

The trail terrain is paved concrete with a width of 8 feet in most areas and a gentle incline at a 3% or less grade, which makes it an accessible trail for wheelchair/mobility equipment users and for pushing a stroller. You’ll find the trail by taking Preson Meadow to Alma Road.

Our Crème de la Crème of Plano team invites you to get out and explore the many trails available in our area, whether for a quiet stroll, a walk with your furry friends, a brisk walk, or a quick jog. Plano has a variety of trails to offer for any outdoor excursion you wish to take.