Frisco, Texas, is surrounded by natural beauty with plenty of parks, open spaces, and forests to hike in. Whether you’re looking for a mild hike where you can push a stroller or take a jog and run with your dog, you’ll find just what you need when you head to these Frisco area places to hit the trail.

Limestone Quarry Park

Limestone Quarry Park is one of the premier places to hike in the Frisco area. This 17-acre park has a playground, a stream, a hidden waterfall, and a lovely hiking trail. Be sure to bring water and binoculars when you hike the Taychas Trail, an out-and-back trail approximately 3 miles long. This trail is mostly wooded with an elevation gain of about 112 feet, making this paved trail ideal for those pushing a stroller or wheelchair.

The Taychas Trail has a gentle grade of about 5% and generally runs approximately 8 feet wide, allowing runners or joggers to pass slower walkers or strollers easily. This lovely trail follows West Rowlett Creek and ends at a small waterfall, the ideal place for taking pictures and having a picnic. After hiking the Taychas Trail, come back to the main part of Limestone Quarry Park to play basketball and let the youngsters play on the playground.

Location: 6300 Maltby Drive.

Dates and times: Open seven days a week from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt Trail

Pack a picnic lunch, bottles of water, and lace up your hiking shoes for an afternoon hiking the Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt Trail. This nearly 5-mile out-and-back trail will take you about two hours to complete with a mild elevation gain of about 82 feet. The paved Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt Trail has a gentle grade of about 3% and is wide enough to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs.

You’ll find several benches to rest on under shady trees where you can watch for birds or wildlife or just enjoy the solitude of nature. You can even bring your furry friend to hike or jog with you on the Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt Trail, as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash. Anglers will enjoy trying their hand at fishing at the two ponds stocked with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, or catfish. Plan your visit to Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt from March through October when the weather is temperate.

Location: 3925 Bear Creek Lane.

Dates and times: Open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

Oak Point Nature Preserve

When you’re looking for a longer hike near Frisco, Texas, consider heading over to Oak Point Nature Preserve to hike along the 8 miles of concrete and 5 miles of soft surface trails that wander through this 800-acre park. As you hike, keep an eye out for bobcats, deer, and kestrel birds.

The Oak Point Nature Preserve Trail is one of the more popular trails in the preserve. This trail is about two miles long with an elevation gain of about 32 feet, making this lovely trail popular for families with strollers or young children. On a warm day, you’ll enjoy walking the shady Rowlett Creek Trail with a length of just over a mile, which is out and back. This is an easy trail with a moderate elevation gain of about 45 feet. After visiting Oak Point Nature Preserve, enjoy dining at any healthy eateries in the Plano area to refuel the family. 

Location: 5901 Los Rios Blvd. in Plano.

Dates and times: Daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Frisco Commons Park

Enjoy a mellow afternoon visiting Frisco Commons Park. At this local park, you and your family can enjoy fishing, picnicking, hiking, and relaxing in a beautiful, natural setting. The nearly 1-mile loop trail takes you along a paved and mostly shaded path with a mild elevation gain of about 62 feet, so young kids can easily run and walk along this lovely trail.

You can push strollers or a wheelchair along the path about 6 feet wide with plenty of room for everyone. Frisco Commons Park also has several interpretive trails, is home to the Veterans Memorial Park, and offers youngsters several playgrounds. This 62-acre park has horseshoe pits, barbecue grills, and an open field where the family can play football, soccer, or lacrosse.

Location: 8000 McKinney Road.

Dates and time: Open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Everyone in the family will enjoy exploring and hiking through Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. Choose to hike the popular Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Trail to see all the preserve offers. You can take the smaller 1.3-mile loop trail or the longer 2.1-mile version for a more extensive hike.

As you hike this trail, stop and read the trail markers placed throughout the preserve for information about the various ecosystems, including the Blackland Prairie, riparian forest, and upland forest. You’ll learn about the flora and fauna in these unique ecosystems. Arbor Hills Nature Preserve has picnic pavilions with barbecue grills, playgrounds, restrooms, and drinking fountains. Leashed dogs are allowed in the park.

Location: 6701 W. Parker Road in Plano.

Dates and times: Sunday through Tuesday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

We hope you and your family enjoy visiting these places to go hiking in the Frisco area. Which trail is your favorite? What are you looking for when going for a hike? Does bringing your dog along make a difference? If you can share a place we missed on this list, let us know at Crème de la Crème of Frisco, as we always enjoy learning about beautiful natural locations in our area.