McKinney is a beautiful area to get outside and enjoy some of the natural beauty that Texas has to offer. A great way to do this is to grab your bicycle and go for a ride. There are over 56 miles of bike trails available to try. Regardless of whether you’re an avid biker or just want to hop on and enjoy some fresh air, McKinney has numerous trails for you to check out. Here’s a list of the top biking trails in McKinney, Texas.
Bonnie Wenk Park
A 5-acre pond, perfect for fishing, is nestled in this 40-acre park. Bonnie Wenk Park offers an outdoor amphitheater, five playground structures for climbing, two multi-purpose fields with lighting, a fitness court, and a dog park, complete with a doggy splash pad. There’s also a pavilion available on a first-come basis. Entrance to the park is free and there is no supervision provided.
The park has several bike trails for riders, including trails that connect to Towne Lake and Creekview Estates. Wilson Creek Trail is one connecting trail for 5.5 miles of concrete trail, completely free of automobile traffic. Within the park, there’s a loop trail that goes around the fishing pond that’s 0.44 miles in length and a second similar loop trail around the dog park for 0.43 miles. The park is located at 2996 Virginia Parkway and open until 11 p.m. daily.
Erwin Park
McKinney’s biggest park, at 212 acres, is Erwin Park. This park is a bicycler’s dream thanks to the many miles of trail and two Dero bike repair stations along the way. Riders can stop at the stations do perform minor repairs, including airing up the tires. The one-way loop trail is approximately 10 miles of dirt trail, maintained by the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association. It ranges in difficulty from beginner to expert, with several technical sections for the expert rider. Beginners are provided with an alternate route to avoid the harder sections.
The park itself has lots of amenities, including playgrounds, three separate pavilions, two public restrooms, and large open green spaces. There are also campsites available for rental along with 10 designated campfire spots. There is no fee to enjoy this park, located at 4300 County Road 1006. Erwin is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for non-campers.
Towne Lake Park
This park has something for everyone. There are nine horseshoe pits with lights, two sand volleyball courts, and playground equipment. Towne Lake Park offers one of the most challenging wooded disc golf courses in the area. Enjoy a picnic under one of the two pavilions available. Rent a paddleboat to enjoy the 22-acre lake, or fish off the pier. Towne Lake has a 1.3-mile concrete loop trail with lighting to allow evening rides. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and does not charge an entrance fee.
Serenity Park
Just over 16 acres, Serenity Park is a quaint neighborhood park. It offers lots of wide-open green space along with two backstops for a pick-up game of baseball or softball. It has one picnic pavilion but does not have public restrooms. There’s playground equipment for the kids to enjoy. You can also fish from the pier located in Serenity Park. The 2.9-mile concrete trail connects the park to nearby neighborhoods, complete with tunnels to avoid high-traffic areas. The creeks and ponds along the way offer a scenic ride. You can find this park at 6701 Berkshire Road.
Valley Creek Park
Another small, neighborhood park with a nice bike trail near it is Valley Creek Park. With just over 5 acres, this park provides a pavilion, a turf area, playground equipment, and two baseball backstops. There’s no public restroom at this park and it shares parking with Valley Creek Elementary School. The 0.9-mile non-motorized concrete trail goes under El Dorado Parkway and along Voltaire Boulevard. Trails like this one connect residential areas with parks and schools.
Celebration Park
Just a few miles down the road in nearby Allen, is Celebration Park. This park is best known for it’s gigantic kidMania playground and sprayground. It offers barbecue grills, picnic tables, and a pavilion for a picnic lunch. There are fields for baseball, softball, and soccer along with basketball and tennis courts. This is another free park that you could easily spend an entire day at and have plenty to do.
The 1.5-mile concrete perimeter trail is great for hiking or biking. At the north end of the trail, you’ll find another park. Stacy Ridge Park has a small playground, picnic tables, and a basketball court. Celebration Park is located at 701 Angel Parkway in Allen, Texas. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Allen Station Park
Another great park to visit in nearby Allen, Texas, is the Allen Station Park. This park offers picnic tables and barbecue grills so that you can cook up a picnic lunch after your bike ride. It also has baseball and softball fields along with playground equipment for the kids. Allen Station Park also includes a 37,915-square foot concrete skate park, BMX track, and roller hockey rink. Take the bike out on the BMX track for some excitement. This free park is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with the BMX track closing at dusk.
The Cottonwood Creek Trail crosses through Allen Station Park. This is a 7.5-mile concrete trail in two disconnected segments, a 3.4-mile stretch in one direction and a 4.1-mile stretch in another. At Stacy Road, bikers will encounter a second park that offers a playground and tennis courts. The scenery along this bike trail is breathtaking and bikers of all skill levels will enjoy being surrounded by nature. Allen Station Park can be found at 1120 N. Cedar Drive in Allen, Texas.
There’s nothing better for the soul than fresh air and sunshine. It’s a great way to rejuvenate and refresh your mind and body. Grab your bike, a picnic lunch, and some friends or family to hang out for the day between rides. There you have it, we hope this helps you find the perfect trail to get out on your bike and enjoy the beauty of nature. If you have a trail to add, reach out to us at Huffines Kia McKinney, we’d love to hear about your favorite bike trail and get it added to our list!
Image via Flickr by gurdonark