Preston Ridge Trail

Name: Preston Ridge Trail
Address: Preston Ridge Trail, Dallas, TX 75252, USA, Dallas, TX, US
Telephone: (469) 231-7229
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.7

Preston Ridge Trail, Dallas, TX 75252, USA

Overview

Category:Hiking with Kids

Location:Dallas, TX

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Preston Ridge Trail is a well-maintained, 6.3-mile paved multi-use trail offering a peaceful escape with scenic views and greenery. It's an excellent option for families seeking outdoor exercise like walking, running, or cycling, and is particularly noted for its suitability for dog walking.

Key Highlights

✓Well-maintained, easy-to-follow paved path suitable for walking, running, and cycling.
✓Stretches through beautiful greenery with scenic views, providing a peaceful escape from city hustle.
✓Offers designated benches and resting spots along the trail for breaks.
✓Easily accessible from multiple points, allowing for varied parking options and flexible workout distances.
✓Some sections provide plenty of shade, making it comfortable during certain times of the year.
✓Highly recommended for dog walkers.

Standout Features

⭐Paved and well-maintained surface, making it stroller-friendly and easy for bikes.
⭐Multiple access points provide flexibility for starting points and desired distance.
⭐Intermittent benches for rest and scenic views.
⭐Designated as a dog-friendly location for walks.
⭐Overall peaceful and beautiful environment.

Perfect For

School-aged children (6+) and Teens: Ideal for longer walks, bike rides, or jogs due to the trail's length and multi-use nature, assuming they can manage without frequent restroom breaks.

Families with younger children (toddlers/preschoolers): Potentially suitable for very short segments or stroller walks, but the complete lack of restrooms makes longer outings challenging and requires significant pre-planning.

Ideal For

Family bike rides for those comfortable with longer distances and occasional traffic stops.

Long family walks or jogs with children who are self-sufficient regarding restroom needs.

Dog owners looking for a spacious, well-maintained trail for walking their pets.

Anyone seeking a peaceful, scenic outdoor activity to escape urban hustle.

Local residents looking for an easily accessible exercise route.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

→**Plan for no restrooms:** Absolutely ensure all family members use a restroom before arriving at the trail, and consider shorter durations or segments if children require frequent breaks.
→**Bring plenty of water and snacks:** Essential due to the trail's length and lack of facilities, especially during warmer months.
→**Visit between sunrise and sunset:** Avoid nighttime visits due to poor lighting and potential safety concerns.
→**Consider your activity:** The trail is rated better for biking (4 stars) than for continuous walking (3 stars) for the full length, partly due to intersections and duration.
→**Dress appropriately for the sun:** Especially during summer, apply sunscreen and wear hats as shade is not consistently available.
→**Be aware of traffic crossings:** Prepare for frequent stops at intersections if attempting a continuous run or bike ride.

Things to Consider

⚠NO restroom facilities are available anywhere along the 6.3-mile trail, which is a major drawback for families with children.
⚠Limited shade in certain sections makes it less ideal for hot Texas summers.
⚠The trail crosses several traffic light controlled intersections, leading to relatively frequent stops that can disrupt continuous activities like timed runs.
⚠Lack of lighting at night makes it dark and potentially unsafe after sunset, with a recommendation to visit only between sunrise and sunset.
⚠Walking the entire 6.3-mile length can take a few hours, which is a long duration without bathroom access.

Price & Value

Free access to the trail, offering high value for a well-maintained outdoor activity. However, the lack of basic amenities like restrooms might be an indirect 'cost' in terms of convenience and planning required for families.

♿Accessibility & Special Needs

•The paved path is generally accessible for strollers and potentially wheelchairs, but the complete absence of restrooms (including accessible ones) is a significant barrier for many.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

•As an outdoor public trail, there are no specific food policies mentioned. It is assumed visitors can bring their own food and drinks, which is advisable given no on-site facilities.

🚗Parking Info

•Easily accessible from almost any part of the trail, implying multiple and convenient parking options are available.

👥Crowd Levels

•Described as 'peaceful' and an 'escape from the city's hustle,' suggesting it is generally not overly crowded.

🛡️Safety Features

•Paved path helps reduce trip hazards.
•Lack of lighting at night is explicitly mentioned as a safety concern.
•Traffic light controlled intersections require vigilance and adherence to traffic rules.
•No specific staff supervision or first aid stations are mentioned.

⏰When to Avoid

• Families with toddlers or young children who require immediate or frequent restroom access.
• Visiting after sunset due to significant lack of lighting and safety concerns.
• Mid-day during hot Texas summers if sensitive to sun, due to limited and inconsistent shade.
• If you're planning a timed run or bike ride that requires continuous momentum, as frequent traffic light intersections will cause stops.

Pricing/Package/Events

Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Sep 29, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Ridita Shaila

3 years ago

A nice trail for walking, running or cycling. The trail is around 6.3 miles long. At a certain distance there are few bench to sit and rest. The only disadvantage of this trail is there is no restroom facilities near the trail. Overall its a good walkway for the people who lives nearby.

Hannah (莫恩妍)

3 years ago

Four stars for biking, 3 stars for on foot. Like: easy to follow paved path, easily accessible from almost any part of the trail so lots of options for parking and workout distance Don’t like: No restrooms, if taking the whole thing by foot, takes a few hours - long ways to go without bathroom; hardly any shade - fine for winter, but not great for TX summers, trails crosses several traffic light controlled intersections without overpass so relatively frequent stops for traffic (bad for timed runs)

sandeepkumar anuguthala

6 months ago

Preston Ridge Trail is a wonderful place for a walk, run, or bike ride! The trail is well-maintained and stretches through beautiful greenery, with plenty of shade along the way. It’s peaceful and offers a great escape from the city’s hustle, with scenic views and resting spots. Ideal for families, dog walkers, or anyone wanting to enjoy the outdoors and get some fresh air. Highly recommend it for a relaxing day out!

Eeshan Phatak

5 years ago

A beautiful and peaceful place to have a morning walk or even an evening jog. Its like heaven to people who like to get away from the work routine and just have some relaxed time in the day. If you have a dog you can bring it for a walk as there can't be any place better to walk a dog than here. Its a bit dark at night cause there are not a lot of lights around there, so I would suggest that you should go there anytime between sunrise and sunset. There is a bench where you could take a short break and have some rest. If you have a bike(bicycle) then you could go there and ride your hearts out.