Get some fresh air by trekking along one of these family friendly trails.
Houston might be known for its massive highways, huge refineries, and sprawling construction, but the area is also home to tons of green spaces. Its hundreds of acres of parks, nature centers, and waterways offer a wide variety of outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family, and riding or walking down one of the area’s hike and bike trails is an especially great way for parents, babysitters, and nannies to get kids outside for a little fresh air and exercise.
Whether you’re looking to take a small nature walk or a long bike ride, the Houston metro area offers plenty of scenic hike and bike trails that are safe and fun for the whole family. Here are some of my favorites.
Buffalo Bayou Park
Address: 1800 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019
Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk
Phone: 713-752-0314
For Inner Loopers looking for a simple, easy route to travel on foot or by bike, it’s hard to find a better one than Buffalo Bayou Park. The 160-acre park follows along its namesake bayou from Shepherd Drive all the way to downtown, and includes myriad fun stops and activities along the way. In addition to interesting sculptures and plenty of beautiful flora, the park boasts an amazing dog park, a skate park, and epic views of downtown.
Note: Parts of the lower trails were damaged during Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, but much of them have been repaired. Even so, be sure to exercise caution as some stretches might still have debris from the flooding.
Memorial Park
Address: 6501 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77007
Hours: Open daily, 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 713-221-0499
How do you use Memorial Park? Use the hashtag #MYmemorialpark to share your Memorial Park experience! #houstonparks #runhouston #bikehouston pic.twitter.com/PJ6l1dvESW
— Memorial Park Conservancy (@MemorialPark) July 18, 2017
With more than 30 miles of hike and bike trails, Memorial Park is another great Inner Loop hot spot. Trails range from short and paved to windy and rustic — depending on what you’re up for — and a few are structured as loops for easy rides or walks. Despite the park’s location just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Houston, the babbling creeks and towering trees along some of the paths can make you feel like you’re far out in the country, providing a nice reprieve to the city’s usual hustle and bustle. For information on where to access the different trails, check out the park’s map available on its website.
Pro tip: Bolder families interested in mountain biking should check out the MTB trails located in the southwest section of the park.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Address: 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, TX 77024-7708
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 713-681-8433
Located on the western edge of Memorial Park, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center includes 5 miles of well-maintained walking trails traversing through a nature-filled wonderland. Several of the trails are shorter than in Memorial Park and wheelchair accessible, and the main trek is a walking-only (no bikes or jogging) trail that wraps around the grounds in a 2-mile loop that is perfect for strollers and/or slow-moving toddlers. Visiting the trails is free, but if you want to participate in some of the other fun activities or events throughout the year, the family memberships at the Houston Arboretum are under $100 and definitely worth it.
White Oak Bayou Bike Trail
Address: Starts near 11th Street and TC Jester Boulevard
Hours: Open 24/7
Phone: 713-942-8500
Meandering its way through Houston’s Historic Heights neighborhood, the White Oak Bayou Bike Trail (also often referred to as the Heights Hike and Bike Trail) is a safe and easy way to make your way around the area. The dedicated path has limited exposure to busy city streets, and the all-asphalt surface makes it a smooth ride for even the most novice of riders. For families with little ones in tow, the bike trail zooms right by Donovan Park — one of the city’s best parks for babies and toddlers — providing a nice pit stop or destination for a family ride.
Paul Carr Jogging Trail Heights Boulevard
Address: Along Heights Boulevard, from I-10 to 20th Street
Hours: Open 24/7
Unlike some of the other jogging trails around the city, the pace on this trail is decidedly slower. You can take your time as you make your way down, gazing at some of the beautiful, historic homes and street art along Heights Boulevard. The path is unpaved, but it’s easy enough to push your stroller along. And while slow-moving trikes are OK, fast-moving bikes should stick to the bike lane on Heights Boulevard or (better yet) White Oak Bayou Bike Trail. The two paths intersect near Donovan Park.
George Bush Park
Address: 16756 Westheimer Parkway, Houston, TX 77082
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 281-496-2177
For families living on the west side of town near Katy, George Bush Park offers a ton of wilderness to explore on foot or pedals. The park is a jaw-dropping 7,800 acres (or roughly nine times the size of New York City’s Central Park) and features a windy, paved hike and bike trail that connects to Terry Hershey Park. At 11 miles, the trail might be too long for tiny legs to pedal, let alone walk, so be sure to check out the trail map on the park’s website before you go to figure out your best starting and stopping points.
Pro tip: Shade is a rarity along the trail. Visit during cooler months or in the mornings to avoid getting overheated.
Terry Hershey Park
Address: 15200 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 281-496-2177
Just across Highway 6 from George Bush Park near Houston’s Energy Corridor, Terry Hershey is a popular park for Houston-area bikers. The nearly 500-acre park follows Buffalo Bayou and boasts more than 12 miles of hike and bike trails. In addition to orderly, paved trails, the park has some muddy mountain bike treks that are great for families who like an adventure. Heavy rains can make some of the unpaved trails impassable, though, so be sure to exercise caution if visiting in the spring or summer when the weather gets wet.
Brazos Bend State Park
Address: 21901 FM 762, Needville, TX 77461
Hours: Open daily until 10 p.m.
Phone: 979-553-5101
At a 45-minute drive outside of Houston, Brazos Bend State Park isn’t exactly the closest option for many Houstonians, but it’s still a favorite hike and bike spot with locals for one awesome reason: alligators. The park is home to hundreds of alligators — many of which are bigger than 6 feet long and can often be seen from the many trails throughout the park. While often depicted in kids’ movies as ferocious creatures, the gators here are actually quite harmless (to date, no visitor has ever reported being injured by a gator at Brazos Bend State Park), and getting to see one in the wild is the stuff memories are made of. Even so, it’s a good idea for visitors to brush up on these safety tips before heading out for some gator-watching.
Hermann Park
Address: 6100 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030
Hours: Open daily, 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 713-524-5876
Hermann Park’s great walk and bike trails have the added benefit of, well, being in Hermann Park! The grounds house a ton of fun activities and sites off the trails, including the Houston Zoo, a kiddie train, playgrounds, and duck ponds. The various trails form a loop, with some stretching longer than others, and you’re never far from a bathroom, water fountain, or food stand. While some of the trails are designed more for joggers than cyclists, the paths are smooth enough to be safe for slow-moving bikes, too. Just be sure to be respectful of others on the path.
Pro tip: Adults who don’t have a bike of their own can rent one for just a few dollars at any of the park’s BCycle stations.
Rice University Outer Loop Running Trail
Address: The trail loops around Rice University on Main Street, University Boulevard, Greenbriar Drive, Rice Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard.
Hours: Open 24/7
For older kids or children in strollers, the running trail around Rice University offers a nice loop that’s easily accessible. It’s a popular path among university students and staff, as well as those working or visiting the Texas Medical Center, so it can get a little busy when the weather’s nice, but if you go during the summer or early mornings, you can often get the whole stretch to yourselves. One of the best features of the loop is the live oak trees lining it. Their towering branches shade the entire route, which can be a godsend during Houston’s brutal summer heat.
What’s your favorite hike and/or bike trail in the Houston area? Share it in the comments below!
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