This is a pleasant alternative to the Katy Trail, featuring a more park-like setting and one of Dallas’ most beautiful neighborhoods. The run follows Turtle Creek Blvd. along Turtle Creek, paralleling the Katy Trail for a good part of the way. You can start near off N. Houston near the American Airlines Arena, and run along the Katy Trail briefly. Just past the bridge over the tollway, a path leads down to Turtle Creek. Here, you will run along a combination of park paths and sidewalk along Turtle Creek Blvd. There is not a seamless path along the creek — it sort of goes in and out. There isn’t much in the way of signage or wayfinding. But this is a very pleasant, park-like run of up to 4 miles one-way.
After a couple of miles, you’ll enter the Highland Park residential neighborhood. A couple of options here:
Continue along Turtle Creek Blvd. to where it turns into Lakeside Dr., and follow the road along Lakeside Park and Exall Lake. At Beverly, take a right and then a left on Fairfield, to continue following the park to Mockingbird Ln., just west of SMU.
Residential streets of Highland Park. North of N. Fitzugh, between Lakeside Dr, and Rt. 75, enjoy a DIY run through the beautiful residential streets of this tony, older neighborhood. Gorgeous homes, older trees.
Add-Ons: Lots of multi-use paths to connect to at the northern end: campus of SMU, the University Crossing Trail, which leads 2.7 miles east to the SoPac Trail.
This is a pleasant alternative to the Katy Trail, featuring a more park-like setting and one of Dallas’ most beautiful neighborhoods. The run follows Turtle Creek Blvd. along Turtle Creek, paralleling the Katy Trail for a good part of the way. You can start near off N. Houston near the American Airlines Arena, and run along the Katy Trail briefly. Just past the bridge over the tollway, a path leads down to Turtle Creek. Here, you will run along a combination of park paths and sidewalk along Turtle Creek Blvd. There is not a seamless path along the creek — it sort of goes in and out. There isn’t much in the way of signage or wayfinding. But this is a very pleasant, park-like run of up to 4 miles one-way.
After a couple of miles, you’ll enter the Highland Park residential neighborhood. A couple of options here:
Continue along Turtle Creek Blvd. to where it turns into Lakeside Dr., and follow the road along Lakeside Park and Exall Lake. At Beverly, take a right and then a left on Fairfield, to continue following the park to Mockingbird Ln., just west of SMU.
Residential streets of Highland Park. North of N. Fitzugh, between Lakeside Dr, and Rt. 75, enjoy a DIY run through the beautiful residential streets of this tony, older neighborhood. Gorgeous homes, older trees.
Add-Ons: Lots of multi-use paths to connect to at the northern end: campus of SMU, the University Crossing Trail, which leads 2.7 miles east to the SoPac Trail.
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Essentials
Up to 4 miles one-way from Katy Trail trailhead to Mockingbird Ln.
175 feet
Katy Trail trailhead, off N. Houston St. near American Airlines Arena
The 260-acre Kiest Park Conservation Area is a pleasant spot for easy off-road running in the Oak Cliff area. There's a loop trail around the park with 2.3 & 3.5 mile options. Combination of meadows, athletic fields, some woodland.
The best bet for running in downtown Dallas. 3.5-mile elevated urban trail, between the American Airlines Center downtown and SMU. Pleasantly shaded in spots, good views, few street crossings. Lit at night! Can do return loop via Turtle Creek Trail.
Wonderful running in the one of Dallas' prettiest neighborhoods, with gracious, winding roads, estate homes, and older trees. A great 'holiday lights' run! Combine with pleasant running through the campus of SMU, just to the north.
A wonderful run through three historic Dallas neighborhoods: the Deep Ellum entertainment district, tree-lined Swiss Ave., with its gracious homes well set back, and the Munger Place Historic District, another beautiful residential area.
The best option from Dallas’ east end. It’s a 4.5 mile paved trail that connects multiple parks in the east part of Dallas, and runs out to popular White Rock Lake.
Some of the most scenic and enjoyable running in Dallas. Numerous options include lake perimeter trail of 9.1 miles, the White Rock Creek Greenbelt, and the pleasant Lakewood neighborhood just west.
Lovely neighborhood for running just to the west of White Rock Lake. Design your own route along these winding, hilly roads, which feature gracious homes and a nice canopy. Can be combined with White Rock Lake Trail.
Extensive series of trails in the Trinity River channel, steps from downtown. Trinity Strand Trail is 2.5, urban trail; Trinity Skyline Trail, is 4.6 mile below grade trail in the riverbed, with great skyline views, but exposed. 7+ miles possible in watershed & along levee.
A terrific and expanding paved trail system south of downtown, along Lemmon Lake to the Trinity River Audubon Center. Some sections wooded, other sections with good skyline views. Full loop is 6.4 miles, or do some sections.
A flat, 3.1 mile perimeter run around a freshwater lake. In the northwest section of Dallas, next to Love Field Airport. Paved path, other good facilities in park. Good views of the water. Quite open -- use caution on hot days.
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Essentials
Up to 4 miles one-way from Katy Trail trailhead to Mockingbird Ln.
175 feet
Katy Trail trailhead, off N. Houston St. near American Airlines Arena
After a couple of miles, you’ll enter the Highland Park residential neighborhood. A couple of options here:
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